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There are a number of different terms floating around the golfing lexicon with regards to the hip turn.

The hip turn is the act of rotating the hips towards the target during the down swing which adds power and consistency to golf shots. Clearing the hips refers to this movement as the hips turn and clear out of the way allowing the arms and hands to move down into impact.

Follow this guide to better understand how to clear the hips during the down swing.

• From the top of the swing, the first thing to move should be the hips
• This rotation of the hips towards the target generates a great deal of the power transferred into the ball at impact by allowing the body to follow the correct sequence
• When reaching the top of the back swing, which should feature a full shoulder turn, golfers should feel the first thing to move is the left hip
• This will spark a chain reaction which will see the core, shoulders, arms and hands follow
• At impact, the left side should still be rotating toward the target until at the top of the through swing the hips have fully turned and face down the target line
• This will help create the correct sequence of movements and deliver a great deal of power into the shot
• Without clearing the hips out of the way, the hands and arms will have nowhere to go and usually swing out over the target line causing pulls and slices

Clearing the hips simply refers to the rotation of the hips though impact and the way they leave room for the hands and arms to swing into the ball.

Clearing the hips refers to the rotation of the hips towards the target and not pushing the hips backward through impact. Pushing the hips backward will cause a golfer to dip down at the ball and hit inconsistent shots.

Moving the hips forward towards the ball during the down swing is known as early extension and causes a number of different problems. One such problem is a forward hip thrust which reduces the amount of room the hands have coming into impact.

Some golfers like to actively count out the swing but this can lead to a mechanical and unnatural motion. Try to imitate a rhythm or find your own and don’t manufacture it.