Seated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's Stretch
Is your upper body not rotating enough—due to age or a lack of flexibility? Simon Camirand suggests a very simple exercise: sit on a bench with a club resting on your shoulders. Just a few dozen seconds a day, at home or at the office, to increase your range of motion.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
To generate power, the upper body needs to be able to rotate. If this rotation is difficult, explains Simon Camirand, it’s often due to age or a lack of flexibility. Hence this simple stretching exercise: sitting on a bench, with the club resting on your shoulders (or simply with your hands clasped), rotate your upper body first to one side and then to the other. Why sit down? Because The bench restricts the lower body: When standing, it is often the pelvis that rotates instead of the torso.
He recommends that work on both sides, for both the backswing and the through-swing, about 30 seconds to one minute a day, starting slowly to avoid injury. A sign of progress: as the days go by, the tip of the club points more and more toward a person standing in front of you. Greater flexibility means a wider range of motion, more speed, and, according to him, a lower risk of injury. Stop if you feel any pain.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Sit on a bench or a chair without armrests.
- Place a club on your shoulders, or simply clasp your hands together.
- Gently turn your upper body to one side, stretching as far as you can while remaining comfortable.
- Return to the center, then turn the other way.
- Continue for 30 seconds to one minute, at a steady pace.
- Watch where the tip of the club is pointing to track your progress.
- Next, take a few swings while focusing on the added rotation.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do the exercise standing up: the pelvis rotates instead of the torso.
- Work on only one side.
- Force or twist in short, jerky movements starting on the first day.
- Keep going despite the pain.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- 30 seconds to one minute every day, while sitting
- Both sides at each session
- At home, at the office, or before playing
- Stop if you feel pain
Your Questions
Why do this exercise sitting down instead of standing up?
When seated, the bench restricts movement of the lower body. Simon Camirand explains that when standing, the pelvis often rotates to compensate, even though the goal is to stretch the upper body.
How much time per day?
He recommends 30 seconds to one minute a day—or more if you'd like—starting slowly to avoid injury. Stop if you feel any pain.
How can I tell if I'm making progress?
Look at the tip of the club: the more flexible you become, the more it points toward someone standing in front of you. At first, it’s far from that—that’s normal.
Do we need a club?
No. You can just cross your arms over your chest. The club is mainly there as a visual cue.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.