The Hidden Rotation in your Golf Backswing

The backswing in golf has traditionally been very upper body centric. In recent times there has been more focus on the hips but our upper body and hips do not have direct contact to the ground. The feet have been a very overlooked part of the golf swing in the context of the backswing and the downswing. Here's how we can turn that around and uncover the hidden rotation of the golf backswing, ZEN Golf Mechanics style.
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▶ Leave Me Alone - Elro
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DISCLAIMER:
Marcus Bell is a registered exercise professional and sports bio-mechanist but any exercises recommended or suggested in this video are performed purely at the individual's own risk.

[@davidmcilroy2288]

I really enjoy watching these videos. His enthusiasm is evangelistic. He reminds me of Padhraig Harrington in that respect. Also, the technique is so intuitive and for anyone thinking of trying it - it does work. I'm on the way to 60 and swinging like this I can get a better range of motion and ball compression than I did when I was 40.

[@markk171]

Did this kind of exercise all morning yesterday swinging a golf club in the backyard. Last night went and played 9 holes. Our 3rd hole is a 155 yard par 3. With my "normal" speed golf swing with an 8 iron, I hit a nice shot into what I thought was perfect. Well, I flew the green. I could not believe it. I laser'd the shot and it carried 165 yards. I NEVER hit an 8 iron that long and I turn 61 in a month. I could not believe it. I can hardly wait to do this with a driver..WOO HOO!!! Thanks Marcus!

[@iancox8619]

The one secret seniors can benefit from ( saving chronic back pain ) thanks 🙏 Marcus 👍👍👍another great video.

[@GRFGolf]

Absolutely! Too many backs have fallen victim to unnecessary restriction

[@hildahudson2344]

Marcus - the Elvis of golf instructors! Great rotation from the ground up 👍🏼

[@GRFGolf]

😂😂😂 Elvis would've soon made short work of the balance pads 🕺

[@petera1033]

The look behind example ....just fantastic

[@GRFGolf]

Cheers Peter, hope it helps

[@jonathanlambert7004]

I have watched so many golf videos on here. My method separating the wheat from the chaff is simply reoccurring themes. I hit 1000s of balls trying out these methods. The concept you covered here is very exciting. I am working on something very similar. I have taken it to the stage where I can hit some amazing golf shots without any effort. Chipping with Pro like control. It's mind blowing the improvement I have had. But the technique or feel can vanish without any warning. I have no clue what I did to make it vanish. Until I watched this video. The movement you teach here is fundamental. I am convinced this is where I am going wrong.

[@marypar4]

Such great advice! Thank you.

[@jimmystewart58]

Great stuff I’ve just kinda found this Zen golf and all the stuff I’ve seen is my golf swing

[@markwabinga6508]

You are awesome 🤩 wish you were in the U.S. 🤙🏽

[@GRFGolf]

Watch this space 😉

[@billyfromla1117]

The best explanation, thanks

[@nreid4486]

Another golden nugget Markus! Body friendly movements are priceless man!

[@GRFGolf]

Absolutely! Thank you.

[@Metroidam11]

This is such incredible advice and I haven’t even tried it yet. I’ve only been golfing 2 months and this has completely changed my perception of the swing.

[@TaskersFishingAdventures]

Due to injury I’ve been unable to visit Marcus shortly upon booking but I can’t get enough of this content and can’t wait to have a half day session early new year

[@michaelsliwinski8044]

LOVE IT! Another gem video! PURE GOLD! You are the Anti-McLean!

[@GRFGolf]

😂😂😂

[@sepetisionelatu5539]

So true and thank you. Too much information doesn't mean good mostly a disaster when it comes to the swing. Too busy hitting positions so beautifully and still slab the ball rather than compressing it 😂😂

[@stevecuss]

Took to course for first time today and was a game changer for me. Changed my sequencing which now starts from my left foot, rotating me to “look behind” Extra distance on each club and better ball flight. Thank you!

[@melanielamb6500]

Need this for my swing. Going to try this week

[@davidmeeks7449]

Damn good. Brilliant way to unmask what really happens in a sound golf swing. Thank you.

[@valentindegen]

Gamechanger! Thx so much, G!

[@richardblack9623]

Thanks Marcus ..seems to to free my turn considerably as a senior golfer.

[@GRFGolf]

Great to hear, Richard. You're welcome

[@gcrgolf]

Simple explanation, solid basic information. Well done.

[@GRFGolf]

Much appreciated!

[@neils6735]

Nice concise explanation 👍🏌️‍♂️

[@lens7859]

Great job

[@stlobelio99]

Hey Marcus, you have better my swing my by miles. I have always had a short swing, my coach said I need to get my back swing longer but I couldn't do it. I have a relatively big chest, so I thought my chest fat and muscle are hindering my back swing. Plus, Jon Rahm is kind of giving me the assurance that my short back swing is okay. Oh how wrong was I. I have a proper back swing now by allowing the weight on my left foot move forward. Thanks Marcus!

[@oloneadrian]

Have a GRF infinity board and really love it would love to purchase an extra blow up disc like Marcus uses in so many videos the push up of right foot toe is an amazing golf tip thank you to all the ZEN team best on KZbin or anywhere else

[@ggaspord]

This is really good information…thanks.

[@HBHS16]

Excellence ❤

[@nickylutesgolf]

This makes enormous sense 👍

[@GRFGolf]

Glad to hear, Nick

[@budflounders8845]

Enjoy the movement....Brilliant

[@GRFGolf]

This is what we play for!

[@howrdhill4700]

Man you hit a home run with this one. Great job. Keep it up 👍

[@GRFGolf]

Will do, thanks a lot

[@stephenport4768]

Gary Player does a very similar movement as you showed it's a bit like the Elvis Presley hip movement that's a great tip that I will be trying on the range soon

[@johndavidson861]

absolutely brilliant

[@GRFGolf]

Thanks John

[@neilwalsh1427]

Great video!

[@GRFGolf]

Cheers, Neil

[@ryanmikkelson8293]

The best and most consistent energy comes from the ground. It works.

[@GRFGolf]

Agreed!

[@mukulrawat62]

Great one Marcus👍 Effortless, efficient, enjoyable . now I can do the baby sitting after the round without feeling tired and pooped. 😂😂

[@sfmgolf]

The Jedi Golf Master!!!

[@GRFGolf]

At your service!

[@markwhitson]

Hello there. Does the change of pressure to the lead foot initiate the down swing or is there another push off the lead foot at impact? I'm struggling quite a bit with sequencing. I can really only hit my 7 iron about 135 yards (I'm 40 and picked up golf this past summer). I can see the difference your teaching is making to people who have golfed for years and never really released the club as it was intended and I'm worried I'm building a habit that will feel drastically different from an actual pure golf release. Love your channel.and teaching style. Cheers from Canada!

[@einstu]

Roughly but watch a few other videos where Marcus shows his drop and pop

[@RogerFoxwellHypnotherapy]

Love this, so good 😀

[@GRFGolf]

Glad you like it! Cheers, Roger

[@dwboston1]

Great video Marcus - I have the Zen GRF system and this really simplifies it for me. One question - same general movement for pitches/chips?

[@loutennant99]

Excellent

[@GRFGolf]

Cheers Colin

[@bradcooper670]

Really would like to see rotation from top of swing through the finish. This episode really focused on the start and backswing. I get confused on where my arms are suppose to be as you start rotating through the ball to the finish

[@GRFGolf]

Video on this is to come 👍

[@carolynmchugh4554]

That's what I need too.

[@TenPester]

I started completely removing my right arm in the down swing (right handed writer and golfer), so it just guides now, but one odd by product was that I started lifting my right thumb and index finger off the grip in the backswing, then started pushing my left heel away, and my right toes away, almost opposing each other. The club just lifted up really lightly. Caught me off guard at first. But now I don't know what my lower half is meant to do on the down swing, but i'm trying to work it out.

[@GRFGolf]

Keep at it Paul, changing one thing changes everything else as you've found out so keep experimenting 👍

[@catxnc]

love the suit on the hanger in back. do the heels stay down?

[@GRFGolf]

3D suit 😉👍

[@honorrespect5894]

What helps to keep your head centered and not move with the upper body?

[@GRFGolf]

Good use of the lower body 👍

[@phillipashby4086]

Brilliant as usual. By the way, Marcus received a message as a subscriber saying I had been chosen for a Lesson from an unknown weirdly written number. I think it was a scam using your youtube channel.

[@GRFGolf]

Thanks for alerting me on this one Phillip

[@mattthompson1063]

Do the balance pads come with the pressure board?

[@thomasfraser9072]

So essentially you’re saying the golf swing is a uniquely diagonal obliques crossing over movements of our body from one side to the other known as the X foot factor. And so when we kick the ground with our lead foot for our backswing the ground kicks back to our trail foot then when we kick the ground with our trail foot; the ground kicks us back to our lead foot giving all of us the continuous smooth simple magical mystery tour of the golf swing. 👍

[@huygmail]

when I do this, I hit it way right!! push and when I try to fix it I hit hook it everything LOL

[@maxwired2235]

Exactly how Louis Oosthuizen does it with so much easy speed/power. I can't understand why he has back issues with that swing.

[@liquidmocofilmsllc4915]

IMO I don't agree with using a 2d pressure board to represent what is actually happening with the feet. There are elements in athletic movements that are not related to the floor/ground. For example, when a pitcher lifts their lead leg/foot off the ground then whirls it towards the target creating an enormous amount of energy. I think someone needs to invent a 3D apparatus to measure the entire movements of the feet. I have a theory that the trail leg/knee kicks/bends towards the target much like a pitcher throws their leg and then the lead leg catches that inertia (weight shift). Then the lead leg resists and straightens to continue the rotation. If you notice most tour pro's knees explode toward the target and I believe this happens unweighted. Current pressure boards are unable to detect that movement.

[@GRFGolf]

I've conducted several extensive university research studies on full body 3D kinetics and kinematics with 3D forceplates for over 12 years including a system measuring energy at each joint. I agree the pressure plate only gives limited data due to only measuring vertical force but the pressure patterns and velocities do give enough data if read correctly to interpret and assume directional components. My system is a gait analysis system too so the pressure data gives insightful feedback on footprint/ground interaction which give an inference into movement chains accessed and potential movement patterns further up the system. This video is just a basic suggestion for how we can utilise the ground better.

[@GRFGolf]

I ran a comprehensive research study with 24 participants from European Tour winner to 28 handicap. I measured 3d gait kinematics with all lower body joint actions (lumbar to MTP's) and a full foot model. I then measured the lower body (same marker set) with 10 x 7 iron swings and 10 x drivers swings. Results were interesting. I never published the results but they've been very important in the direction of my coaching.

[@liquidmocofilmsllc4915]

@@GRFGolf That is exactly what I'm saying in layman's terms. You can jump back and forth all you want on your model of forceplate (2d) but it gives absolutley no indication of as you state, "patterns further up the system." Or in layman's terms again, it gives absolutely no evidence of hip/torso rotation. The reciprocal would be that I could rotate my hips and torso all day on that forceplate while keeping my pressure even on both feet. IMO its a terrible indicator of proper rotation and I wish golf instructors would stop hyping it so much even for basic instruction. Instructors should focus one thing only and that is impact position. You teach a person to get into a good impact position (at least within 90 percentile of pros) and their bodies will figure the rest.

[@liquidmocofilmsllc4915]

@@GRFGolf Would be great to see the results.

[@benr91377]

Shanked the last shot

[@GRFGolf]

No hosel rocket there my man 👍

[@benr91377]

@@GRFGolf 😂

[@ashleywalls4097]

Golf has to be the most overthought thing in human history.

[@mightyd55]

It’s as if you are just talking to me Marcus

[@CallMeJackWagon]

Guarantee you Tiger wasn't doing this hence his back issues. My + HCP buddy says the same, no leg movement, should be coiling and loading up.. He also suffers from lower back pain 🤷‍♂️ This was a light bulb moment for me... I've seen a lot of your videos but never really put this together until now.

[@GRFGolf]

That's awesome Scott, glad it's helped

[@RobertJohanssonRBImGuy]

THERE IS NO ROTATION.