[Delaware Golf]

DG - You wrote-: "If you rotate the hips at the beginning of the downswing your shoulders will move outward....an over the top move."

I agree with you. A golfer should never rotate the pelvis at the start of the downswing. A golfer should first shift the pelvis left-laterally in a hip squaring action before rotating the pelvis in an assertive left hip clearing action. If the pelvis rotates back 45 degrees during the backswing, then there needs to be a 135 degree pelvic rotation to get to a finish position where the pelvis is square (parallel) to the target. At the start of the downswing, there is a hip shift-rotation movement that shifts the pelvis left-laterally and squares the pelvis. The left-lateral pelvic shift movement that squares the hips (to a sit down look) also involves a 45 degree pelvic rotation. However, the left-lateral shift component dominates the lower body movement. The true left hip clearing action - a further 90 degree rotation of the pelvis - occurs in the later downswing.

One can clearly see Ben Hogan's shift-rotation movement of the pelvis in his initiating downswing action in this video lesson. Note how the pelvis squares in the early downswing (in his pump-it drill action).
Jeff.

Jeff,

You can do what you like...if you think that's right go with it. Per the Golfing Machine, I'm going to go with Tomasello's instruction. I wouldn't agrue with a lower body startdown for hitting but not for swinging. Hogan appears to be a hitter with his irons from the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf Match against Snead. Even with his Driver his hands do not get above shoulder high...Tommy's agruement was if your hands got above shoulder high the start of the downswing shouldn't happend with the lower body. Sam Snead's hands are above shoulders at least for his woods and long and mid-irons. His swinging action is consistent with 12-2-0 and Tommy's instruction.

DG