THE MOVE that CHANGED MY golf swing FOREVER 

Russell, your "hip depth" videos have changed my game but I was also/still having the "spinning out" like you. What helped me tremendously was introducing a "left side bend" early into the backswing. At the top, I felt REALLY loaded onto my right hip... and ultimately kept it "back" in the downswing transition. This "feel" has been a gamechanger

What a great lesson Russell. So brutally honest. I had the pleasure of sometimes playing with a PGA prospect here in Ventura County, CAli back in the early 90s. He missed his Tour card by 1 stroke twice; you can imagine what that does to a man. That's not all. His brother went on to win 4 times on the PGA tour himself. He accomplished a lot, obviously, as an amateur and even won a pretty big Professional Tournament in Canada, but he was missing something; and he's been looking for it ever since. He's qualified several times now for the US OPEN Seniors. A lifetime of trying to find that one little missing element. You guys that touch greatness, and can just about taste it, well....my hat's off to you. YOU, Russell, by sharing your own struggles, THAT makes you the awesome teacher that you are. You have the gift of knowing the game, and being able to relate to us average hacks. That's perhaps the rarest of all talents in this game.

I've been doing this per you for a few months. Great improvement. Convinced that it is imperative to do this before anything else. " Keep the right hip back and let the left hip join the party" A Russell Heritage quote.

Thanks for sharing! Your approach presents "golf on a different level". I really appreciate both your depth and clarity relating to this underlying fundamental move. It is very helpful.

i´m going to try this tip. 8:56 for the people who are in a hurry.

This is the best explanation of the downswing I have ever see and I’ve seen damn near every major instructor attempt to explain this. Can’t wait to practice and implement! Cheers!

Best golf coach i have have ever been taught by used what he called " the cause and effect " Instead of using some form of compensation to minimise the problem it was always " lets look what's causing it " . It meant when I first started with him a complete eyeopener to what I was doing in the swing and this was at the time playing off 8 , Many thanks to Neil Jordan

I can definitely relate to the conflicting thoughts you experienced. Been watching your videos since right after you started, and am excited to see you reach 100k subs! Your videos are excellent and you seem to put things in such a simple and easy to digest form.

Sir you obviously have played a lot of golf, people do not know what you have done for them with his video. Golf instruction has evolved as this was not talked about at all. The golf swing has totally revolutionised with the move that you are describing has brought down handicaps tremendously. That move not only makes you consistent it also allows you to work the ball better it basically put your swing on auto drive. It also makes a fade more powerful and longer because you no longer fade.with a open club face but the path.This is one hell of a video brother good job

Thanks for telling your story. I often wandered what happened. I’ve played against golfers of your level but never attained it myself, eluded me. Took me awhile to understand the fundamental problem and longer to make the change. Helpful to know it’s the the next step and to keep going. We’re lucky to have you as a golf coach.

I just tripped. over your site. And I'm delighted. My playing history sounds quite like yours! I was a spinner, but not really, somehow. Handicap~3-5 squeezed down from 10 w/ hours&hours of practice. (First noted that "rotation" was not really a rotary process. Tiger's swing from down line a good example. Then realised that the hip cannot rotate as a joint. *Mike Malaska recently proposed straightening rt. leg during backswing* It pushed my centre mass. back, and gave room for the right hand to work from inside, leading to any path I wanted thru the hitting zone. No more figuring out how to NOT hit fades. In addition, gluteus muscles rt->lt worked more effectively leading to more distance. I'm happy for our discovery. I agree. It has changed everything. Peter Kennedy, MS, MD, San Marino, CA, U.S.A.

Thank you for such an insightful video. I have really struggled with my right shoulder coming "around", most noticeably with my driver. Now with your excellent explanation I have found the root cause and I'm now working hard to embed your solution into my swing. Super results so far, thank you.

You are so good at explaining things! As a beginner I have the feeling I can now understand how to start creating my swing. Thanks! Your accent is also lovely!

Quentin Patterson with Top Speed Golf teaches a similar concept, but with a different take using a "door hinge" image. On the backswing, your lead hip is the door hinge, and swing your trail hip back. Then on the downswing, you reverse the door hinge to your trail hip and swing the lead hip back.

In my opinion, the best golfing explanations on YT. I too have the same issue, and have suffered for it for the last couple of years. I'm a single handicap golfer, and naturally draw the ball.. but also have a habit of spinning out, and then get "handsy" to compensate. Thanks for taking the time to post a video that will help a lot of golfers, myself included, Russell. All the best

The visuals and explanation are very eye opening. Thank you. The feeling when I just tried it is the right back pocket stays back and anchored, then left back pocket pulls back on the downswing.

I always look forward to your videos Russ, and this is right up there with the best!

Youre an excellent coach! And I really like this very honest review of your golf swing career. We can all relate to that.

Thanks Russel. Incredibly helpful. I have for years stuck my bum out in a mostly futile attempt to avoid having my weight on my toes during the downswing. It never occurred to me how much this was limiting my ability to separate my hip rotation. This is why you have 100,000 subscribers!

Thanks for sharing your personal golf swing journey with us. Looking forward to more drills to practice during the upcoming winter months to truly ingrain the proper hip and body motion. Cheers from New England!

A perfect video, a mirror of my golfing story that makes me shanking since 2 years ( 75% of shoots) . So hard to forget that tendance and so hard to forget the shank terror ! Thanks a lot for all you do !

Good stuff Russ really appreciate the honesty and clarity and the chair drill is great - makes a lot of sense and I can see my inconsistency in what you've said - brilliant stuff! Can't wait to get back practicing again!

You’re my favorite coach Russell. You explain things so wonderfully and your experience is so valuable. Please keep providing this critical content as it is so very much appreciated. Happy holidays to you and your family sir.

spot on i have always had a right hip drive in my downswing the best way to solve this....and i mean the best way is to put a club shaft,just the shaft with no clubhead in your belt line in your trousers,just replace your belt with a shaft and swing...now youve got to turn the hips and hold the right hip back in the downswing else you will hit the shaft...hold it back a long time and youll be amazed that you have to hit it from the inside if i start to fade it during a round i do this works every time. great with the driver to

Really appreciate your openness and deep knowledge of the swing. Always look forward to the next video. Personally a slow process.

Great lesson! I’m convinced that I’ve been spinning my left hip. With continued effort I look forward to improving my ball striking ability. Thank you.

Nice explanation and good drill with the chairs. Go right to 9:00 into video if you want to cut to the chase.

Hey Russ. Following our lesson a couple of months ago.. You have no idea how much this vid has helped me understand what I was doing. Craig

Been suffering from exactly this and thanks to you been working on erasing this issue and now the swings feel much better. So much easier to get that left hip open (or back), didnt understand before how that was done.

Russell, it’s like you produced this video just for me - for my own private use - because this is literally the exact explanation for what I’m struggling with. I’ll work on this thanks to you!

Russell, your swing and the feel you describe, along with sound biomechanics, is an amazing example to movement professionals who are working with golfers! Thank you!!!

I have watched 1000 golf instruction videos and this is the first time ive heard this explained. Just swinging a sw indoors I can feel the difference. More consistent nicking the carpet at the low point. Thanks!

Really enjoyed the video. Loved to hear your journey with the technique change. Great work on the channel too.

Great video again Russ. Have struggled over the years with exactly the same thing playing as low as +2. The concept of “turning” the hips I believe has been the biggest contributing factor especially on the downswing which in your mind can’t be done without the right hip coming forward. Finally have been seeing some light at the end of the tunnel through your videos and changing the mindset to more right hip back left hip back. The flow on effects to swing direction being more circular and on plane seems to just happen without any conscious thoughts. Keep up the great content Russ.

Excellent video on a fundamental move that up to this time I failed to understand. Your experience overcoming the problem provided a clear and detailed explanation, and for me was necessary to fully understand.

Love the vid, understanding the movement has helped alot my swing. Thanks.

Man oh man did I get lucky with You. Two videos in a row and you nailed it for me many thanks! I've been searching for years for these answers quite literally. With my driver in particular I couldn't understand the low ball flight. I got higher lofted drivers, change the shaft, and I thought it might be the angle of my shoulders but nothing worked. You nailed it here, and I am very grateful. Even the golf teaching professionals were stumped.

Thats exactly what I struggle with constantly. You've explained it very well and have also given a good fix. Thx

What a video! Can't wait for the next video like this. All of this sounded very familiar. Now feeling curious about those draw fade hand movements you mentioned. Thanks for being honest and making such a brilliantly helpful video. Gave me a bunch of clarity.

Hope your winter is mild as I especially enjoy your outdoor lessons. I'm making progress, what a thrill after so many years. The hip and lateral move is a controlled move and not intuitive so it takes a bit of work to rewire my swing but it is happening. Rome was not built in a day. Your visuals and articulate explanations are spot on. Thank You.

Thank you . Love the content. looking forward to spending my winter in the kitchen with two chairs.

love your swing! this winter all the drills...spring & summer drills and range to get the body moves and swing down pat... very motivated even though i am 55 and have a handycap of 12. Thanks to great coaching from you Russel !!! Bernhard Langer has inspired me as well... wow 63 and makes the cut hitting ave 250 off the tee and still gets it done at Augusta 7768 yards.

Alex Fortey had a nice drill for early hip extension using an alignment rod stuck in the ground at an upward angle across your shins. The objective is to avoid moving your right knee into the rod during transition. Tried it yesterday and got a real good feel for movement at the beginning of the transition. I like it because I can hit balls with it. Enjoy your channel.

Very clear, straight to the point, great tip! Thank you Russell 👍

I keep the pressure in the ground with my feet which keeps the right foot down to impact. Solved lots of my swing problems.

Refreshing to hear an instructor actually admit what their personal struggles were that prevented them from achieving their particular ambitions. It makes what you are advising a lot more believable and credible. Thank you !!! The maintaining of trail hip depth throughout the swing is exactly what has been my problem. It’s going to take some time to make it a natural don’t need to think about move, but at least I now have a solution to my hip movement problem. Thank you !!!

Thanks Russell, I have recently found your channel and am enjoying it very much. I have seen the chair drill with 1chair before but never with 2 which is very good, explains the acceptance of linear movement very well indeed. Will definitely try that even though we don’t have a winter period where we can’t play golf here in Australia. Please keep the great content coming. I hope you and your family are all healthy over there. Cheers, Geoff Robson

5 STARS Russell. We've heard it many times before from you, but it 'came over' differently, this time it was personal, thanks. Something for us all to be aware of and something to work on over the winter.

You rotaly nailed my 20 year of problem with inconsistencies!!! So easy to understand the/my problems and the solution. Thank you for the best lesson ever. And have seen many.//Jonas

This is great timing...I was just at the range the other hitting some decent balls but just not liking the feel or consistency...i knew when i played with my hips "staying back" that something just felt better and my sequencing was so smooth...you just put into words (and video) exactly what I was needing to explore! It is so much more clearer in my head, that "spinning out" feeling...this is just great....thanks...I'm heading to the range!!!

Excellent video. Offering your personal experience made it very relatable.

Hi I've seen your video several times. Can easily follow your thoughts about the game of golf. Your thoughts and openness inspire me to keep working on the game. Even though the age is 70+. Thank you for your forthright help.

This is so me! From when I was a kid being told to drop the right elbow down and hit a draw, I’ve always hip extended and come way from the inside hitting blocks and hooks. Will def be giving this a go. Cheers Russell 👍

How could anyone dislike this? I mean this was on the money!!!!! Keep the right hip deep as you transition = GOLD! Thanks Russell!

I like the honest self appraisal. It's refreshing. I also agree with that trail hip leading to the over the top. I suffer from it. But so many instructors suggest starting the downswing with the lower body. That includes the hips. Tough for the average duffer like me to deal with this.

Since I starting practicing more during the pandemic, your videos have been amongst the most helpful in diagnosing and fixing my chronic issues. Shot my first sub 80 last week and my next goal is sub-75. Cheers from the US!

Excellent, excellent video Russell....exact problem I am facing and used to think I am doing the hip movement as you mentioned in your videos. Many times hitting a great shot, but, then followed by hook shots; getting totally confused. I will start to practice this 2 chairs drill. Will send you my swing video for analysis.

Thank you for sharing! I'm motivated to work on the double chair drill...

i hit 6 shots after watching this. it almost feels like i have too much room cause of how bad i spin out. i cant wait to start working on this. great content as always.

Russell - Just want to give you a huge Thank You for your tip about spinning out. That is exactly what I was doing when trying to rotate the hips properly. Also, your tip about keeping the right hip back also made a big difference. Those things plus giving up trying to 'control' the golf club with a death grip has improved my swing and consistency 100%. Now, I feel like I'm close to being able to work on the finer points of the swing. I just need to get hose first 3 things ingrained so that I don't have to consciously thing about them. Keep up the good work!!

Awesome video Russ. I work on this every day

This has been the single best swing tip I have ever received. Due a cancer diagnosis which have necessitated a couple of surgeries I have experienced long layoffs. I watch this video every time before returning to the links and I’m never ceased to be amazed how well I strike the ball. Thanks Russell !

Most informative video related to my swing. corrected immediately, Thank You !

what a gorgeous slow-mo golf swing Russell. I' going to practice the 90 deg chair concept and hope I can get my hip rotation in the right path. Thanks for the great video!!

Am I wrong but is this the same concept as the "bump, dump and turn" idea, used to super simply describe downswing sequence? Such a common mistake is the tendency for not good golfers (like myself) to try and "clear"/"open" the hips as fast as possible on the downswing (because we all see DJ, Tiger, Rory etc etc doing this). Essentially as you said perfectly - if you do this it creates the dreaded "spinning out". If that early clearing happens before your pressure is back on the front side (the linear "bump") and the club has not slotted/shallowed into plane (the drop or "dump") then this happens? I read something cool about Greg Normans practice thoughts - R.P.B or "right pocket back" - looks exactly like what you are describing. This is a great little video - your comments on your golf journey are really well done too.

OMG I think this is the drill that can really help me 🙏 I’ve heard you talk about this as you say a lot but giving more inside story on this I think helps me understand so much better especially for me with the driver I don’t think I’ve got that bad a swing it is just that I do just get a little lost on the transition down and then try to correct this and then ultimately just loose power etc... so thanks for this tip I will be on this when we can all get back out 🤪🤪😀👍

This is me 100% and my problem as well. Would love some follow up videos on this exact topic and some drills and feelings to master it. I’m working on it but still isn’t something I’m full comfortable or confident I’m doing correctly

This guy is amazing! I have never heard the hips explained this way. It makes perfect since to me know. Thank you

You've literally just described my golf! Great insight and explanation.

Just watched this video now. Definitely will give it a try. I tend to get spinny but can play well for a little while and then just lose my swing for a few rounds. This makes a ton of sense and explains why I feel like I have no room to swing my arms because I am trying to save the shot with manipulations. Thanks! 👍

This sharing will eliminate outside in problem........It helps me play more consistently. What a great lesson.

Great video, I think this might be why I'm mixing 90% pure strikes with left pulls and the odd shank. Looking forward to trying this out thanks!

Just watched this again and it is still relevant to me. When I’m on I can almost play to scratch when I’m off I look like a complete hacker. So frustrating. Great video and just wanted to say that you have some really great content on your channel. Sadly I didn’t keep up the practice during lockdown. Mea culpa. I do have this saved a one of my favourites and have to double down on my practice.

I am currently having this issue with regards to rotation. I struggle to keep the hips back but you’ve convinced me that I really need to get this sorted.

Thanks....I tie this hip move with the rotation of the right arm with some success . If I rotate my right arm clockwise, (elbow in) I feel it helps keep my right hip from spinning out. If my right elbow fires anti-clockwise it seems to drag my right hip with it...spinning out.

Great video Russ. Came for a days lesson prior to Lockdown 1 and my issue was separation and rotation. Always find that my desire to get more open causes me to lose my 'tush' line. This is a great drill, would love some clarity on when you start to open your hips in relation to your downswing right elbow position. Keep up the great work, love hearing about good golfers feels and fixes.

Such an important move and having seen u perform it on other videos you can see how every professional performs this exact move. Tiger Wood has said his only swing thought is to get his led hip back and out of the way. What he doesn't share is how important it is to maintain hip depth in the back hip while clearing (rotating) his left hip...the squat...Tks Russell

great video i enjoyed hearing about your golfing experiences, just wish i could experience a golf pro's swing even for a couple of holes lol, keep up the good work.

really good. this is one of my main fault pattern that I know about for years. I tried it yesterday on course already and it worked just great. thanks!

You just described my golf game to a T. I am gonna try this as this may just be the missing piece to my golf puzzle. Thank you for your lesson Russell.

Thank you for explaining the move. I can't wait to try it once we are out of lockdown, feels like a light bulb moment for me. As I always feel I am not sure what to do with the hips at transition of downswing. Best swing tip I have had. Magic keep it up.

Fascinating. Intriguing. Insightful. Thanks.

Absolutely needed this! I'm a lefty, but have always played right handed. I'm a 9 handicap and struggle with this excact problem, and to add a very strong left harm into the mix, makes me very "spinny". And hook until I am completely tired of it, and then weaken my grip, swing over the top, all trying not to have so much right to left movement in my ball flight. I also feel my led hip opening which really adds to the inconsistencies. I just love this video. I will be at the range with 2 lawn chairs by lunch time. Thanks from Kansas

Well WOW Russell. I watched this video then set up a couple of chairs. I could feel what you were saying about creating space. I've tried to get my lead hip working before and struggled with the feeling. I got it this time. Hit a small bucket of balls before playing comp today and decided to take this new move onto the course (beautiful day in Sydney BTW). Hit some pure shots and the feeling of staying over the ball so much better was great. Didn't putt great but 40 stableford points (4 under my 12 handicap) was proof enough for me about this move. As many comments say, you've got a great knack for simplifying the key elements. Love your videos. Congrats. Next project after making this move more natural is to get my right elbow working better on the downswing!

Wow, I forgot about this. I remember you showing this before and because I never did it ever in my life, I already forgot it. Thanks for the reminder.

Make a proper weight shift for crisper contact (May, 1952) Hogan thought one of the amateur golfer's most-common flaws is that they hit the ground before hitting the ball when using their irons. To hit down on the ball properly, he suggested golfers focus on shifting their weight to their front side on the downswing. That move will keep a person from feeling like they are falling back or spinning back at impact, and it help ensures a golfer will "take turf" after making contact with the ball.

Russell, this fits another issue I have. Thanks for the reminder! Nice swing!!!

Such great content. Really working hard on this at the moment. I feel I have figured out my right hip on the backswing. I’m so much better centred and in balance on the backswing. It is so so hard to consistently get the correct hip movement on the down swing. I have both faults you describe at times to some extent an my six iron goes 165 yds. Sometimes it feels as if it’s because my arms and upper body are trying to take over on the downswing. When it feels as though my backside is slowly rolling along a wall from the start of the downswing Right cheek >> both >> Left I strike the ball as well as I can. It feels almost effortless and sublime. My 6i then carries 185 yards and I automatically end up in the classic balanced finish without any conscious thought whatsoever. Your videos are a great help. 👍 In the meantime it’s practice, practice, practice for me. Ps: thanks for the honesty and thanks for sharing.

Wow, thank you. If I was in your area I'd get a lesson ASAP. This is me for sure. American... LA.

So glad this popped up on my recommended videos. I’m going through my previous recordings of myself; and I, for the first time, am noticing that I’m spinning out. Time to look like I’m belly dancing in the kitchen with the chair drill.

Russell, very well presented.

You nailed it again Russ. I am currently in the same situation you were in. My handicap is 6 and I spin out. Some days are better than others but like you I just know it is not right and I too hit the occasional double cross out of no where. I have been chasing the feel/drill for months now and continually fail to find the fix. However when I try to instigate this hip feel into my swing I feel like I am going to block it badly or hit it fat. It feels horrible and not very powerful. That being said I have just now resigned myself to getting more depth in my hips and arms to help initiate this move. Here goes nothing. Thanks again mate. Keep it up. Cheers

Russell, your golf swing technique is out of this world. There are pga tour professionals out there that would be envious of your swing! I know a technically sound golf swing (pretty) doesn’t win you tournaments but wow!

Fantastic drill. This is something I’ve been working on. Will definitely be practicing this. 👍👍

This could just be the move that changes my golf swing forever - tried this move today, turning my trail hip more behind me and really helped me create more space for my arms on tbe downswing. Great video as ever

to take a word from your vernacular.....BRILLIANT!

Great approach. Few coaches ever try to give an overview. Love your approach.

Great tip Russell as usual.

Have always been struggling with the same issue. Getting stuck around 3hcp and never been able to implement it properly. The alternative that allowed me to get scratch: strong left hand, shut face on the takeaway, and big turn. Before thinking on the swing path and how to improve body shift and hips rotation is to have a proper grip and take away. A neutral grip and an open/neutral club face on the takeaway will always create an outside / in path unless you are able to do a supination of the left wrist which is extremely rare to implement for 99.9% of the golf players. Great video! Thanks.

Thanks for sharing your personal golf story. Very interesting.