Fitness Friday: Two great exercises for your downswing

Synchronicity in the downswing—the kinematic sequence—is extremely important if you want to hit great golf shots. Most golfers know that the lower body should lead the action in the downswing—especially important is getting the hips moving before the torso starts to unwind. Get this order correct and your chances of hitting a powerful and straight golf shot improve dramatically.

Unfortunately, knowing this is one thing, but doing it is another. Whether it's a lack of coordination, ineffective muscle function, or simply an unfamiliarity with what a proper downswing feels like, many amateurs fail to get the hips rotating in the correct sequence and independent of the torso rotation.

You can train in the gym to correct this problem, which is especially good news in the winter months when it's too cold to work on it at the golf course. Click on the video below to see me demonstrate two great lower-body rotation exercises.

Ron Kaspriske is the fitness editor of Golf Digest.

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