The perfect golf swing is something that many golfers have chased for many years.
Ben Hogan was thought to have a secret and the only thing he ever revealed about his secret was that “it was in dirt.”
Golfers will often stand at a driving range and hit shot after shot trying to find a feel or a swing thought that they can take with them.
Oftentimes, they will find a swing feel or thought that works and go out and play a great round of golf, only to have it last for as little as 3 holes to 3 rounds.
So what gives?
My number one recommendation is to make sure you have the proper rotation. Over time, with the proper big movements in the game, you can train the finer movements and become really good at golf.
If you watch the current tour players, you will find different grips, setups, postures, golf clubs, swing paths, shot shapes, and flexes in knees. Some aim right, while others aim left. Some hit a draw, while others hit a fade. But at the end of the day, a high percentage makes a full rotation back and through the shot.
A lack of rotation in the golf swing for the majority of amateurs is the number one way to destroy a swing.
Lack of Rotation in Golf Swing: Key Issues
- Causes a lack of swing speed
- Causes a lack of proper sequencing
- Causes a potential stall on the downswing
The rotation in a golf swing needs to be considered on both the backswing and the downswing. Many golfers spend years trying to perfect the club path on the backswing, only to lack rotation and stall on the downswing, leading to years of trying to match up the hands and guess just right. At times, the best golfers will get away with this, while other times they will struggle!
In order to play quality golf when it comes to the full swing, golfers must be able to control these three variables:
- The low point control in a golf swing (affects quality of contact)
- The start line of the shot and the curve (affects consistent through shot patterns)
- Enough speed to play the course (nobody can hit 200 yard approach shots all day)
Lack of Rotation in Golf Swing: Key Issue #1 – Causes A Lack of Swing Speed
Let’s face it, speed is vital to your overall success. Without the proper rotation on both the backswing and the downswing you are leaking out speed and ultimately distance and consistency.
The golfer who does not get a full turn or load in the backswing cannot generate the same amount of speed as the golfer that does. While speed can be created in different ways (through the hands and arms) when you can get a full turn with the big muscles and still maximize the speed in the hands and arms, you will find something special with your distance!
Rotation in the Golf Swing: Why It Matters!
Lack of Rotation in Golf Swing: Key Issue #2 – Causes A Lack of Proper Sequencing
The proper sequencing in the swing will not only help with overall speed, but with consistency. The issue above was directly correlated to #3 in the golf swing (the need for speed) and this issue deals directly with key #2 in the golf swing (ability to control start line and curve). However, it is also connected with key #1 (controlling the low point). The proper sequencing is essential to overall quality play. When the body fails to fully rotate the sequencing can be completely thrown off.
Many golfers will then start seeking what is wrong with their swing. Is their release with their hands off? Are they swinging too quickly? Are they set up wrong? When in reality one of the most important things to check is the full rotation, resulting in the right amount of speed and then of course proper sequencing!
How the hips work in the Golf Swing!
Lack of Rotation in Golf Swing: Key Issue #3 – Causes A Potential Stall on the Downswing
I must admit, I am guilty of a stall at times in my swing. The end result is often an overdraw or hook due to the hands taking over. I believe my stalling is often a result of a lack of a full rotation on the backswing, getting myself out ahead of the ball. I can play some quality golf from this position, but it is difficult to carry that quality golf from round to round.
Golfers are going to struggle to get the clubface just right when they are stalling. Think about if you were pressing the brake of your car while turning to turn. The overall control would be difficult because of the certain parts still wanting to go forward.
Many people think of the full rotation on the backswing and forget about the importance of continuing to rotate through the shot to your full finish. Once again, check out the golfer on the PGA Tour and compare your golf swing as far as rotation back and through the ball to their golf swings.
A stalling move in the golf swing causes the hands to flip through to try to catch up or to hold off to stay back. Either way it takes quality timing to hit decent shots. A full rotation through he shot allows the hands to work more naturally through the shot.
Arms in the Golf Swing: How to generate more speed!
Do I Rotate Enough In My Golf Swing?
How To Assess For A Lack of Rotation in the Golf Swing
The best method is to use a smartphone and video your swing. Get a quality shot from the side view and download a free app to draw lines or measure how far back and through you were able to turn back and then through the shot. Compare it to a PGA Tour player and see if you can get your shoulders to 90 degrees and your hips to 45 degrees. If you can get more, great. If you can’t, no worries. The 90 and 45 are quality markers to use.
Hands in the Golf Swing: Complete Overview
Swing Thoughts and Feels To Fully Rotate
- Back to the target
- Out of the way, out of the way
#1 Back To The Target
On the backswing, go ahead and feel like you are going to aim your back to the target. This will help you get a complete 90 degree turn on the backswing. The key from here is to have a slight raise and then squat and turn back through the shot. Feel the full rotation on both the way back and on the way through.
One alternate feeling here is to take your right butt cheek and turn it towards the target on the backswing and then take your left cheek and turn it back towards the area behind you. Some people are better with a focus on their back and others need a feeling lower in their body.
#2: Out of the way, out of the way
I learned this one from Shawn Clement. He is great at teaching the golf swing from a natural movement or athletic movement perspective. He is all about full rotation and has been teaching this approach for at least two decades. His approach is to turn out of the way on the backswing and then get out of the way on the downswing. He doesn’t want the golfers arms to collide with the body at any point in the golf swing.
Why Don’t Golfers Make A Full Rotational Turn?
There are several reasons that include:
- They are unaware of the importance
- They don’t realize they aren’t making a full rotation
- They become golf ball bound
Let’s focus on the third bullet point above. Golfers often try to control the golf swing and the location of everything in the golf swing. The more the golfer can give up the control of where the shot might go and actually swing free and smooth, the better chance they have of actually hitting a shot down their target line.
Instead, the golfer should focus on a target off in the distance and make a full turn back (out of the way) and then a full turn through (out of the way). Let the arms flow with the body and have a feeling or swing thought of throwing the club down the fairway and towards the target.
BONUS TIP: Train for Speed!
If you are someone that makes a full rotational turn and still lacks distance, make sure you check out the training system below!
My own experience with training for speed has been incredible. 5 years ago my average swing speed was between 98-101. Over the past month I have started to hit the 111-115 range! Yes, you too can gain speed and distance!
I would highly recommend checking out SuperSpeed Golf to improve your swing speed!
I spent many years wondering how I can increase my swing speed. Regardless of your current speed levels, there are always new barriers to break!
Check out the Price of SuperSpeed Golf HERE!
The SuperSpeed Training System is based on three different swing speed sticks all weighing at different weights. There is a green club that is 10% lighter than the average driver, the blue club which is 5% lighter and the red club which is actually 5% heavier!
Following their prescribed protocols the golfer completes the training every other day. The total time to complete most of their protocols is between 10-15 minutes. Most people can find the time to make this happen. The golfer will also need a swing radar to measure their progress.
The science behind the SuperSpeed Training System is based on overspeed training. Overspeed training has been around for several decades now and has been used by olympic athletics in the sport of Track and Field.
The science behind this overspeed training is based on the premise that your brain will only allow your body to move as fast as it feels it can stop safely! So, you get to work and swing the clubs as fast as possible, retraining your brain to allow you to swing your driver faster.
For more permanent results, the golfer should continue these training protocols for several months. The initial 5-8% is great and can become more permanent with the right length of training. The golfer can expect to continue to break down barriers every several months at a 1-2% increase.
My own experience has been an increase of 13-17 miles per hour on average from between 98-101 all the way up to 111-115. My goal is to hit the PGA Tour average of 113 mph in the coming months. (Update, I have hit this number in speed training) I will continue to train every other day and watch in amazement as I am hitting drivers longer now than ever before!
Phil Mickelson (a senior golfer now) has been known to increase his swing speed in the past year or so and is close to 120 miles per hour in his swing speed. There are potential results for golfers of all ability levels and age!
Check the current price on SuperSpeed Golf System, here!
| Original Swing Speed | After 4-6 Weeks | New Carry Distance | Total Distance |
| 95 | 102 | 245 | 265 |
| 100 | 108 | 259 | 279 |
| 105 | 113 | 271 | 291 |
| 110 | 118 | 283 | 303 |
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.