Clear Hips Golf Drill: Ben Hogan’s Throwing Feel

by | Indoor Golf Drills, Long Game Drills

Three photographs of Ben Hogan demonstrating a sidearm throw, framed in the yellow and blue golf brand.

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DRILL OVERVIEW

Clear Hips: 3 Steps to Make Room at Impact

Your drill at a glance

Long gameDrill category
Room for the arms at impactBenefit
5–10 minutesPractice time
5 / 10Difficulty
Club + ballsEquipment
Clear Hips drill: set your hips back and pause at the top, let the arms fall, then maintain room as you turn through impact. Complete two sets of nine shots.

This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.

Create room for your arms and club to move through impact. Use Hogan’s throwing motion as a feel, then pause at the top of your swing, let your arms fall in front of you and turn through while keeping your hips back. Practising slowly gives you time to notice how your lower body and arms work together.

Step 1. Watch the movement

Watch the demonstration, paying attention to the pause at the top and the space the golfer maintains through impact.

Step 2. Feel the throw, then clear your hips

Three photographs of Ben Hogan demonstrating a sidearm throwing motion, from preparation through release.
Ben Hogan’s throwing sequence: notice how the body turns to make room for the arm.

Feel Hogan’s throwing motion

Rehearse a gentle sidearm throwing motion, as shown in the three photographs. Let your hips turn as the arm moves through. Use this as a movement feel before returning to your club.

Set up and pause at the top

Address the ball with your hips back and your bottom protruding naturally behind you. Turn to the top of your backswing, then pause briefly.

Let the arms fall and turn through

Let your arms fall in front of you on the downswing while retaining the wrist angle—the lag—rather than throwing the clubhead out early. Allow your hips to clear as you turn through and strike the ball.

Keep the feeling of your hips staying back through the downswing. Avoid thrusting them towards the ball; the aim is to leave room for your arms and club at impact. Begin with slow rehearsals, then add a ball at a pace you can control.

Your cue: “Pause. Arms fall. Make room.”

Watch forWhat to try
Hips moving towards the ballSlow down and keep the feeling of your hips staying back as you turn.
Rushing from the topMake the pause clear before allowing the arms to fall.
Forcing the wrist angleKeep your grip and arms relaxed. Rehearse the sequence without trying to hold a rigid position.

Step 3. Complete your round

Complete your round of 18. One shot. One tick.

What to do

Play eighteen controlled shots with one club. Pause at the top, let the arms fall and turn through with room at impact.
ScoreWhen to award it
1 pointYou complete the routine and shot.
0 pointsYou do not complete the routine.
Add your points for a total out of eighteen.

George’s Conclusion

George, scratch golfer and mad inventor of the Golf Practice Made Fun App, holding a phone at the range.

Think of the room you create for the club, rather than trying to spin your hips as fast as possible. Pause, let the arms fall, and turn through without pushing your hips towards the ball. Repeat your round of 18 another day to make that sequence more familiar.

Explore the Hip Bump drill for another lower-body rehearsal, or browse the long game drills.

MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT

Pick a card. Practise with purpose.

Explore the Golf Practice Made Fun App: Putting, Chipping, Bunker, Wedge play, Long game, Golf fitness and Mind game.
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