Many swing characteristics can separate the good golfers from the bad: swing speed, angle of attack, low points, distance…you get the idea. But there’s one data point that almost always separates good and bad golfers — and you don’t even need to see a golfer’s full swing to know where he or she falls on that spectrum.
That data point comes in the form of pelvis sway. With swing analysis tools like Sportsbox AI, you can track this number easily on each swing, providing a good indicator of where you fall on the handicap spectrum.
Sportsbox AI founder Jeehae Lee recently said that tracking your pelvis swing number at “P4” (a point near the top of the backswing) usually reveals the effectiveness of your swing. For high handicappers, this number typically shows that the pelvis has deviated several inches away from the target when they reach the end of the backswing. For low handicaps, that number is closer to 0.
There is nothing wrong with a little away from the target during the backswing. But the key distinction is that among higher-level golfers, that turn toward the target begins before reaching the top of the backswing. This move – commonly called re-centering – is performed by almost all low-handicap golfers and is a key indicator of a great swing.
So, the next time you wonder where you should start to try to build a swing that mimics the best in the world, remember that the number of pelvis swings at the top of the backswing. If you can re-center properly and start that turn early, you’ll be well on your way to swinging like the best players in the game.
3 things I think
1. Team Golf Season: After an exciting Walker Cup last week, we have another round of team golf this weekend with the Solheim Cup in Holland. Team USA won two years ago at home, but Europe had been dominant before, holding the Cup in three consecutive meetings. With home field advantage for the Euros this week, I see them returning to their winning ways.
2. LIV 1.0 is no longer: The news of the week in the world of golf is the bankruptcy filing of LIV Golf. What this means for the long-term future of the league is unknown, but it gave fans a look under the hood of the league, which until this point had been shrouded in mystery.
3. Commander in cleats: It looks like President Trump will make an appearance this weekend at the Irish Open at Doonbeg, which is one of his (many) properties. It’s sure to be a chaotic scene for fans – and players – on the day he attends. Ticket holders want to get there early.