#1 If the swing is started with lower body rotation towards the target, a natural occurrence of the hands following the swing occurs. When the hands are trailing, this causes the right elbow to get slotted behind the right side of the body resulting in the common phrase "stuck." There are 2 ways to hit the ball when in this position. Maintain the current swing and enter the impact area with late hands resulting in a severely open face causing a monstrous block with a slice. Or speeding up the rotation of the hands that causes a plethora of timing issues in the impact zone most likely resulting in a snap hook. The blocked slice is the most common occurrence.
#2 A quick release of the hips also causes open shoulders at impact further reducing an accurate golf swing, also limiting the desired swing thought of extending through the impact zone to your target. Open shoulders cause the swing path to continue to the left resulting in an unfinished and abbreviated follow through.
#3 A quick release of the hips will also increase the "X factor." (An occurrence when viewed from the top of the swing that results in the shoulders and the hips in a twisted state on the spine creating an X). This occurrence does create more club head speed. As this factor increases, the ability to hit a golf ball a certain distance and in the desired direction is reduced dramatically.
#4 A quick release also drives the right side into the ball much to aggressively, resulting in a right foot supporting that swing on it's toes. With soft spikes today, this almost always results in back foot slippage during an aggressive swing furthering the inaccuracy of such a practice.
Y.E.Yang is a great example of athleticism. He did well at the PGA Championship. Unfortunately his game deteriorated at the Presidents Cup. I would elude to his hip turn as being a possible cause for inconsistency.
Solution: First off, the most successful golfers in the world have this element of slightly opened hips in common. To name a few, Sam Snead and Tiger Woods (post swing change). This element of a "quiet" lower body increases accuracy and the ability to work the ball. This also allows the hands to have ample room between the hips and the hands to do their job. Quiet hips allows the feet to stay on the ground. When I mention this it refers to the soles of both feet maintaining connection with the ground from start to impact. Feet on the ground results in great balance and proper weight shift. Sure their might be a slight reduction in distance on the fly, but your accuracy will be much improved and the roll you get from each drive landing in the fairway will greatly out measure the distance carried into the rough.
Tip: The best drill to date that works on quiet hips and increases balance is a drill that I learned from an article in golf digest written years ago by Davis Love III. His drill was to hit balls using 1/2 swings and 3/4 swings at the practice range with your feet close together. This forces you to start your swing with the upper body. A good note to keep in mind is to start the down swing with the left shoulder. This also improves balance because of the narrow stance. If you practice this drill with 30-50 swings on the range, every time you go hit a bucket, your swing will get more accurate and more balanced.
Kenny Perry is great example of a quiet lower body. He is considered one of the best ball strikers on tour.
*Pictures used in this post are from "Golf Digest Magazine"
