February’s Tip of the Month - To Fire the Hips or Not Fire the Hips?

BY RYAN WILLIAMS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

The game of golf is full of pieces of advice that “they” say you must do to hit a ball properly. My sarcastic response, especially when it becomes obvious to me that the player’s stringent adherence to that concept is leading them away from the golf of their dreams, usually is, “Who are they? I’ve never met them?” Among the most prevalent is the idea that players must fire their hips and open up towards the target at the start of the downswing. I recently saw Rory McIlroy say that is his feel when he really wants to bomb one; meanwhile, Tiger Woods spoke famously on the Golf Channel about how during his best years that he felt that his lower body was as quiet as possible, waiting for his hands and arms to get in front of his body. So, this begs the question: who’s right? The nuanced but honest answer is they both are.

Let’s begin by giving examples of who the players are that fire their hips and why it works for them. Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, and Rory McIlroy are all great players with fast hips, or those facing the target at impact. For Dustin Johnson, getting his hips to open up and allowing the handle of the club to lead more than most is a beautiful match for his closed clubface throughout his swing. All three, however, are structurally designed to have more open hips and are actually stronger and more stable with their hips than other players who have different anatomical makeups.

On the other side of the spectrum are players like Paul Casey, Jake Knapp, Jimmy Walker, and Brooks Koepka. These players all appear to be much more stable with the lower body, their hips facing much more at the ball at impact than the target. Rather than a dynamic spin of the hips, these players will feel that they are digging their feet into the ground as their hands, arms, and the club get in front of their bodies to stabilize before smashing the ball.

There are, of course, players in the middle of the spectrum between hips that are very open or facing the target and those that are more or less facing the ball. I fall into this category but run into much more trouble when my lower body outraces my hands and arms than the other way around. So how can we discover where you test out when it comes to firing the hips? Here is a simple screening that will give you a pretty good idea:

Step 1: Put your trail hand against a door jam at about hip height (right hand for right-handed golfers).

Step 2: Start pushing your hand against the wall.

Step 3: Paying attention to how strong you feel you can push, begin opening up your hips to face where the target would be.

Step 4: When you start to feel the pressure you're producing into the wall decrease, you have rotated past your ideal impact position.

Step 5: Repeat the process until you become very aware of your strongest position. This will be your ideal amount of hip rotation at impact.

Once you’ve identified where your optimal hip rotation lies, it’s important to incorporate that awareness into your swing. This doesn't mean simply trying to replicate the motion of someone else, but rather embracing the natural movement of your body that maximizes power and control. For some, this means more rotation, while for others, less is more.

Ultimately, what’s most important is finding the balance that works best for you. Firing the hips may give you extra distance, but it could also create more inconsistency if you're not built to handle that amount of movement. Conversely, a more stable lower body might offer better control and accuracy, but it could potentially limit some power. The key is discovering your natural rhythm and trusting that what feels strongest and most stable will lead you to the results you're looking for.

In the end, the game of golf isn’t about copying the pros — it’s about understanding your body and your swing. So, whether you’re a hip-firer like McIlroy or a more grounded player like Koepka, know that both paths are valid. The most important thing is finding what works for you and your unique swing mechanics, and sticking to it. Keep testing, keep adjusting, and most importantly, keep enjoying the game.