Abstract We consider the sub-Riemannian length minimization problem on the group of motions of hyperbolic plane i.e. the special hyperbolic group SH(2). The system com-prises of left invariant vector fields with 2 dimensional linear control input and energy cost functional. We prove the global controllability of control distribution and use Pon-tryagin Maximum Principle to obtain the extremal control input and sub-Riemannian geodesics. The abnormal and normal extremal trajectories of the system are analyzed qualitatively and investigated for strict abnormality. A change of coordinates trans-forms the vertical subssystem of the normal Hamiltonian system into mathematical pendulum. In suitable elliptic coordinates the vertical and horizontal ...