Most golfers think they are swinging correctly, but what feels like a swing and what is happening are rarely the same thing. This disconnect is why so many players struggle with contact, consistency, and ball flight, even when they feel like they’re making a good swing.
This exercise by Eric Cogorno does a good job of bringing awareness to this gap. I learned a version of this exercise when I was a kid and hadn’t thought about it for years until I came across this video. Looking at it now, it’s clear why I missed it early. It explains swing without pushing positions or swings and shows why the golf swing is about more than just hip rotation.
Where the video training begins
If you don’t have time, start with two minutes and look at the mixing part.
- Training presentation and setup: around 2:00
- Explanation of the three movements: around 2:45
- How to mix moves: around 5:00
- Transition to real swings: around 7:00
How to do the exercise
To do this drill, all you need is an 8-iron or 9-iron. You’ll also need enough space to be comfortable, but you don’t need to be hitting golf balls to complete the workout.
Configuration
- Place the stick behind your back so that it passes horizontally across the middle of your back.
- The shaft should sit between your elbows.
- The grip points to your side of the track.
- Your arms are slightly bent, which creates the compact setup Cogorno refers to in the video.
What you are trying to do
The goal is to move your body so that the back of the club is pointing down toward where the golf ball would be during the swing. If you want to put a ball there for reference, you can do that.
This exercise works because it mixes three movements that should happen together on the downswing.
1. The exchange
You need pressure to move to your side of the lead.
- Feel the tightness of your belt move toward your lead ankle.
- The pressure shifts to the lead leg.
- Your upper body is slightly behind.
This helps move the low point forward and reduces thin and heavy contact.
2. Turn with extension
As you move forward, you also need rotation.
- Your belt link starts pointing towards the target.
- Your hips move forward and rotate at the same time.
- There is a slight upward thrust as you spin.
3. Tilt
The last part is the side bend.
- Your track shoulder moves down.
- There is a small bump on the side of the path.
Some of this happens naturally from the shift, but adding awareness here helps the club land at the right height and improves low point control.
The mistakes you will start to notice
After trying this workout, a few things become apparent. These aren’t things most golfers feel during a normal swing, but practice makes them hard to miss.
Sliding without rolling
Some players manage to get ahead, but they never add enough twist. The lower body moves, but the chest and hips get stuck, leaving the club behind them.
Rotating instead of moving
Many golfers think they are swinging, but they are just spinning in place. When there is no pressure moving to the side of the bullet, the grip stays behind the body and never points towards the ball.
No tilt through impact
Even with a good offset and some spin, the lack of lateral twist keeps the club control very high. If thin shoots appear frequently, this is one of the first areas to check.
Late effort instead of early movement
Many golfers try to fix things late in the downswing. This drill makes it clear that mixing moves should happen early, not at the last second.
Who is this training for?
When I talk to golfers, the topics of swings, weight changes, and rankings always come up. If you ever feel like your contact changes, you have trouble narrowing down the right thoughts on your downswing, or you’ve never known how to roll properly, this drill makes it easier.
While I think players of all skill levels can use this drill as a warm-up or even indoors, I would recommend beginners work on the some of the basics (stance, ball position, grip, etc.) before focusing too much on the spin.
Why I still love this workout
This exercise does not attempt to force positions. It shows how rotation, pressure and tilt work together. That’s why it still works for a wide range of players.
If the golf swing has never clicked for you, I would. First it creates awareness and this is important if you are looking for long-term solutions and a better understanding of your movement.
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