Unlock More Power And Consistency With This Simple Rotation Drill

One of the most significant differences I’ve observed between amateur and professional golfers is their level of hip and body rotation through the swing.

While the pros display full, dynamic rotation that powers their shots, many recreational players struggle to effectively turn their hips and torso.

This lack of rotation is a major contributor to common swing flaws like: coming over the top, hitting pushes and slices and losing distance and consistency.

Without properly clearing your hips and rotating your body, you end up relying too much on your arms and hands to produce power and control.

The good news is, improving your rotation is a learnable skill that can be practiced and ingrained through targeted drills.

And the best part?

You can do one of the most effective rotation drills right at home, without any fancy training aids.

It’s called the “pump and hit” rotation drill.

To get started, you’ll need an 8 or 9 iron and some open space in your home or backyard. Here’s how the drill works:

• Set up to the ball, which should initially be teed up.

• Take your backswing, but only go about halfway back. As you reach the top of your backswing, focus on feeling your chest and hips open up as much as possible. Your body should be turned away from the target, with your shoulders and hips rotated significantly.

• From this halfway–back position, “pump” the club down toward the ball, allowing your hips and chest to turn aggressively back toward the target. Feel your body unwinding and opening up.

• After a few rehearsal reps of this pump–down motion, go ahead and give the ball a light hit, maintaining that same sense of aggressive rotation.
• Gradually build up the speed of your swings, always focusing on fully clearing your hips and rotating your body through impact.

The keys to this drill are:

• Taking the club back only about halfway, to maintain good rhythm and balance.

• Feeling an exaggerated, powerful turn of your chest and hips as you pump down.

• Carrying that same rotational motion into your actual shots.

By focusing on this deep, aggressive body rotation, you’ll start to ingrain the proper sequencing and kinematic sequence for an efficient, powerful golf swing.

Proper hip and torso rotation offers numerous benefits that can take your ball–striking to new heights:

Increased Power – The bigger your turn, the more potential energy you create that can be translated into club head speed and explosive power at impact.

More Consistency – Rotating your body, rather than relying solely on your arms, promotes a more stable, repeatable swing path and ball contact.

Better Accuracy – Clearing your hips helps you square the club face and deliver the club on the proper path for straighter, more accurate shots.

Reduced Injury Risk – Rotating your large muscle groups, rather than over stressing your arms and hands, helps protect your joints and prevents overuse injuries.

So, in just a few minutes a day, this simple “pump and hit” rotation drill can start to transform your swing and unlock new levels of power, control and consistency.

Commit to incorporating it into your practice routine and watch your ball–striking improve dramatically.

The more you can train your body to fully rotate and unwind through impact, the easier the game will become.

Give this drill a try, then take those newfound rotation skills right out to the course.