✅ Get your FREE Side Bend Drills Mentioned In The Video HERE: pages.athleticmotiongolf.com/free-side-bend

This is the type of content that will be watched over and over by passionate golfers and coaches. It is real content, not golf clickbait, and it is what makes this channel great. Thanks for sharing the names, and thanks even more for including women’s swings. As a father coaching an aspiring 13 year old daughter, I can’t thank you enough.

Shots Fired! 😬😂 This makes me feel so much better about how I teach and swing. I’ve been convinced for years that turning around a stable spine is the best way to swing the golf club. Most players turn around their head instead of their spine, though, because they don’t know how to pivot properly on an incline and they forget their spine is on their back, not their front. That last point is usually when I see the light bulb come on. It just makes sense that the less bend and strain you put on the spine, the safer. Great work, gentlemen!

Well, you just blew a lot of popular KZfaq golf channels out of the water. The “cheerleader” move is actually taught by one of them, as well as shallowing the club through trail side bend. The difference between a camera video of one’s swing and a Gears capture is akin to the difference between an X-Ray and an MRI. Years ago, I was experiencing neck pain. I went to a chiropractor who took X-Rays of my neck and then proceeded to work on my neck over 12 sessions. When no progress was made (actually, pain was increasing), I went to an orthopedic neck doctor who ordered an MRI. The MRI detected 3 herniated discs which were not visible to the X-Rays. I ended up having a 3-level discectomy (with fusion) by a neurosurgeon. These golf instructors who are teaching the swing based upon X-Rays (video camera) are doing a disservice to their pupils. That is why AMG is the Gold Standard of golf instruction and are the ONLY KZfaq golf instructors I trust. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Priceless stuff! 👊👊

Hey guys, last week I reviewed your videos on Pulled Golf Shots and Shallowing. Both go over dropping the hands and lowering the arms. While watching an older video in which you answered viewer questions on another topic, I noticed the TV screen on the wall behind you showing an aerial (overhead) view of an avatar going through the swing sequence. It clearly shows the hands properly dropping in the downswing, disappearing below the player's upper body as they start into delivery. I'm a visual learner when it comes to body movement. Seeing that sequence helped to reinforce the learning. (I will NOT be attempting to record my swing that way) Good work as always, thanks for all you do.

This is the video I’ve been waiting for years for. My first comment on this channel back then was on side bend and recall asking for video on how to do it correctly. I started playing at age 31 in 1983 back when golf instruction books like Tom Watson’s had illustrations of a guy standing inside a wooden barrel. Back then and now I viewed the primary goal in swing mechanics as being staying in ‘dymamic’ balance at all points of the swing which to my 31 year old engineering brain meant if the force of the club head mass is moving one way trying to pull the body off balance the mass of the body from hips to head need to move in the opposite direction direction in proportion to to the amount of of force momentum is creating in the club head mass. I did a practice drill I read in some golf magazine where I would cross my feet and legs putting right in front of of left in an X then try to make progressively greater swing arcs. The movement in the spine needed to stay in balance doing that is an exaggerated version of the lead side / trail side bend opposite the direction the moving mass of the club head is trying to pull off balance. I studied videos of other sport with similar physics and spine bio-mechanics + rotation around the center of balance: shot put and hammer toss. The latter is very analogous to the golf swing because the game of golf in Scotland, according to histories and illustrations I’ve seen was derived from in part from the hammer toss in the Scottish Games. I share your intellectual curiosity about the golf swing. Back in the early 2000s before the plethora of KZfaq videos I read probably 100 different golf books including ones like Golf Digest how to hit 101 shots, trying them all at a time I was working at a course and playing 18 to as many as 45 holes per day, mostly myself, experimenting with different swing styles, not so focused on score but pulling off each shot as planed and trying like you guys do to understand why Nicklaus, Trevino, Hogan, Moe Norman, Grey Norman, Tiger, Phil all had different mechanics but got similar results with a level of intellectual curiosity only one guy who studied with Ben Doyle and was on the mini- and long-drive tours has matched in person: Johnny Schiano who was building my house in North Carolina. It took longer than it might have to build if we hadn’t spent so much time discussing swing theory and practice. What you say about a static camera view not telling the true story resonates because is was a professional photographer and teacher who taught how to trick the eye with perspective and point of view. In that regard one of the most useful books I’ve ever read was Tiger’s 2003 tome called ‘How I Play Golf” which has pulled-out stop action swing photos taken from three different angles at the same time shown together for range of different clubs. After buying it I spent the entire winter layup posing between two mirrors, front and back, for about a hour every day trying to duplicate where his club head and body parts were. That’s when the light bulb in the brain went off with regard to side bending which at the time I wasn’t doing correctly and getting pulled off balance by the club force both at impact (forward on my toes) and in the finish. I hope to see more videos on the topic. An area of interest of mine with regard to side bend is how body proportions affect it. I have a long trunk / shorter leg build like Rory and find it very easy to side bend. Golfing companions who have long legs / short torsos find it difficult to do.

Great visuals and explanations. Educating coaches and players alike in the mechanics of the spine can do wonders for furthering understanding how the golf swing is accomplished. All the best!

Here is another herniated disk victim of side bend. After more than 15 years watching KZfaq golf videos, I can safely say this is the most scientific and graphically enlightening one I have ever seen. It should be a "must see" video before handing "teaching pro" certificates. Thank you for the amazing work you do !!

I’m always excited when you drop a new video. Wow. Your vids need to be in the HOF of golf instruction. The time it must take to make this quality of instruction is breathtaking. Us golfers are truly lucky to have access to this insight. As an additional plug I came and saw the boys last June in an Orlando clinic. As a deep golf nerd, man I’m so happy I did. I was playing some pretty decent golf but I’d have too many of those off the planet drives. They got me suited up and the upper body rotation id been drilling daily for a year got my spine 10 degrees toward the target at the top. Hit some good wedges and irons being able to seesaw it back by impact but with the long stuff it was wayward. I’d been studying side bend dutifully and was in the overdoing it camp. They opened my eyes to spinal flexing (or forward bend) to neutralize the spine. Combining the concept with some setup adjustments (needed way more hip bump and my shoulders and spine when feeling normal are open and leaning toward the target). I’m now 9 months into it and all of those things your told you’re supposed to feel but you never have - yeah, that happens now. Just puring it. Feel versus real is what it’s all about. Get to see these guys so you feel confident all that awkwardness is leading to the right place. And inevitably something else will break down so studying to then later course correct. Thanks boys will be in touch for some zoom lessons. - ry (june ‘23)

Thanks for saving my back and fixing my swing in one video that I didn’t know I needed! Keeping your spine in the box created at setup during your swing was a massive lightbulb moment for me, so simple yet no more early extension and sore back trying to push off the ground and rotate my hips which always felt wrong for me now it’s doing it by itself and looking much healthier. Will never listen to anyone harp on about what the spine is meant to do in the golf swing again you guys have covered it all where it makes perfect sense. Thank you so much

Absolutely love the science behind your knowledge and training. Kudos to Richard for reaching out to you for correct information backed up by science. We all need to know that camera views on YT and from ourselves and others are always going to distort what the body is really doing. This video was eye opening and much appreciated. Will definitely view the drills. Thanks for sharing and educating us all. Cheers.

Lot of info to take in on one video but you did it superbly and a real eye opener. One the best swing vids I think I seen 👏🏻

I've commented many times on many of your videos about their relevance to my situation with a spinal fusion surgery and how I have a very difficult time with sidebend. This video changes the way I have been thinking and I am going to look at pelvic tilt now, thanks! At some point I really hope to get to AMG in person. Keep up the videos!

What a topic. No wonder nobody on KZfaq talks about side bend. They may not even understand it. Only AMG can do it. Keep up the great work fellas!

Wow guys another amazing video thank you so much!! This clears up so much of the crap that’s been going through my head! Hahah Also you mentioned the shallowing video! I’ve been wanting to see that again but couldn’t find it. You guys are amazing keep up the good work!!

Thank you for all of ur videos and trying to keep us healthy !! 🙏🏽

Many thanks for this very enlightening video. It’s really helpful on many levels. Although I’ve not had back trouble personally, I do suffer from many misconceptions about the golf swing. Your help has cleared my mind and brought a breath of fresh air. Go myth busters!

Well gents, you did it. I (I’m sure others too) asked for different contrasting swings and names… and you did it. That was super cool. That is due diligence plus some. I think that the topic was worthy, and enough info will change some minds and save some backs :) well done and thanks, Alan

🤯seriously need a 10 part series in this lol. I’m a 52yo chiropractor and I knew this “side bend” phenomenon was a bad deal for the back. The spinal biomechanics in these videos are epic. Would love to see the animations from the side. Thanx so much!!

This was incredible, thank you. More please! Thank you!

Been waiting for years for this video! Worth the wait! New std of golf videos! You touch on a subject I have a lot of issues with: ensuring the club stays in front of the chest. Mine gets dragged inside and then across. Trying to fight this with wrist movements and adjustments. Can you please do a video on club path and wrist angles? Thanks

You have saved my golf game and my back. I am newly back to golf after a three years and a lifetime of playing average golf. I was determined to start from scratch and lean a good swing. I found an instructor and after seeing me swing 3 times, he told me to get my left shoulder pointed at the ball. This sent me down the side bend rabbit hole. After two days of practicing, I couldn’t hit the ball, couldn’t swing the club without contorting my body. I woke up in pain. I stumbled onto this video and realized that this IS my new swing. This video, the shallowing video and several others were my blueprint for my new swing and I took it from concept to the course without hitting a single range ball. I swung freely, and although I was pushing shots to the right with a straight ball flight, my distances and trajectory were exactly what I was looking for. I was a little hesitant, so my distances were a bit short (175 yard 6 iron) but contact was good. I plan on taking this to the range and practicing drills and recording my swing and basing my feels on reality. Thank you guys and keep up the good work!

Great info and the side bend drills were very informative. Thank you!

21:37 This demonstration is really impactful. Goes back to the point you guys have often made about the importance of camera placement for videoing your swing (generally aligned with your hands laterally and vertically, but that even that position has limitations and is just the best available compromise given the limitations of 2D camera images and lenses). 19:51 🤣 Jack LaLanne, the "Godfather of Fitness!" This is an interesting, informative, and entertaining video! Great job, team.

Another awesome video, gents! Can we please have more explanation on the upper body "moving up" on the downswing? It seems this is another optical illusion maybe worth exploring... There's a lot of instruction out there around compressing irons with a downward movement of the chest, specifically referencing Tommy Fleetwood, for example. Thanks again for unlocking the secrets of great golf swings!

This video is so crazy good. Like so many things out there in golf instruction, the how, and how much is so far off with many instructors.

I have said it for years, best swing breakdowns in the world. I send every new golfer to this channel to see what's up from the beginning. Really, just showing people the "early extension, butt against the glass" Pros vs' Ams breakdown has changed so many peoples view or perception of the golf swing. That one got me back to a +1 after years of developing bad habits.

This was so needed, thank you! I too had lower back issues with the side bend to the point of almost quitting. And throw in the fat shots with the bend. Oy! We should all respect the way spine wants us to do. Thanks very much!

Absolutely awesome! Thank you for all the time you put into this.

As a victim of a fall and compression fracture of L4 (and arthritis), this info is particularly important and appreciated! Thanks guys - y’all are the best!!

I like the transparent models you used in this video to show your movement examples. The talk about the correct way to move reminds me of the video you guys posted of down the line transparent blue pros with a yellow line along the shoulder plane where you showed (20, 40, or more?) pros superimposed on each other where every single one had the shoulders pointed well outside the ball to target line.

You guys are by far the best channel on KZfaq hands down! I can’t thank you two enough for all the work you put in creating these videos. You are doing the community such an amazing service! Would you have a rough average of how much the shoulders are tilted (in relation to horizontal) in the backswing when the hands reach shoulder height? As an instructor myself it would be helpful to have that to share. Thank you so much!

Mike, fantastic job with the Dials. I teach for a living and knowing this is one thing. But when you show these vids in 3 d and as you guys always do explaining with words like Dials this helps the player understand the concepts so much better. Thats why you guys are so good at what you do. One day this old man will make his way down to see you!!!!!!!

I have been talking about this stuff for years. Glad to see the 3d data back it up. I do performance training out of Oakwood CC in Kansas City and also work with baseball pitchers. If you ever want to talk about exercises for your members to improve their bodies I would be glad to discuss.

Wow! This really was a💡 moment! This video should be mandatory to every PGA Pro. Absolutely brilliant, thank you and keep up the good work! I would love to see a simular mythbusting video on the chipping, pitching and putting⛳️🏌️‍♂️

Great Video! Can’t wait to get some more work in!

Great information I have back issues, I think this instruction will help me. I am 69 years old so moving my spine and pelvis correctly helps me hit the ball straight. Thank you.

Wow…amazing information. This is great…I’ve had both hips replaced and have suffered from herniated discs over the years of walking on steel decks on Navy ships througout my 28 year career…this is very helpful…I know it takes a ton of time to create these images and narrations to convey what we’re seeing…I do like the isolation of the hips so we can see exactly what only the back is doing…but, for a better visual, did you guys think at all about putting a full shot of the body in a split screen to show what we would actually see? I got some of it when you showed DJ and Rory, but still having trouble visualizing it…I’ll watch this a few times more to see if I get it…love you guys. Keep it up!! Might have to take a trip to get analyzed, though I don’t think someone with a military salary has the coin for something like this…LOL….

This solved a part of my swing puzzle. I had a difficulty in making my back swing top optimally high without breaking my arm and shoulder plane. 35degree of side bend is alot more than what it sounds like if you try it. It is almost at my maximum. When I made that much degree of side bend, I could get my top swing higher than my head. Very good video as always been.

wow wow wow, what a video. fantastic! years and years of trying to understand the swing and this video sums it up. wow

Gentlemen... you have really uped your game! Great new graphics, visuals... etc. I had spinal decompression surgery Dec. 1... just started PT and strange enough, my PT's opening measurements mimic the moves at 08:45 or so... static pain levels are good, but recovery to a full swing will be a journey. This helped me understand how to translate my PT to the swing (and not re-injure myself)! Mike- looking good with weight loss!

As physical therapists a lateral shift is the FIRST thing we treat for someone with low back pain. And this is precisely what your client created for themselves. A lateral shift is common as a protective mechanism away from the area of irritation. When we work with golfers with low back pain we help load the lateral shift then we help address lumbopelvic dissociation to help manage force through the kinetic chain. Great job finding the issue that’s so often missed!

Fantastic stuff boys, btw Mike you look great in the drills video, nice work

Been waiting for this video!!

Big thank you for all your efforts to help us lovers of the game to enjoy it and be safe playing it

So amazing to see that the best men and women are at about 24 degrees at impact and that it’s done mostly through the hip tilt. Thank you again Mike! Great work!!! 😮😅😊❤

I just found my favorite channel, thanks fellas.

Pieced out dumpster fire of conflicting concepts! Now we're getting into the pro vs am discussion!

Superb info and timing - as I have just been experimenting with side bend vids from a HOF coach - but anxious about the stress it would seem to be creating within my lumbar region. Will heed the warning/advice. Agree with the other comments/requests about pulling (raising) up clarification. The images certainly seem to show increased flexion until well past impact.

Fantastic work, once again. Thank you 🙏

Thank you brother 🙏🏻

Great video. A helpful follow up would be what the lower body/pelvis should be doing and feeling in the backswing. Feel like I keep it too static and bring myself off the center line

I wondering with your measurement capabilities what is the difference between the arms dropping and the lower body starting in the downswing? I personally have to feel the arms have to drop first or my legs and upper outrace my arms. I know this is a feel more than reality. Thanks for the great content.

This video is incredibly valuable, thank you.

Great video as usual from the golf instruction 🐐’s. Quick question tho. Could you explain how the torso and pelvis move upwards when rotation and side bend remain unchanged and flexion increases? How’s that possible? Shouldn’t that make them move towards the ground? And what’s the feel to achieve that? Thanks!

You two guys are the best. Thank you so much

Outstanding presentation. Death to the concept of the spine angle! Long live the angle of inclination maintained by the perfect blend of all 6 axes of range of motion! 🎉

Such a good video, and the drills video is fantastic too. Question for you guys, does a lot of the side bend at address also come from the pelvis? And is it a good idea to have the trail knee slightly softer than the lead knee to achieve this? I’m also thinking of this because of the other great comment where you guys mentioned that the trail knee should get lower than the lead in the downswing,

Hey guys thanks again, in the drills video you talk about moving the head a little bit with shoulder turn and kind of looking at the ball out of your left eye. Do you ever have people start the swing by looking at the ball with the left eye so it doesn't have to switch back for a right eye dominant person

The best resource on spine mechanics for the golf swing ever created. It’s not even close.

So good y’all. Makes my job as an instructor so much easier.

Loved it. Thank you! Would you please tell us how much of the apparent side bend (angle measured relative to the ground) comes from pelvis tilt.

In section 5 when in the downswing left arm is parallel how does he move pressures upwards while maintaing spine in flexion? Thanks

Great vid as usual. The visuals are exemplary. I was also surprised that we don’t have to guess the pros in this one!! lol.

Love the on course stuff!

Geez, the video production has jumped 1000%. That was an incredible demonstration. Congrats

You sure paint a clear picture. Excellent.

This was great. 🤯 Well done. 👍🏻

This video packs a heavy heavy punch! Thanks for sharing. So the lower body (belly down to feet) is what aids the spine? Meaning we need to move the lower body correctly and we'll have a better "path" for the spine?

Dude.... So good! Thanks Mike!

Very interesting! Great video!

Do both player examples setup to the ball with either 10 to 14 degrees of right side bend at setup tks

When I was young I was taught to let my right hip get lower in the downswing, and I played great. Then in my 30’s, magazines and the internet said to keep the right hip high to start down. Killed my game and back. I think TPI calls it “hiking.” You guys explain it all so well, great job as always!

Can you go a little more in depth on what you mean with flexion and extension? When I look that up, it seems opposite with how you're using them. A side view of the spine would be wonderful, as well! Awesome video.

@athelticMotionGolf ive just watched the short video you put up that led me to finding the full video At 07:00 in the video you explain richard side bends 39 degrees, but does it in different ways I am right in thinking we should be trying to side bend by trting best to keep the spine straigt ans tiliting the pelvis Im currentky like richard, in terms of getting lost in youtube videos but im sticking with your channel due to evdience based movements

A round of applause for the Incredible production value on this video. Thanks for posting!

That was actually pretty cool, guys!

Such an education. Thanks.

At 12:15 you talk about the centers of the body moving up. Can you make a video discussing this? I have never heard this before and it be be informative to see if shown.

This is absolute quality.

Great video thank you

Really great graphics in this video. Is that an upgrade from Gears or is that special 3rd-party? Also, this is the first time I'm aware where you actually named the Pros you were showing with their Gears data, which I think is helpful. Very interesting video.

Other videos talk about shifting your weight forward and avoiding doing so by applying pressure to your back foot. That forward leaning sidebend is them shifting their weight forward on the takeaway? Need to practice side bend back while keeping weight forward.

I have devoted the last two years to studying you guys and what you do. To me you are the definitive voice of learning. Thank you for what you taught me. While not related to this video, I would like to ask you guys to do an analysis of Moe Normans's swing with Gears. I was a friend of Moe's for over thirty years and have run and watched him do many clinics. I truly believe he is the best ball striker in history. I would like to know from you why this is true from a 3D analysis. You guy's know why he never went past this and turned it into PGA Tour wins. Love to see the video. Thank you,

Gentlemen, a lot to unpack here as to how it relates to my swing. Sorry to hear about the physical pain you guys have had, very unfortunate and both tragically unnecessary but that’s a whole other conversation. It does show that high level golf can still be attained even if one is having physical issues and limitations because of those issues. I see videos on KZfaq and other social media sites showing things like pointing the shoulders at the ball in the backswing. With all the information available out there, advice like that is paramount to malpractice. Anyways, love the video as always and I am sure a question or two, I know that’s a big surprise😮, will pop up in my mind the next little while. Thanks for the great content as always. 🤘 ✌️

Fabulous guys!!!

Wow! Great video!

What a video! Thanks!

Wow! I'm absolutely impressed by this video, Mike. You really got into the weeds about this side bend issue that the Superstition Mountain golf coach talks about in his videos. Great job! I hope many others listen to Richard's story and take heed of the warnings of possible golf-ending back issues trying to get yourself in a pretzel position. For me, personally, this video comes at a good time because I've been trying out new swing forms that have been causing some minor discomfort in my back, glutes, and hips. Gotta keep reminding myself that I'm 50, not 15. I'm a little confused about something you pointed out in the video. You said at 12:15 that Rory's lower and upper bodies are moving up. You said the same thing at 15:50 about Dustin's swing. Could you explain this more? Are they extending? Are they standing up?

🐐🐐 Can yall explain the "crunch" move that good players have in the beginning of transition (i.e. increasing left side bend)?

I just watched the video again and noticed the discussion of rotation from P4 to P4.5 and that the rotation doesn't really change much if at all in that period which implies the spine/rib cage is being rotated along by the pelvis and not independently. This would seem to contradict the upper/lower half separation (X-factor Stretch) that is often talked about. Any thoughts on this?

Amazing Video!

Excellent explanation as always of what side bend Isn't. The video is difficult to grasp all at once and will have to be watched numerous times to really understand, so it is with anything worthwhile. Although unique to his ability I'm sure, I'm curious about former PGA tour player and current LIV sensation Joaquin Nieman who seems to make a massive dip or bend at the side half way down thru impact. In slow motion his downswing looks like an accident waiting to happen! I believe Will Zalatoris had a similar move... and it cost him an injury. Thanks again AMG!!

Mike and Shaun - Between this video and the (you know to me) Holy Grail shallowing one, as usual you guys will be putting 'conventional' teaching concepts where they belong - in the garbage can! 😂 Pure gold once again, and glad to see you guys actually name some of your database pros. Great mix of them as well, so nobody can say you cherry picked them just to fit what you're trying to teach/debunk. Keep it up! 👍👊

Just as feel isn't always real, so it seems that camera footage isn't always real. Very interesting post and something that could help prevent injury.

Great video. So does the persistence of lead sided sided bend through the majority of the golf swing assist with shifting early pressure on the lead side and eliminating swaying off the ball resulting in more consistent strike?

When you show left side bend of the spine in back swing. Does it look like a player is bending right because of the tilt of the pelvis? Thanks

Great Stuff! I don't understand the spine rotation data. It shows Rory at -21 deg (which is CLOSED) at Impact. What does that mean? His hips and shoulders both look clearly OPEN at Impact. How does the spine rotation still show up as CLOSED? Is that an artifact of the reference frame? I'm not saying it is incorrect, just that I don't understand. Thanks.

Appreciate the linked drills, but don't think they really covered a lot of the concepts mentioned in this video. Especially the adding of flexion with both upper and lower rising, and also how to get proper pelvis tilt into impact. Any other resources and drills on that?

Love the Video