Golf Ground Reaction Force: Torque

Understanding Torque — The Rotational Engine of the Elite Golf Swing

ATX Golf Performance — Austin, Texas

Golf is a rotational sport, but the real power behind that rotation is far more complex than simply “turning your hips.” Elite players use the ground to create three major forces—lateral, rotational (torque), and vertical—and the timing between these forces determines how efficiently the body transfers speed to the club.

Among the three, torque is the engine that converts pressure shifts and vertical force into actual rotational speed.

Today, we break down what torque is, where it comes from, and how it depends on the other two forces to create the world-class sequence you see in tour players.

What Is Torque in the Golf Swing?

Torque is the rotational force created when your feet apply opposite directional pressures into the ground.
Imagine:

• Your lead foot pushing backward

• Your trail foot pushing forward

When this happens simultaneously, the ground pushes back with an equal and opposite force, creating a rotational moment around your body. That moment is torque.

Torque is responsible for:

• opening the pelvis

• unwinding the torso

• shallowing the club

• accelerating the kinematic chain

• increasing clubhead speed without extra effort

But torque doesn’t exist in isolation. It requires proper lateral force first—and it amplifies vertical force later.

How Torque Depends on Lateral Force

1. Lateral Force Creates the Platform for Rotation

Before you can rotate explosively, you must shift pressure from trail side to lead side.
This lateral shift:

• centers your mass over the lead leg

• creates asymmetry between the feet

• gives the lead leg a “brake” to rotate around

Elite players shift into the lead side early—often before the backswing is even finished. That early shift sets the stage for torque to fire cleanly.

Without lateral force?
You spin out on the trail side or stall the pelvis entirely.

2. Lateral Force Generates the Pressure Differential Torque Needs

Torque comes from the feet pushing in opposite rotational directions.
But that only works if:

• you’re on the lead side

• the lead foot is capable of resisting rotation

• the trail foot still has pressure to push against

If you hang back, torque cannot develop properly.
If you slide too far forward, torque has no room to act.

Lateral force must be early, sharp, and well-timed for rotational force to peak in the right part of the downswing.

3. Lateral → Torque Timing Is Critical

On force-plate graphs from tour players, you typically see:

• Lateral force peaks first (transition, P4–P5)

• Torque peaks second (mid-downswing, P5–P6)

This sequence is as consistent as the kinematic chain.
Get the first wrong, and the second won’t show up.

How Torque Sets Up Vertical Force

Vertical force is the upward push that adds speed late in the downswing.
But vertical force only works if torque is already in motion.

1. Torque Opens the Body so Vertical Force Has Somewhere to Go

When the pelvis opens through rotational force:

• the lead side stiffens

• the lead leg can post

• the spine gains space for extension

This is why pros can “push up” through the lead leg without early extension.
The rotation creates stability.

2. Torque Helps Transfer Vertical Force Into Club Speed

If you push vertically without torque:

• the hips stall

• the chest stops rotating

• the arms release early

• clubhead speed drops

But if torque is active?

The upward push accelerates the rotation, increasing angular velocity and delivering more speed into the club.

3. Torque Prevents Vertical Force From Becoming a Slide

Vertical force without rotation often turns into:

• jumping straight up

• losing posture

• standing up early

Torque anchors the swing so vertical force becomes productive speed, not a compensation.

What Elite Torque Patterns Look Like

Force-plate trends across tour players show a consistent pattern:

1. Lateral forces peak early

Pressure shifts rapidly to the lead leg during transition.

2. Torque spikes in the mid-downswing

Pelvis begins rotating open as players push opposite directions with each foot.

3. Vertical force activates late

Lead leg posts, body rises slightly, and club accelerates through impact.

This pattern is the hallmark of an efficient, athletic swing.

Common Amateur Torque Problems

1. Spinning Out Early

Amateurs try to “rotate more” by forcing the hips first.
This kills the lateral force sequence and prevents torque from developing naturally.

2. No Lead-Side Pressure Early Enough

If you’re stuck on the back foot at P5, torque can’t fire.
Rotation becomes arm-driven, not ground-driven.

3. Over-Sliding

Too much lateral force removes the friction needed for torque.
You can’t rotate if the lead foot is slipping or drifting.

4. Mis-timed Vertical Force

Jumping too early eliminates the rotational moment required for speed.

Drills to Improve Torque Sequencing

1. Lead-Foot Anti-Rotation Drill

Place your lead foot slightly flared but planted firmly.
Feel it resisting rotation as you shift into it.

2. Trail-Foot Push Drill

Start with trail heel slightly off the ground.
Push the heel down and forward in transition to create external rotation torque.

3. Step-Shift-Rotate Drill

Step toward the target as the club transitions.
This exaggerates lateral force, then lets torque fire naturally.

4. Medicine Ball Hip-Bump to Rotation

Bump the lead hip, then rotate violently while staying centered.
This mirrors the sequence: lateral → torque.

Torque Is the Bridge Between Pressure and Power

Lateral force moves you.
Vertical force propels you.
But torque is the rotational connection that turns both into speed and consistency.

Without torque, the swing becomes:

• arm-driven

• timing-dependent

• inconsistent under pressure

With torque?
The swing becomes athletic, efficient, and powerful.

At ATX Golf Performance, we measure torque directly with advanced force plates and 3D motion to identify exactly where in your sequence you lose rotational energy—and how to fix it.

Unlock Your Rotational Power

Book a Swing Analysis Session at ATX Golf Performance to uncover your torque patterns and rebuild your swing from the ground up.

You’ll get:

• Lateral, torque, and vertical force measurements

• Full center-of-pressure trace

• 3D body motion

• Kinematic sequence analysis

• Personalized drills and training plan