Bill Haas - Power from the ground up

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In this video, I'll show you what powering the golf swing from the ground up really means. I'll show you how Bill Haas uses his lower body perfectly to start his downswing sequence. The downswing sequence happens really fast and you must have a clear picture on how to get things started down properly, how to stabilize and how to stall the body properly for the proper timing of the release. If you have been searching for a solution to put more power in your game, then you must learn how to use your big and more powerful muscles first.

  • Shift your weight first to start the downswing
  • Stabilize the lower body by driving the lead heel into the ground
  • Use the core muscles to unwind the torso
  • Release when the lower body is stable and stalled


If you have been searching for a solution on how to put more effortless power into your golf game, then I'm gonna show you how the 2015 Humana Challenge Champion Bill Haas powers his golf swing from the ground up. Now let's go ahead and get started.

                Okay guys, so I want to spend some time this week talking about downswing sequencing and what it actually means to power the golf swing from the ground up. I know a lot of us have probably heard that expression and if you really kind of grab ahold of the idea of what that means, and hopefully this review will give you a good indication of what it means. It'll certainly help you overcome a lot of those big faults you have in your golf swing.

                If you notice that you have a loss of lag or if you have poor balance, if you notice that you come way over the top, if you get a good prioritized list of things that are of what are supposed to fire when in the downward move, it'll be much easier to preserve lag and it'll be much easier to take that stored power up and turn it into speed at impact.

                So I think it's best if we look at where we're trying to get to first before I talk about how to get there. And if you look here at his impact position, this is a driver swing. You can see that he's got a nice stacked up left side, got a little bit of secondary access tilt here. So you can see this is a driver swing now so we normally would see a pretty drastic increase in secondary access tilt because a lot of golf pros really try to launch the ball really high in the air that's where we make some driver set up adjustments.

                But very good stacked up left side appearance here. Overall a pretty textbook looking impact position. So how do we get to this position, from the top of the golf swing position down? That's our big question today.

                So if we go ahead, and I'm gonna load Bill right up to the top of his swing, probably one of the better working transitions I see in modern golf today. I'm gonna ahead and mark the club position, the club head. I'm also gonna mark the outside part of his lead thigh here so you have a good, clear understanding of what's gonna start.

                So when golfers load up to this position here, the tendency for amateur golfers is to start to use their shoulders and their arms way too early. Now I like to think of the lower body as the dump truck in our golf swing. It's big, it's powerful but it's really slow. We need the dump truck to kind of pull things and get things moving in the golf swing in order to get things stabilized and make sure that we're gonna be able to utilize all the power.

                I think of the arms and the hands as kind of a Ferrari. If you get to the golf swing and you start to use your shoulders and your arms way too early, you're gonna get into a race with those hand and arms and lower body and guess what? Those arms are gonna be really fast and they can actually make your lower body not work at all. It can cause you to hang back, it can cause you to throw the club very early, which in turn, you're gonna lose lag.

                So the idea is that we want to keep the Ferraris in the garage for a little bit. We want the dump truck really to kind of start our party out. So how do we do that? So when we get to the top part of our golf swing, what do we need to do to get the lower body really working. You're gonna see a very good sized shift of the hips here. Okay, so you can see a good shift of the weight over to that lead side. So now you can see that his outside part of his thigh has moved a good six, seven, eight inches or so.

                And notice how the club has moved virtually the same amount of space. So the hands and the arms and the shoulders didn't do anything at this point. All we did from the top part of the golf swing to start the downward move was shift our weight.

                Now what do we do to get things further down into the hitting area? Well the first and foremost thing that we want to look for in order to get that golf swing that's powered from the ground up is we want to stabilize.

                So when you get your weight shifted over to that left side, now we need to start to stabilize by pushing that left heel into the ground. Pushing the left heel into the ground is gonna get those glute muscles really contracted and it's also gonna create some resistance from the ground. It's gonna act more like a piston. So you push into the ground like that, it's gonna make the leg work more to a straight position. So that's allowing you go leverage the ground.

                So stabilizing, once you shift, then stabilize the left side. It's very, very critical for being able to move power up the kinetic chain. But now to get the hands and the arms and the shoulders down in the hitting area, we need to use the core muscles. Our abs, our obliques. We need to use those to start to unwind the torso and right here we're gonna start to use those to unwind.

                We're still not using the hands and the arms as much as you would think at this point. The hands, the arms and the shoulders are not really doing much of anything. All we've done now is we're stabilizing the left side, we're using those big muscles, those oblique muscles. That's allowing us to pull the shoulders and the arms down in the hitting area.

                A little bit of gravity is moving down there as well but this is the point in the golf swing where we're really starting to post up. And we're gonna start to stall the body out as much as possible because when you start to stall the body, now the hands and arms can act independently from the body and they can release on through.

                So you notice here, I'm gonna go ahead and mark the outside, or mark where the club head is now. I'm also gonna mark the buttons on his shirt, and I'll mark the pocket just for good sake here. All right so you can see now this is where he's gonna start to really release the golf club.

                Okay, so things are really starting to release hard. Notice that the buttons on the shirt are not moving at all. And the pocket is not moving at all and see how far this club has traveled from this position. There might be a little movement of the buttons but not a ton. And then right on through the hitting area.

                Okay, so you can see that this golf club has traveled a good eight feet. The left hip has not moved and the buttons on his shirt have not moved. So this is a very, very textbook way to stall the body and release the club with max speed down in the hitting area.

                Now you'll see the buttons move a little bit more as they move through some more frames here and that's just because the hands and the arms are hanging onto the club and the club's got a lot of momentum. And it's pulling us up into our finished position.

                So the idea with a properly sequenced golf swing that can help you overcome a lot of those faults with being over the top, loss of lag, loss of balance, the idea is, is to get things motoring with the dump truck. Get your lower body moving first. Once it's shifted over to your lead side, stabilize it. Make sure that it's gonna be able to handle that load, you want to be able to handle all that momentum as you're releasing the club, so stabilize it by driving the left heel into the ground, and then use those core muscles, those engaged core muscles, those abs, those obliques to start to pull ... all right, you're gonna create some torso rotation which is gonna now pull the shoulders down into the hitting area, which has now got the hands and the arms more out in front of the body to where you can start to release it on through. And you will have way more speed than you ever had.

                Alright, so use this sequencing, use the lower body first always in your downward move. That'll help get things really rocking and rolling.

                I got a couple of great videos I want you guys to check out. We've got an awesome video coming out later out in the week that Chuck just put together. It's actually kind of coincides with what I talked about today. That's gonna be coming out as a premium video later in the week.

                I also have Three Sources To Increase Power. That's gonna be over on the right hand side of the video player. That's a great video transition drill. That's another good video for you guys to understand how the lower body is gonna work. And then the Straight Left Leg At Impact video. That's a video that I did that talked about the proper muscle engagement. It shows you a good way to find how to get some awareness of those glute muscles because you really need the dump truck kind of getting things started before you can turn those Ferraris and let them loose and have a good old time.

                Alright, guys so that's how to properly power a golf swing from the ground up. I wish you all the best and let's get out there and play some great golf.

Must be Premium Member to Comment

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James
Ok thanks craig i cant seem to do the sitting into the left side ! I will work on the other 3 thanks.
October 13, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. Okay. Keep us updated. Don't paralyze yourself with over thinking.
October 13, 2015
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James
Hi craig is there any videos on it ? I tried it today like a one two hip then push into the ground ?
October 13, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. Hmm. I don't think there is a detailed video on the particular move. But, the How the Lower Body Works Video, Sitting Into the Left Side, Weight Shift Part 3 and the Perfecting Lower Body Stability should have plenty of information to master the shift.
October 13, 2015
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James
Hi craig please explain left hip adduction ?
October 13, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. The hip adduction helps pull your weight from the inner thigh to help you get into your lead side.
October 13, 2015
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James
Hi Craig I am pushing my left foot into the ground before Iam shifting left ?
October 12, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello James. This is the exact sequence of events you should shoot for. Externally rotate the left leg to move the knee directly over the left ankle. Pull the weight over to the left with left hip adduction. Plant the weight firmly by pushing the left ankle into the ground and activating the left glute.
October 12, 2015
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Anthony
Craig, just to follow up on my previous comment, it looks like when he stalls the body he has more axis tilt or ( more side bend of the right side) to help stall the body. My question: is the role of the right side, in the downswing, is to stall the body by having more side bend or axis tilt ?
March 14, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Anthony. The right side will help brake or stall out the body. You don't want to think of it as the right side is helping add more or create secondary axis tilt. This is just a positioning that Bill works into. Rather what we would like to see is add a touch more axis tilt at address. Therefore, it can be maintained without having to be manually changed at the ball for better launch angle.
March 14, 2015
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Anthony
Craig, I watched the video again and it looks like his head moves a little backwards as he releases the club. is this part of stalling the body and counter balances the arms and swing going foward as he releases the club.
February 20, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Anthony. Yes, he is counter balancing the weight and trying to maximize speed/launch of the drive.
February 21, 2015
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Jesse
I notice that the trail knee of Bill Haas is pointing out much more than, say, Tiger Woods and many of the other professionals, indicating that his hips are rotating much more. Is this desirable or is this just something that he has learned to do with his own timing? Thanks.
February 10, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jesse. That has been a move in his swing since he was in high school. More a trained response for him.
February 10, 2015
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Jesse
Got it, thanks Craig.
February 11, 2015
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Anthony
Great video and comments , once I transfer my weight to the left side and stabilized the left glute by pushing my left heel into the ground, I then pull my left oblique muscles around. When I am pulling my left oblique muscles around I feel ( may not be real ) my upper body is moving back while may arms move foward across my body, is this feel correct.
January 28, 2015
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Patrick (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi Anthony, How golfers internalize and express what they feel can be different from person to person. Always match up what you are feeling to a video recording or a mirror. So long as the feedback in the mirror or camera is correct, you can internalize what "correct" feels like however you wish. Check out the "Impact alignments" videos for the down the line view and face on view to see if what you feel in the downswing leads to a correct impact position and see if that matches up.
January 29, 2015
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William
Fantastic golf swing, great moves and all explained in perfect detail by Chris. With the RST videos and drills to work with, things can only get better!
January 28, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello William. Thanks for the post. Chris does very well with his swing reviews.
January 29, 2015
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Christian
man he has a great swing. I have always liked Ferraris, but it sounds like I need to activate my dump truck more. Go Tonka Truck Power!
January 28, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Honestly, what can't you do with a Tonka Truck! I played with him and against him a lot in high school and amateur golf. His swing has been great for a long time.
January 28, 2015
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Andrew
Hi Chris, In the transition drill video, Chuck mentioned that part of the thigh (right side in this case) should be revealed when the club is parallel to the ground. Bill Haas in this video is not. Is it different for a driver swing or is it something that BH adjusted for his swing? Thanks, Andrew
January 27, 2015
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
Andrew, It's the camera angle. Unfortunately, most cameras during PGA events aren't centered perfectly for the down the line or face on views. R.J.
January 28, 2015
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andrew
This guy looks text book RST throughout. Anything you'd change in his swing?
January 27, 2015
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
Andrew, If it were me, I would try to eliminate the little bit of internal rotation and shifting of his lead knee in the backswing and the lateral dragging of the knee joint after impact. These two moves will eventually cause him knee injury over time and as you said, he has a beautiful swing so, I would hate to see it ruined by injury. Aside from that, it looks great. R.J.
January 28, 2015
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Mike
Really useful Chris.......it's quite dramatic to see just how much he moves the 'dump truck' of his hips to the left to kick start his downswing. I don't get enough weight to my left or engage my left side quick enough therefore tend to hang back on my right side and get a bit stuck under the plane. So many thanks for this analysis
January 27, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Mike. Thanks for the post. Chris and the team appreciate the compliments.
February 17, 2015
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Charlie
Do you have any RST professionals in the Cleveland, Ohio area? Please advise.
January 27, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Charles. Here is the link to our instructor page to find the closet RST Instructor near you. http://www.rotaryswing.com/rst-certification/rst-certified-instructors
January 28, 2015
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Mads
Hi I'm a bit confused. In this video, it's said, that your arms and hands are more or less passive throughout the swing. The weight transfer and the rotation of the hips and right oblique pull the arms/club down to where the shaft is parallel to the ground, and from the the stalling of the body initiate the release of the club. But some of the other videos tell you to actively use your arms/hands - i.e: In the "Key to creating lag" video Chuck says, that after the weight transfer you pull down with your right arm - that is, you don't keep your arms passive The "Throw the ball" drill tells you to actively use your right wrist to release the club. So ... no active arms/hands or active arms/hands?
January 27, 2015
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
Mads, It depends on what you're having trouble with. Ultimately, it's both, but as you can see in many of the videos on the site, exaggerations are taught because most amateurs over do one side or the other for each aspect of the golf swing. Also, Chris is referring to arms/wrists/shoulder not doing a whole lot from the perspective of a shoulder spinner, or people who come over the top. Those players should feel like their shoulders/wrists/arms aren't doing much until the last moment of the golf swing. The "throw the ball drill" is to help people with sequencing the downswing who are more familiar with other sports than golf. If you remember from the introduction section, Chuck tells us that we need to be our own best teacher and that includes knowing what side of the fence you're on when it comes to exaggeration drills. If you find videos on the site with conflicting views, it's because the real answer lies in the middle and the videos try to pull the extremes to the middle with the other extreme. If that makes sense. Great question, best of luck to you and play some great golf! R.J.
January 28, 2015
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John
RJ; your clarification is very helpful. Thank you.
June 2, 2019
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R.J. (Certified RST Instructor)
you're welcome
June 2, 2019

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