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Address Posture / Stance at AddressBody RotationStability & Balance During Rotation All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Pete Cowen's Golf Pivot: The Spiral Swing

Peter Cowen compares the swing to a dance routine. He first establishes the foundation—a stance built from the hips—and then demonstrates the pivot he calls the spiral: a twist that rises from the left foot to the right shoulder and then unwinds as it moves downward.

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Peter Cowen
Peter Cowen · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemBending Your Knees at the Address: Use the Shoelaces as a GuideSimon Camirand · Beginner8 minSame problemSpace Between the Body and the Ball: How to Prevent a ShankGiles Gill Golf · Beginner / Intermediate26 minFrom the same proPete Cowen's Push-Pull Driver DrillPeter Cowen · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

Peter Cowen talks about learning pyramid: You learn from the bottom up, and the bottom refers to your posture, arm position, and grip. For posture: feet shoulder-width apart (slightly narrower for short shots, slightly wider for long ones), stand up straight, then place your thumbs on the hip bones, with the club held across the body. From this position, lower your body while feeling your hamstrings pull toward your glutes; relax your arms and bend at the knees and ankles, without sitting down. The principle: the better you control the floor, the better you control everything above it.

The movement isn't “turn and then come back.” It's a spiral, like a rope tied to the left foot that twists all the way up to the right shoulder: left foot toward the right ankle, left ankle toward the right shin, and so on, up to the left chest toward the right shoulder. The right hip rises and retracts into itself instead of just swinging. At the top, the taut rope wants to come back down: the downswing releases this tension, spiraling downward, around and through. When the body does the work, the club moves into the correct positions without you having to seek them out.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold yourself perfectly upright, keeping your balance.
  2. Place your thumbs on your hip bones, with the club resting across your hips.
  3. From this position, lean forward while feeling your hamstrings pull toward your glutes.
  4. Relax your arms, bend your knees and ankles, and then position the club.
  5. During the backswing, feel the rotation rise from your left foot up to your right shoulder, with your right hip rising and rolling backward.
  6. At the top, let the tension pull the body downward: unroll the spiral around and through the ball.

Key Takeaways

The foundation of the swing is your stance, arm position, and grip.
Feet shoulder-width apart—slightly narrower for short shots, slightly wider for long ones.
The bend starts at the hip bones, not the back.
Bend at the knees and ankles; do not sit down.
The pivot is a spiral that rises from the left foot to the right shoulder.
If the body is working, the club finds its own positions.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Bend forward from your back instead of your hips.
  • Sit back on your heels instead of bending at the knees and ankles.
  • Turn and then return to a horizontal position: power is lost.
  • Let your right hip simply pivot instead of lifting and moving backward.
  • Try to find the club's positions with your arms instead of letting your body create them.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Pre-shot routine: thumbs on hips, lean forward, arms relaxed
  2. Hold the club behind your back, and twist your body in a spiral motion all the way up
  3. Feel the rope tighten from your left foot to your right shoulder
  4. Let the downswing follow the spiral, without straining your arms

Your Questions

Why does Peter Cowen talk about a spiral rather than a rotation?

For him, turning and coming back doesn't build power. The spiral rises from the left foot to the right shoulder like a rope being twisted, then releases in the downswing like a spring.

How do you find the correct tilt point at the address?

Place your thumbs on your hip bones, with the club positioned across them, and lean forward from that point. You should feel your hamstrings pulling toward your glutes—not your back working.

What should the right hip do during the backswing?

It rises and retracts. If it just spins, power is lost.

Should you bend your knees deeply?

No. Peter Cowen instructs you to bend at the knees and ankles without sitting down, to maintain contact with the ground.

Learn More

All videos on “Stance / Address Posture” →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “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 Feet Turned Outward at Address: More Rotation in GolfSlightly spread your feet apart (the front foot a little more) without widening your stance: this provides more rotation, stability, and speed, and puts less pressure on your knees. Backswing Rotation Exercise: Open the Upper BodyWithout using your right hand, extend your right arm backward as if to show your chest to someone behind you, pressing down with the inside of your back foot. 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. Peter CowenAll of his lessons

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

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