The Definition: What is a Sway?

In the quest for power, many golfers confuse "loading" their right side with "sliding" to their right side.

A Sway is defined as excessive lateral movement of the pelvis away from the target during the backswing. Instead of rotating around a stable center (like a door hinge), the golfer slides their entire lower body to the right.

The result? You move the low point of your swing behind the golf ball. To make contact, you are now forced to slide aggressively forward in the downswing or flip your hands to reach the ball. It destroys consistency.

The Amateur Sway

Watch the two videos below to see what a Sway looks like in 3D motion. The first video shows the full flowing swing, and the second breaks it down position-by-position.

The Data Check: Notice the yellow line tracking the pelvis. When the lead arm reaches parallel to the ground (P3), this golfer has swayed -3.4" away from the target.

For context, the professional average is only -0.1" to -1.7". Worse, as this amateur transitions to the top of the swing, they add an additional 1.0" of backward drift, making it nearly impossible to return to the golf ball on time.

Stop Guessing. Start Measuring.

Do you have a Sway? You cannot accurately judge a 1.5-inch slide with the naked eye.

Upload your swing video for a Digital Analysis. We will use 3D motion tracking to measure your exact pelvis movement and tell you definitively if you are loading properly or sliding out of position. [Button: Start My Swing Analysis]

The Professional Pivot

For comparison, watch the next two videos to see what a stable, professional pivot looks like.

The Data Check: At lead arm parallel, this professional has only -1.4" of lateral movement. Crucially, as they transition to the top of the swing, all lateral shift in the pelvis moves toward the target. There is zero backward drift. They rotate; they do not slide.

The Body-Swing Connection

A sway is not always a "bad habit"—it is often a physical limitation. There are 13 physical limitations that can impact your golf swing.

If your body is unable to move in certain ways, your swing will naturally compensate. The physical limitations that directly cause a sway include:

• Limited internal and external hip rotation

• Limited pelvic rotation

• Limited single-leg balance

• Weak glutes

A simple screening process can identify these limitations and provide a straightforward exercise routine to unlock your swing.

Find out more about mobility in the golf swing: [Insert Link]