Thank you all for the tips. I will definitely focus on learning to pack the shoulders. I have been watching videos. Is shoulder packing required during swings? I never realized the benefits of keeping the shoulders packed in all aspects of weight training And how important it really is.
Yes, absolutely. It keeps your shoulders in a safe and effective position, tight to the body for good force transfer, and keeps the lats engaged. (Lats engaged = shoulders packed, and vice versa).
Stand in the standing plank with your arm out in front of you as if you're at the top of the swing. Now draw your shoulder down.... away from your ear, towards your hip. Anti-shrugged. Big chest. Tight armpit. This is where it should be at the top of the swing. (You can then feel the opposite of that if you let the shoulder come up and forward... shoulder muscles might be engaged, but lats are not). Then bring it back to packed.
Same thing in the hinge, practice being in the hinge position, one arm between your legs as if the kettlebell is behind you... square your shoulders, puff your chest out, reach your butt back, reach your hand back, and make sure your shoulders are anti-shrugged with tight armpits. Some people like the cue "put your shoulder blades in your opposite back pockets." This can work well too.
I like to practice this, and have students practice this, maybe 2 or 3 "swings" drilling each of these two positions before a set of swings. Then try to maintain this shoulder packing throughout the swing.
I believe this comes from Pavel... Lats are the supermuscles! Learn to actively use them and they will develop well and enable much more strong movement.