Stop Bumping Your Hips and You Will Rip the Cover Off the Ball!

Are you trying to improve your ball striking by “bumping your hips” in transition? While this cue is popular among golfers, it’s often misunderstood—and misapplied. In this post, we’ll explore the right way to use lateral motion in your swing and how to avoid the pitfalls that come with overdoing the bump. Plus, we’ll show you a practical feel-based drill that will help you stay centered and compress the ball more effectively.

The Problem with “Just Bumping the Hips”

You’ve likely heard the advice: bump your hips to start the downswing. The idea is to shift weight to your lead side and generate a powerful strike. But what happens if the hips move and the upper body stays behind? You get a thin shot, poor contact, or a ball that sails off to the right. That’s because the upper and lower body are no longer working in sync.

From a front view, you might see players on the range practicing this “hip bump,” but look closely—many of them end up with their belt buckle moving forward while their shirt buttons tilt back. This disconnection leads to all sorts of mishits: early release, hooks, pushes—you name it.

The Key Concept: Move Forward Together

To strike the ball cleanly, both your upper and lower body need to move toward the target together during transition. A helpful visual? Think about your shirt buttons and belt buckle. From the top of the swing, they should stay stacked—one on top of the other—as you begin your forward motion.

This coordinated movement keeps you centered, maintains your pressure on the ground, and leads to the kind of ball-first contact that compresses the golf ball. If the upper body lags behind, your spine tilts excessively, and the clubface path gets out of sync.

Drills to Improve Your Transition

1. The Shirt & Belt Buckle Sync Drill

Setup: Hold a club vertically in front of your chest with both hands, as if you're mimicking your shirt buttons and belt buckle.

Execution: Make a slow rehearsal backswing. As you begin the downswing, feel both the shirt buttons and belt buckle move forward together. Avoid tilting your upper body back—keep everything moving as a unit.

Tip: Record yourself from the front to ensure your shirt and belt stay stacked through the transition.

2. The Lead Shoulder & Knee Ground Pressure Drill

Setup: Without a club or using a club across your shoulders, take your address position.

Execution: Swing to the top slowly. As you transition, feel your lead shoulder and lead knee move down and into the ground together. This creates pressure into the ground and a natural rebound effect through the ball.

Tip: This move generates that explosive, powerful feeling at impact and keeps your body moving efficiently through the shot.

Iron vs. Driver: Is It Different?

Not as much as you might think. While the ball position and spine tilt are different with a driver, the core movement remains the same. You still want that forward push into the lead side—just with a slightly more upward strike due to ball position.

What you don’t want is a forced, exaggerated bump or a hang-back motion thinking it’ll help you “hit up on the ball.” That often leads to early extension and blocks.

Conclusion

If you’ve been trying to “bump your hips” but struggling with poor contact or inconsistency, it’s time to rethink how your body moves during transition. Focus on moving your shirt buttons and belt buckle together toward the target and use the drills above to build a better feel.

Remember, solid golf swings start from centered motion, not forced moves. Keep it synced, stay grounded, and let the compression come naturally.

Want to take your ball striking to the next level? Start applying these concepts today—and notice the difference in your contact and consistency.