Connected vs Disconnected Rotation: Alexis Cocheteux
“Does”rotate your shoulders” mean nothing to you? Alexis Cocheteux of iGolfPro explains that everyone feels the rotation in their own way. He distinguishes between “associated” and “dissociated” players, then offers several tips on how to feel the rotation to successfully execute the swing.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Alexis Cocheteux, rotation is essential for consistency and distance, but first you have to find your sensory system. Some players are partners: They move as a single unit; the lower body drives the upper body. Others are disassociated: The upper body can rotate independently and initiates the rotation. A player who focuses on the upper body is aware of their shoulders; a player who focuses on the lower body is primarily aware of what’s happening around the pelvis, and an instruction like “shift your weight off your right hip” will resonate more with them.
Since the return leg depends on the outbound leg, he emphasizes the backswing. Together with the students in his VIP club, he discovered another key: the front knee. If he moves inward, it frees up his hips and his shoulders rotate; if he moves toward his toes, his lower body rotates very little, which is more typical of players with a disconnected movement pattern, like him. He recommends testing the sensation at low speed without a ball, then with a low-intensity ball, before gradually increasing the intensity.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Pay attention to yourself: do you feel your shoulders or your hips more when you turn?
- If you can feel your shoulders, you're probably a bit disconnected: try rotating your shoulders in the backswing.
- If you feel it mainly in your pelvis, you tend to be more of a team player: try to relax your right hip.
- Also try the front knee key: turn inward to release the pelvis, or toward your toes if you don't turn your lower body much.
- Swing back at a slow pace, without a ball, to get a feel for it.
- Reintroduce the ball at a low intensity, then gradually increase the intensity.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Follow a rotation schedule that doesn't match how you feel.
- Neglecting the backswing by focusing only on the return leg.
- Go straight for the thrill at full speed with the ball.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Slow lifts without a ball, testing the shoulders, right hip, and then the front knee
- Low-intensity balls with the key held in place
- Gradual increase in intensity, same sensation
Your Questions
What is the difference between associated and dissociated rotation?
Coordinated: The lower body leads the upper body; the body rotates as a single unit. Uncoordinated: The upper body rotates independently of the lower body and initiates the rotation, without the lower body remaining stationary.
Why doesn't the instruction “turn your shoulders” work for everyone?
Because a partner player mainly feels it in their pelvis. Alexis Cocheteux advises them instead to focus on shifting their right hip, which rotates the shoulders.
What is the front knee lock used for?
Some students prefer this technique. The front knee that turns inward frees up the pelvis and rotates the shoulders; the knee that moves toward the toes is better suited for players with poor coordination, who do not rotate their lower body much.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Alexis Cocheteux). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.