How I Teach Golf (Inspired by Kelvin Miyahira) is a 12-part series on MyJLStory.com. Each post shares one of my personal takeaways from studying Kelvin’s biomechanical framework and refining it through years of teaching. These are not a direct representation of Kelvin’s teaching — they are my interpretations, shaped by my own experience and mistakes. Start here, then follow the series for a full picture.
When golfers talk about power, they usually mention “shifting weight” — load the right side, then shift to the left.
It sounds logical, but it’s not how elite players really move.
Kelvin’s work showed me that true power doesn’t come from sliding side to side.
It comes from the spine engine — the rotation, lateral bend, and extension that create torque from the inside out.
What the Spine Engine Really Does
Think of the spine as the real pivot axis, not the hips.
The hips turn because the spine and ribcage create motion, not the other way around.
At the top of the backswing, the body holds left lateral bend and thoracic extension — that stretch stores energy in the core.
During the downswing, the body reverses into right lateral bend while the lead leg posts and extends.
That’s the engine firing.
The head and chest may stay centered, but inside, the spine is winding and unwinding like a coiled spring.
When that happens correctly, rotation becomes powerful and stable — no sliding needed.
What I Now Look For
Lateral bend and extension drive real power.
Golfers who chase “shifts” lose rotation.
Golfers who learn to bend and extend gain effortless speed.
Rotate around, not across.
If the pelvis moves toward the target too early, energy leaks.
A proper downswing feels like unwinding around a fixed spine, not across the body.
Lead leg posting creates the “wall.”
Posting isn’t just bracing — it’s rotational bracing.
When the lead leg pushes up and back, lumbar lordosis and posterior pelvic tilt work together to create a stable axis.
That combination supports both rotation and extension.
With that in place, the torso can unwind freely without lateral sway.
Story From My Teaching
My son once asked me, “Dad, why don’t you ever tell me to shift my weight to the left? Every YouTube video says that.”
I laughed and said, “You already do — just not the way they describe it.”
“When you unwind from the top,” I told him, “your spine rotates, your lead leg extends, and your chest rotates open. That’s your weight moving left — through rotation, not slide or shift.”
He smiled. “So I learned it without knowing?”
“Exactly,” I said. “You learned it by moving correctly, not by forcing it.”
That’s what awareness and good motion do.
They teach your body what efficiency feels like.
[Photo Placeholders]
Top of backswing — left lateral bend and lumbar extension
Transition — lead leg posting and right lateral bend
Impact — rotation around stable spine
Side view — stable rotation vs. hip slide
Closing Theme
Power doesn’t come from shifting.
It comes from the spine engine — the body’s natural system of rotation, bend, and extension.
When it fires in sequence, power happens without effort.
Call to Action
This is part of my How I Teach Golf (Inspired by Kelvin Miyahira) series.
Have you ever tried to stop sliding and focus on rotation instead?
Share what you felt in the comments — I’d love to hear it.
Editor’s Note
We’re still gathering the right swing photos and visuals for this series. Placeholders mark where they’ll go — thanks for your patience as we complete this resource.