It is very important early on in the backswing that we incorporate turn in the swing. A lot of the time we can get caught up in ensuring the path is neutral without adding any substantial body turn. When this occurs the arms and the body can get quite disconnected causing lack of distance and direction. The correct sequence is ensuring that at the beginning of the golf swing, the clubhead moves first followed by the rotation of the body.
You want to think of turn by feeling as though you're turning your right hip back. By pulling your right hip back, you will stay more on top of the ball and thus be able to return the clubface back in the ideal position. When coordinating the turn whilst maintaining a neutral path just ensure left arm starts to come across the body whilst the hands stay in front of the clubface. This ensures then that the arms stay in front of your chest during the swing.
The amount of hip rotation that you should be aiming for is around 45 degrees. This amount of turn will ensure that your arms stay connected right until the top of the swing. If the hips over rotate, you will tend to lose torque in the swing. This is due to the lack of difference between shoulder rotation and hip rotation. The left shoulder will typically move to 90 degrees in the swing with the hips to 45. This difference of angle creates torque in the swing which in turn generates power through the body.
The other downside to excessive hip rotation is that the swing path will tend to move behind the body too much causing a swing that may come 'over the top' on the downswing. Just ensure that when the club reaches parallel to the ground on the backswing that the hips have turned roughly 15-20 degrees. After this point allow the hips to turn again so they reach 45 degrees when the club arrives at the top of the swing.
If you'd like any further help in coordinating body rotation through the swing just contact myself at David Waters Golf.
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