Pelvic Rotation & Sway
Mastering the engine of the golf swing. How to properly load, rotate, and avoid early extension.
The pelvis is the largest, heaviest segment of the body used in the golf swing. If it moves incorrectly, every other segment (torso, arms, club) must compensate to make contact with the ball.
Sway vs. Turn (The Backswing)
A massive differentiator between elite players and amateurs is how they load the trail hip.
- Sway (The Amateur Flaw): The pelvis slides laterally away from the target. The center of mass shifts entirely over the outside of the trail foot, making it difficult to push back toward the target.
- Turn (The Pro Move): The trail hip rotates deep behind the player. Pressure shifts to the inside of the trail heel, but the center of mass remains relatively centered, primed to push off.
Early Extension (The Downswing Killer)
Early extension is defined as the pelvis moving closer to the golf ball during the downswing. This is a reaction to a flaw, not a root cause.
Why Do We Early Extend?
Usually, early extension is a subconscious protective mechanism. If the clubface is wide open (due to wrist extension) or the shaft is too steep, rotating the pelvis properly would result in a massive slice or a missed ball. The brain forces the pelvis to stop rotating and thrust forward to create space for the hands to flip and save the shot.
Proper pelvic rotation requires pushing back and around with the lead leg (using Ground Reaction Forces). The lead hip should move away from the ball line at impact, creating massive space for the arms to swing through.