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Keeping hips at tush line


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I'm surprised that I haven't seen more threads about not "humping the goat". I see so many people do it, and I've struggled with it as well. One of my recent lessons had me focusing on pulling the left hip behind me (I'm simplifying, I still try to get my weight forward and have a bit of a hip slide). It's been a great feel for me. It has helped with my blocks to the right and has added distance. Is this not a common problem for a lot of amateurs?
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If you're describing a forward push of the hips instead of a lateral slide, then I'd say yes. That simple fix basically cured my slice. I actually trained myself to start my hip push forward, toward the target, as I complete my backswing... I visualize a coiled spring, where the bottom half starts uncoiling just as the top reaches its maximum tension, which pulls my hands through, instead of where I used to lead with my hands.
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Plenty of PGA Tour pros early extend slightly. It can add power to a swing. In some cases we encourage our students to early extend, particularly when the ball is on a tee. It's not always a bad, bad thing.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
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Plenty of PGA Tour pros early extend slightly. It can add power to a swing. In some cases we encourage our students to early extend, particularly when the ball is on a tee. It's not always a bad, bad thing.

You are the pro, so I believe what you say. BUT, I'm not sure the average amateur can hump the goat and gain better results. The spine angle changes and the hands will generally go out. Also, they usually don't open the hips at impact as they should. These folks tend to have the shanks on any partial shots they attempt. You say it can be helpful when the ball is on a tee. Do you promote a different hip turn/spine angle on tee shots vs fairway shots?

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You are the pro, so I believe what you say. BUT, I'm not sure the average amateur can hump the goat and gain better results.

It depends on the amateur. We have put many into a pattern with the driver that encourages early extension because they can game 10 mph of clubhead speed with no or little loss of control. Beyond that, "early extension" is often better described as "lack of regaining flexion."

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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It depends on the amateur. We have put many into a pattern with the driver that encourages early extension because they can game 10 mph of clubhead speed with no or little loss of control. Beyond that, "early extension" is often better described as "lack of regaining flexion."

Do you recommend this to some on fairway or pitch shots? I'm curious, because I've always heard that your swing shouldn't differ with a teed up drive or a pitching wedge from the fairway.

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The driver and pitch swings are very different. As are driver and iron swings. To be clear, we don't recommend early extending to even the majority of players. But it's not always a bad thing.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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The driver and pitch swings are very different. As are driver and iron swings. To be clear, we don't recommend early extending to even the majority of players. But it's not always a bad thing.

When is it a good thing? I'm curious. I know I can get away with early extension with a any shot, if I compensate, but why do it in the first place? Especially of it only works on balls that are teed up?

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Plenty of PGA Tour pros early extend slightly. It can add power to a swing. In some cases we encourage our students to early extend, particularly when the ball is on a tee. It's not always a bad, bad thing.

Yeah I would say it rare to see a player stay completely "on the wall" from A4-7.  Even Mac doesn't do it ;-)

When is it a good thing? I'm curious.

I know I can get away with early extension with a any shot, if I compensate, but why do it in the first place? Especially of it only works on balls that are teed up?

Actually made a post on this on my swing thread, check it out http://thesandtrap.com/t/40164/my-swing-mvmac/198#post_910514

There are a few reasons why you might EE, rate the arms lower, trying to swing out to the right, head going "through the wall" on the back swing.  There's a few more, don't want to overcomplicate things.

Mike McLoughlin

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Plenty of PGA Tour pros early extend slightly. It can add power to a swing. In some cases we encourage our students to early extend, particularly when the ball is on a tee. It's not always a bad, bad thing.

Thank you..some things that people,say are bad..aren't bad for all. Great post iacas. One session I won't hump the goat as bad..others more Here is a question for u guys. What about the flat soled linkster golf shoe? I heard from the online communities that this helps with the goat humping...vs guys that wear a gym shoe to,play golf. Is this a myth? Anyways..great thread

Like working on the swing,,score means nothing to me. Might just go to the range and give up playing... ( might happen)

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Here is a question for u guys. What about the flat soled linkster golf shoe? I heard from the online communities that this helps with the goat humping...vs guys that wear a gym shoe to,play golf. Is this a myth?

Anyways..great thread

Not sure if they help all that much with EE but they are great shoes.  More info here http://thesandtrap.com/t/55204/true-shoes-barefoot-and-more

Mike McLoughlin

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The driver and pitch swings are very different. As are driver and iron swings.

To be clear, we don't recommend early extending to even the majority of players. But it's not always a bad thing.

Do you mind elaborating on this?  If its off topic you could send a PM please.  Specifically, the driver and iron swings differing (other than hitting down for irons and up for driver)

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Do you mind elaborating on this?  If its off topic you could send a PM please.  Specifically, the driver and iron swings differing (other than hitting down for irons and up for driver)

That alone does most of it. You don't have to get your weight forward in the same way with a driver. Early extending prevents your weight from getting forward in the same way you would with an iron swing.

We have a few threads on "driver versus iron swing."

In fact, we have so many, I'm going to merge them all. So for a short while some links may be broken. I'll edit this post with the final URL when I'm done merging.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/3494/

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Could someone explain early extension and "the wall"? I've never heard these terms.:-\

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Could someone explain early extension and "the wall"? I've never heard these terms.

"The wall" is simply an imaginary vertical line along your butt as viewed from a down-the-line camera angle.  (As if you backed up to a wall while in your setup - in fact there are good drills where you literally do this)  If you hips go towards the ball at any point during the swing, they are said to be "coming off the wall."

Early Extension (EE) is, as far as I know, simply having fully extended arms PRIOR to impact.  I think it's pretty common among as hacks ;) ... I know I do it.

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"The wall" is simply an imaginary vertical line along your butt as viewed from a down-the-line camera angle.  (As if you backed up to a wall while in your setup - in fact there are good drills where you literally do this)  If you hips go towards the ball at any point during the swing, they are said to be "coming off the wall."

Early Extension (EE) is, as far as I know, simply having fully extended arms PRIOR to impact.  I think it's pretty common among as hacks ;) ... I know I do it.

I thought EE was "standing up" or losing the flexion in your knees and spine prior to impact?

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

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Could someone explain early extension and "the wall"? I've never heard these terms.

"The wall" is simply an imaginary vertical line along your butt as viewed from a down-the-line camera angle.  (As if you backed up to a wall while in your setup - in fact there are good drills where you literally do this)  If you hips go towards the ball at any point during the swing, they are said to be "coming off the wall."

Early Extension (EE) is, as far as I know, simply having fully extended arms PRIOR to impact.  I think it's pretty common among as hacks ;) ... I know I do it.

Correct about the wall, not so much with the EE ;-)

Like Erik mentioned earlier, you could really call EE not gaining flexion.  When we talk about flexion, we're talking about from the hips and not the knees.  Yes it's when tailbone tucks under, head moves off the wall.

I thought EE was "standing up" or losing the flexion in your knees and spine prior to impact?

Actually when golfers stand up, you'll tend to see the knees flex too much, "saggy" look.  Knees flex to get the club down to the ball.

Mike McLoughlin

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  • 4 weeks later...
Some recent changes to my transition have me humping the goat pretty hard, poor little goat. My ass comes way off the wall but my head stays pretty stable. I'm going to start doing some of Dave's "Toes up" drills to see if that will help keep everything moving more laterally. Question: if the head stays relatively stable can EE be lived with? I have to work hard at coming from the inside and the goat humping seems to magnify when flattening out in transition. My feeling is that it can be ironed out later on as long as my head stays centered and I'm not coming OTT.

Yours in earnest, Jason.
Call me Ernest, or EJ or Ernie.

PSA - "If you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!"

My Whackin' Sticks: :cleveland: 330cc 2003 Launcher 10.5*  :tmade: RBZ HL 3w  :nickent: 3DX DC 3H, 3DX RC 4H  :callaway: X-22 5-AW  :nike:SV tour 56* SW :mizuno: MP-T11 60* LW :bridgestone: customized TD-03 putter :tmade:Penta TP3   :aimpoint:

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