Fitness & Warm-Up · Drill
A Turning Jump for Rotational Power
Part of our fitness & warm-up programs for not enough distance, tight or stiff, swing speed and strength. Build a program with it
Turning fast means pushing your feet in opposite directions. Lead foot pushes toward the toes, trail foot toward the heel. Practice it with a turning jump. Squat straight down, centered. Turn your hips toward your trail side. You'll feel weight in your trail heel and the front of your lead foot. Now jump and turn toward the target as far as you can. Land softly on both feet. Build up slowly.
The drill
- Squat straight down, centered.
- Turn your hips back.
- Feel trail heel and lead forefoot load.
- Jump and turn toward the target.
- Land softly.
Why it works
Rotation is driven by the ground. When your lead foot pushes toward the toes and your trail foot pushes toward the heel, the two feet create a twisting force that turns your hips quickly. Loading the trail heel and lead forefoot in the back turn sets up that push. The jump trains you to release it fast and then absorb it on landing.
Common mistakes
- You slide sideways in the squat instead of dropping straight down.Keep your chest and hips centered over your feet as you squat, so the load builds from turning and not from shifting.
- You turn only your shoulders and arms, so your hips stay square.Turn your hips back first and feel the pressure shift before you jump.
- You land stiff, with straight legs or off balance.Land softly on both feet with your knees bending, and hold the finish for a moment before you reset.
How you'll know it's working
- You feel pressure in your trail heel and the front of your lead foot before you jump.
- You land on both feet, balanced, facing the target or close to it, with no stumble.
- Your jump turns further toward the target each week without losing balance or a soft landing.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Skip the jump and do the squat and hip turn slowly, feeling the trail heel and lead forefoot load, then turn through with your heels staying down.
Harder: Jump with more effort and turn further toward the target, still landing softly on both feet and holding your balance.
Common questions
How do you use your feet to turn faster in the golf swing?
Push your lead foot toward the toes and your trail foot toward the heel. This opposing push twists your hips toward the target.
How often should you do a turning jump?
Build up slowly, starting with a few easy reps and adding more as you stay balanced. Stop if it hurts.
