Why the “Pivot” Is Critical for the Golf Swing
This week, we’re diving into the pivot—one of the most crucial elements of the golf swing. Nashville PGA professional Virgil Herring emphasizes its significance, stating, 'If you can’t pivot, if you can’t coil into your trail leg in the backswing, you can’t play, period.' But what exactly is the pivot? What physical qualities are necessary to pivot without compensation? And how can we develop a body that is mobile, strong, and powerful enough to execute an effective pivot? Let’s explore these questions and unlock the key to a better golf swing.
What is the Pivot in the golf swing?
Here, we will focus on the center load pivot and the trail load pivot. The front leg load pivot is associated with the stack and tilt model of the swing, where there is a slight weight shift forward in the rotation into the backswing. This is associated with the stack and tilt model, a story for another day.
When it comes to center pivots, the backswing looks like a nice rotation around the center of the pelvis. With the trail leg load pivot, we have a slight weight shift to the trail side that accompanies the rotation. How should you turn? They all work! But we can see where your natural tendencies lye and equip you to be the best at that.
Why is the pivot important?
“If you can’t pivot, if you can’t coil into your trail leg in the backswing, you can’t play, period.” Bold words, why is the pivot so important? In Virgil’s eyes, you cannot consistently excel at any other component in the swing without mastering the pivot. And this makes sense! If we cannot create rotation, then we cannot swing. And if we instead create compensations to mimic rotation, then we create unfavorable swing characteristics like loss of posture, flat shoulder plane, slide and sway, hip hiking, and more!
What do we need to have an effective pivot in the golf swing?
Whether we have a trail leg, lead leg, or center pivot, it is essential we have access to and control over key regions…
1. Hip internal rotation
2. Trunk rotation
3. Shoulder mobility
1.Hip Internal Rotation
The pivot is the reason hip internal rotation is such a common topic and point of treatment at IRPC. If we cannot create stable rotation on one hip or the other, we will pivot or coil from elsewhere (compensation). Often, we see tilting at the spine or leaning (sliding and swaying) at the hips as a compensation to missing mobility at one or more of these joints. How can we tell if the hips are limiting our ability to pivot in the swing? We can do TPIs lower quarter rotation test to assess the entire lower extremity or specifically look at hip passive range of motion.
Here is a link to a comprehensive video on the lower quarter rotation test…
Lower extremity mobility for golfers (A comprehensive breakdown)
Here is what testing specifically for hip internal rotation looks like…
If we are noticing this movement is lacking (under 30 degrees), than we can begin to address it. Here are two drills I like to use to create mobility in the hip and strengthen it through internal rotation…
2.Thoracic spine rotation
Besides being able to create pure rotation at the hip, if we lack trunk rotation we will most definitely run into compensation patterns to get us to what feels like a full turn. To test this, we can use the lumbar lock test….
To address thoracic spine mobility, try these two drills below to open up and create space in the middle and upper back before creating strength in this motion.
3. Shoulder mobility
If we cannot achieve the basic positions at the shoulder in the backswing, we will undoubtably destroy our pivot and coil to compensate elsewhere to get further in the swing. What we need is 90 degrees or more of trail shoulder external rotation. TPI has a simple way of testing for shoulder mobility necessary for the golf swing with the shoulder 90/90 test.
Here are two exercises we do that helps create shoulder mobility and strength.
Conclusion
The pivot is arguably the most demanding aspect of the golf swing, requiring exceptional mobility and motor control from the golfer. It serves as the foundation for the coil, the source of both power and consistency in the swing. Without the ability to pivot, effective play becomes impossible. Often, difficulties with the pivot stem from physical limitations. Therefore, testing and addressing the golfer’s pivot capabilities is vital for unlocking their potential to play consistently, powerfully, and pain-free.
-Dr. Nick DC, MS, TPI, CSCS
If you would like to learn more about your body, pain, and performance, send Dr. Nick an email at contact@integratedrpc.com or call at (585)478-4379, or schedule a FREE discovery visit at Contact.
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