How to Have Better Contact in Golf: Hip Sway Drill GOLFTEC Coaches Use

If you're struggling with inconsistent contact—thin shots, fat shots, or topping the ball—you're not alone. In this post, GOLFTEC Coaches break down one of their go-to drills for improving contact: the hip sway drill. You'll learn why many golfers struggle to shift their hips properly, how to fix it with a simple at-home exercise, and how to build more solid, repeatable ball striking.

Cameron Kelly

Last Updated:

July 17, 2025

4 min

lexi using OPTIMOTION and talking to her coach about her swing in GOLFTEC bay

Table of Contents:

Getting consistent, solid contact in golf is one of the most common struggles golfers face. Whether you're hitting behind the ball, topping it, or making thin contact, improving your hip movement can make a huge difference.

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What causes poor contact in golf?

Poor contact often happens because your hips don't sway enough toward the target during your downswing. Most keep their hips too still, which causes copensations like separating the elbows and extending the lead wrist - leading to inconsistent strikes and direction problems.

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What is the hip sway drill that helps improve contact?

At GOLFTEC, we teach a simple drill to improve hip sway:

Start without a ball
Set your address position
Gently bump your hips toward the target
Make small swings (hip high to hip high), keeping elbows squeezed together
This helps you create a repeatable impact pattern slightly ahead of teh ball.

Once comfortable, introduce a golf ball gradually build speed while maintaining the hip movement.

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How does this drill improve my golf shots?

This drill helps you:

Create a consistent swing bottom, hitting the ground in the same spot every time.
Promote solid contact with crisp strikes
Maintain proper elbow and wrist position for better control.
Build muscle memory for better hip movement during your full swing.

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Can this drill help in different lies like rough or bunker?

Yes! Practicing this hip sway drill helps you get better contact in various situations, including fairways, rough, and even bunkers.

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How do I practice this drill at home?

Practice without a ball first to feel the correct hip movement and elbow position. Then slowly add the ball and start hitting short chip shots. Gradually increase your swing length and speed as you become more consistent.

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Ready to work with a coach and improve your contact?

If you want personalized feedback and coaching tailored to your swing, book a GOLFTEC Swing Evaluation today and start hitting better golf shots faster.

Cameron Kelly

Fix My Fault

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