Do you have a haunting habit of coming out on top of the ball? You’re not alone. Many golfers have excellent form at set-up, but quickly lose it during the backswing. Today we’ll talk about right side bend and how it can help you get the most out of swing to elevate your game. Below are 5 steps to help you utilize right side bend to improve your posture, rotation, and power.
What is right side bend?
Simply put, right side bend is when your right shoulder gets closer to your right hip. It’s like an oblique crunch, but throughout your golf swing.
There’s a distinct difference between right side tilt and ride side bend. Many amateurs think they have right side bend in their backswing because their right shoulder is down. But they swing, and though the right shoulder stays down their left hip comes up too high. This creates an awkward stance that makes it unnecessarily difficult for the player to rotate.
For a proper right side bend, the right hip must come up to meet the shoulder.
Why does right side bend matter?
Right side bend helps you optimize for better power and rotation at the top of your swing. Maintaining a right side bend during the swing brings the right hip forward and opens up the left foot to come around. This eases your rotation allowing you to make better contact with the ball. And who doesn’t want to have a cleaner, farther shot!
Keys to a Better Right Side Bend
Step 1: The Stance
This is the part most golfers have down. Stand shoulder width apart, your head on the ball. Pick the grip of your choice. (Check out our article about proper ten finger grip if you like.) Relax your hands and rest your club on the grass. Try to crunch your right shoulder to your right hip to create the right side bend.
Step 2: Backswing
Initiate your backswing. Rotate your shoulders back, taking extra care to keep that right shoulder down and right hip up. Rock that crunch. Pause at the top of your swing. Your shoulder plane should be close to 40 degrees.
Step 3: Maintain
The downswing is where most people lose their right side bend. Keep your eyes on the ball during the downswing. Keep that crunch tight. You’ll want to feel like your right earlobe is starting to point towards the ground as you swing, and that your head is gradually turning towards the target at impact.
Step 4: Don’t Stand Up
Avoid the temptation to straighten and stand up. You should stand up on the follow through, not before impact. Keep your head on the ball. Where your eyes go, your body will. Wandering eyes could cause you to stand up too soon, increasing the chances you hit the top of the ball. It may also cause a tilt, which limits your rotation – looking away from the ball could even send your shot 40 feet to the right with a slice.
Step 5: Flex and Finish
The right side bend is useless if there’s no flexion. The forward lean from your body helps you tightly maintain your posture and right send bend through to impact. You want to feel like your body is being pushed closer to the ground and you are increasing forward lean as the swing progresses. This will ensure you don’t come out of the swing too early, and help your rotation feel more natural.
Swing through the ball. Your eyes should shift to your target. Try and feel the bend in your right side using your right hip to push your left leg around. The follow through should feel fluid and natural.
Drills to Help You Internalize Right Side Bend
We have a couple of epic drills to help you nail right side bend. Check them out.
#1: Windmills
This is an awesome drill designed to help you feel a right send bend rotation in your swing. If you prefer a live action video click here.
-Stand over the ball like you would if you were about to begin a swing
-Extend your lead arm towards the ball
-Extend your top hand towards the sky
-Now rotating your hips, switch your lead hand and your top hand
-Your right hand should be pointing towards the ball
-Grab a club
-Do a practice swing trying to keep the same motion
-Repeat
#2: Flex Turn, Push Turn
Flexion is one of the most important parts of your golf swing. You want to feel like your body is being compressed as you progress from the backswing, to the downswing, and then to impact. This rotation drill works to create optimal per stroke power and efficiency.
-Stand shoulder width the part with a club across your shoulders.
-With the right side bend intact, rotate your shoulders as if doing a backswing
-Notice how your weight is being pressed to the ground
-Now rotate your shoulders forward as if you’re beginning your downsizing
-Focus on pushing through the ball
-Follow through with your feet
-Do 150-300 reps a day
#3: Film Yourself
Sometimes the simplest things yield the best results. If you’re struggling to reap the rewards of a good right side bend, film yourself. You’re never going to be able to perfect right side bend, or any other aspect of your golf game from feeling alone. You need to see yourself in action to know where to make adjustments
So, next time you hit the driving range, set your phone up and get some footage. Do your shoulder and your hip come together? Is your bend a bend or a tilt? Are you standing up too soon?
Filming yourself can be a huge asset towards improvement. Especially when your corrections are precise and tailored to your biomechanics. Gears golf gives you the tools to find the right swing plane with your right side bend down to the exact degree.
Right Side bend is a technique that if learned correctly, can really take you and your golf game to the next level. If you follow the steps above and give the drills a try, you’ll be well on your way to developing better rotation and more powerful shots.
