Lesson Notes: Trail Knee Position and Hip Rotation

The Goal: To unlock full hip and torso rotation in the backswing, allowing the body to unwind in sequence and maintain strong trail arm structure into the downswing.

The Common Problem:

• Golfers often press their trail knee forward or inward at setup in an attempt to stabilize themselves.
• This inward pressure blocks internal hip rotation and completely locks up the hips during the backswing.
• Without proper hip clearance, torso rotation is restricted, forcing an out-of-sequence, over-the-top move on the downswing.
• Collapsing the knee inward prevents the golfer from getting their butt deep, losing posture and sacrificing ground leverage.

The Solution: Tracking the Knee Outward

• Open It Up: Do not let the back knee cave in. Instead, open up the posture and feel the trail knee tracking directly over your toes.
• The Hip Check Drill: Place your golf club across your hips. Practice pressing the trail knee slightly outward to actively feel the hip joint open.
• Load the Hip: Keeping the knee stable and pointing outward opens the hip joint, creating excellent hip flexion so you can stay back in your posture.
• Complete the Turn: This correct alignment allows your front shoulder to rotate fully over your back foot, setting up a powerful, sequenced downswing with the trail arm working cleanly in front of your torso.

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