Backswing & TakeawayBeginnerFixes: Poor Rotation

Swap Pockets Drill

Curated PGA Drill by Me and My Golf

Focus Area

Hip Rotation

Rep Guidance

3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps

Equipment

Golf club, alignment stick (optional)

Skill Level

Beginner

Video walkthrough by Me and My GolfWatch on YouTube ↗

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

Simplifies the complex movement of hip rotation into an easily understood, single-plane movement, which helps stop lateral swaying and encourages the correct coil.

How to Perform the Drill

Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Focus on moving your right front pocket to where your back pocket would be (rotation).

  2. 2

    Step 2

    This simple mental cue emphasizes turning the hips rather than swaying laterally.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Aims to achieve a 40-degree hip turn.

What Good Feels Like

Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.

Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed

Poor RotationSwayingLack of Hip Turn

Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill

How to Stop Swaying in the Golf Swing

Swaying happens when your hips slide laterally in the backswing instead of rotating, moving your swing center off the ball and dragging the low point with it. Fix it by keeping pressure on the inside of your trail foot and turning your trail hip back and around: coil around a stable axis instead of drifting off it.

How to Improve Hip Rotation in the Golf Swing

Improve hip rotation by turning your trail hip back and behind you in the backswing: feel your trail front pocket move to where your back pocket was, while keeping pressure on the inside of your trail foot. If your turn is physically restricted, flaring your trail foot at address unlocks the hip joint immediately.

Not sure this is your real fault?

Upload one swing video and our AI will identify whether poor rotation is actually what's costing you strokes, using physics-backed metrics and a practice plan matched to what it finds. Your first analysis is free.

Related Practice Drills

View All Drills ↗
Hip Rotation Test/Flare Out Foot Drill (Internal Rotation) thumbnail

Hip Rotation Test/Flare Out Foot Drill (Internal Rotation)

Beginner · Poor Rotation

View Guide
Pressure into the Heel Drill thumbnail

Pressure into the Heel Drill

Intermediate · Poor Rotation

View Guide
Halfway Back Stop and Feel Drill thumbnail

Halfway Back Stop and Feel Drill

Beginner · Poor Rotation

View Guide
The Match-Up Drill (Torso/Hip Sync) thumbnail

The Match-Up Drill (Torso/Hip Sync)

Intermediate · Poor Rotation

View Guide