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Body RotationStability & Balance During Rotation All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 6 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Backswing Rotation Exercise: Open the Upper Body

Imagine that someone is standing behind you and you want to show them your entire torso. This is Simon Camirand’s visual cue for feeling the rotation as you rise, without sliding your hips and without losing contact with the inside of your back foot.

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Simon Camirand
Simon Camirand · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.
Schedule · Step 4 of 7A Consistent Swing in 7 StepsCheck this off when: At the top of your backswing, your back is facing the target.
Step 5 →

To be continued

19 minNext Level UpGolf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishGreg Jones · Intermediate18 minSame problemTiger Woods Corrects Amateur Swings: His TipsTiger Woods · Beginner / Intermediate5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

Simon Camirand proposes a sensory exercise. At the address, one withdraw your right hand from the club, and you extend your right arm backward, as if to to show one's entire body to someone standing behind you. To achieve this, the pelvis must open. This prevents a common mistake: the hips pushing backward instead of rotating. You get a feel for this, then work to replicate it with the club, even if the resulting swing arc is slightly smaller.

There are two safeguards in place for this exercise. The weight must end up slightly on the back leg, without moving sideways or shifting your weight to your left leg. And the pressure must remain on the inside of the hind foot: If the clubface opens, you don't rotate as much but you lose your balance, and the downswing becomes difficult. This principle applies to both the driver and the irons.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Take your usual stance facing the ball.
  2. Remove your right hand from the club (for a right-handed player).
  3. Extend your right arm backward as if to show your chest to someone behind you.
  4. Make sure your weight is slightly shifted to your back leg, without slipping.
  5. Keep pressure on the inside of your back foot.
  6. Grab the club with both hands and look for that same feeling as you swing up.
  7. Hit some balls while keeping this image in mind, even if your swing is a little shorter.

Key Takeaways

The image: showing your entire torso to someone standing behind you.
Extending your right arm backward causes your pelvis to rotate.
Turn—don't push your hips backward.
Keep your weight slightly on your back leg, without shifting it.
The pressure remains inside the rear foot.
The same principle applies to the driver and the irons.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Push your hips back instead of rotating them.
  • Shift your weight to your left leg during the rotation.
  • Release the pressure toward the outside of the back foot.
  • Wanting to achieve exactly the same range of motion with the club as without it.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A few rotations without a club, right arm extended backward
  2. Checking the pressure inside the rear foot
  3. Then balls with the same image, whether using an iron or a driver
  4. Return to exercising without a gym as soon as you lose that feeling

Your Questions

Why remove your right hand from the club?

To be able to extend your right arm backward. This movement naturally opens up the pelvis, which is what Simon Camirand wants you to feel.

Should you shift your weight to your right foot?

Gently, but without any lateral movement. The idea is to turn while feeling your weight shift slightly more onto your back leg.

What happens if the pressure shifts to the outside of the foot?

You turn more, but your back leg loses stability, and it becomes very difficult to land properly on impact.

I play less with the club than I do without it—is that a problem?

No. The exercise is meant to increase range of motion slightly and help you get a feel for it; it's normal not to regain 100% of your range of motion.

Learn More

All “Body Rotation” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Stability & Balance During Rotation” →Find the lesson that's right for you Bending Your Knees at the Address: Use the Shoelaces as a GuideBending your knees too much restricts rotation: two guidelines—the club held at the tip of your knee should fall in line with your shoelaces, and the grip should point toward your navel. Golf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishComplete the pivot by turning to the left: open your left foot 20 to 30°, continue turning after impact, and control the finish with your heels aligned. Pressure on the inside of the lead foot in the downswingStart of the downswing: pressure on the inside of the lead foot, checked with an alignment stick on the belt that stays low, without pushing or standing up. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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