Andrew Rice Golf

Ben Hogan's Hip Slide (Ravielli)

The hip slide, weight shift, hip drive or whatever you want to call it is one of the most important, yet overlooked elements in the golf swing. Golfers have become so brainwashed against any form of lateral movement that I believe the vast majority of us are trying to stay as quiet and centered as we possibly can.

Here are a few interesting points about hip action:

• The downswing does not mirror the backswing. There should be no lateral hip motion in the back swing, while the downswing must have a good measure of shift towards the target.
• The weight shift to the front foot is entirely attributable to the hips gliding towards the target in the downswing. The head and upper body must remain over or slightly behind the ball as the hips shift, thus creating body curve.
• Remember that hip action incorporates either lateral motion or rotation (for all extensive purposes!). The downswing is intiated by lateral motion over to the front foot and then followed by rotation. This is very important sequencing here.
• Hip slide creates the room necessary in the downswing for the arms and club to drop to the inside. Too much spin or rotation from the top and you can only come over the top.
• Not only does the hip slide create room for the arms to get to the inside, but it also positions the weight so that the ball can be struck with a descending blow. The weight must be on the front foot for any golfer to consistently hit down on the ball.

This video from my YouTube channel presents an excellent case as to why the hip slide in the downswing is vital to a proper path and attack angle into the golf ball.

The Hip Slide

Particularly if you slice or fade the golf ball, drive the weight onto the front foot to initiate the downswing. This really is the best slide to have.

Related articles and drills on the Hip Slide:

Sandtrap.com - this is an excellent discussion on the hip slide and its importance to quality ball striking.

Hip Slide - an excellent presentation by Jim McLean as he explains Hogan’s lateral slide.

Hands and Arms at Impact Drill

Drive the Hips into Impact

Golf’s #1 Impact Drill

 Here are some instructional updates:

• The Berkeley Hall Learning Center has just been completely upgraded!  We have just had all our computers upgraded with the latest software from V1 Golf.  Students will now be able to view a summary from their golf lesson online in their own V1 locker or on their smartphone.  Students will even have the ability to upload their lessons onto Facebook for all their friends and family to see. The changes at the Learning Center include an expansion of our indoor putting capabilities, two Casio EX-F1 Exilim 300 frame per second cameras (for amazing high speed footage of the golf swing!) and the ability to view your golf swing on a 50″ HD screen.

Casio EX-F1 Exlim Camera

• I will be holding a complimentary Swing Seminar based around the information in my book, “It’s All About Impact” at Berkeley Hall on April 19th from 10AM-12PM.  The seminar is free of charge to anybody who purchases a copy of the book at www.itsallaboutimpact.com or from me in person. During the event I will address both the long and shortgame elements discussed in the book, along with a graphic explanation of the 84 degree secret.  As an added bonus all golfers who attend the seminar will receive a one time coupon for a $75 golf lesson with Andrew – that’s a savings of $75!

• This Friday, on March 5th I will be participating in Hilton Head Golf Week at Sea Pines Resort. They are having an Instructional Day with great local teachers like Doug Weaver, John Farrell, Krista Dunton, Tim Cooke and our own local legend, Rick Barry.  The cost is $25.00 per person and all proceeds benefit the Heritage Classic Foundation.  Please come on out and support a great cause and your local community.

Verizon Heritage 2009 Champion Brian Gay

• I am excited to announce that I will be running a Spring Junior Golf Program at Berkeley Hall.  This program will run from Wednesday March 17th to Saturday May 15th. Young golfers (8-18) will have the ability to work on their games for three hours each week in preparation for the summer tournament schedule. We will meet every Wednesday (4-5PM), Thursday (4-5PM) and Saturday (2-3PM) and the group will be limited to 6 students.  The costs will be as follows: Three Hours per week $550; Two Hours per week $450; and One Hour per week $ 350.  All students that attend the program will receive instruction on the complete game of golf including fitness, nutrition, equipment, on-course play and tournament preparation. If you happen to know a young aspiring golfer who might be interested please feel free to forward this information to them. 

For further information on lessons, pacakges and golf schools please contact me at (843)247-4688 or andrew (at) andrewricegolf.com

They both love fashion, big hair and are world renowned over-achievers. Doesn’t one remind you of the other?

So much for global warming! These pictures were taken a mere 8 weeks before Masters weekend.

Augusta National 11th Hole

If you would like to see my pictures taken from two weeks prior to the snow click HERE.

To play better golf the easy way please visit www.itsallaboutimpact.com

After listening to a golf commentator indicate that Ian Poulter’s back leg was way too straight this week I just about fell out my chair. Did he not notice that Poulter was in the process of picking up his inaugural US win and $1.5 million! Two weeks ago I heard similar comments about Dustin Johnson and his arm and wrist position at the top of the backswing. Perhaps they did not notice that he happened to win his 3rd event as an under 25 golfer.

Sam Snead at the Top

What would most golf instructors do with the swing of Sam Snead?

As a golf community we get so caught up in the “correct way” to swing that we lose sight of what is the correct way to hit. All that seems to matter to us is the look of the swing and golf’s greatest champions are proof that looks have nothing to do with results. (Just like in life actually!) Function will always trump form and substance always wins out over style! Let’s start to focus on what makes the golf ball go and get to work on that. There are many elements in the golf swing that are negotiable, like straightening the back leg, or lifting the left heel – just look at Sam Snead above. The key is being able to know which elements are non-negotiable, which are the key parts to the swing where the laws of physics must be obeyed. They all happen to occur in and around impact. Here are the most important ones:

• Get the weight onto the front foot (80+%) at impact.
• Keep the head over or just behind the ball at impact. This means that the weight shift onto the front foot must occur by driving/shifting the hips and mid-section towards the target. This move leads to what I call body curve.
• If the body is positioned correctly, the hands will lead the clubhead into the hit creating a downward blow.

For more information like this please visit www.itsallaboutimpact.com