Is “Clearing Your Hips” Making Your Back Work Harder?

"Clear your hips" is a common golf cue.

But if you don't have adequate hip rotation, forcing your hips to clear may cause your body to find that rotation somewhere else - including your low back.

Before we ask for more movement, we need to establish stability and control.

Try these 3 exercises:

1. 90/90 Breathing

2 x 5 breaths

Breathe into your abdomen and lower ribs, creating 360 degree expansion.

Goal: Establish trunk stability through breathing and IAP.

2. 90/90 Hip Switches

2 x 6/side

Maintain your trunk position as your rotate your hips from side to side.

Goal: Move through the hips without letting the pelvis and low back take over.

3. Half-Kneeling Ribcage Rotation

2 x 6/side

Keep the pelvis controlled while rotating your ribcage.

Goal: Improve the relationship between your pelvis, hips, and ribcage.

Then hit the range.

Don't think "clear my hips harder."

Think:

"Stable center. Let my hips rotate."

If your low back keeps hurting when you golf, don't keep guessing at the solution.