Early extension, what I learned

[GolfBear]

I've recently started focusing more on flexibility and while browsing the TPI site I stumbled on a discussion about "early extension". Basically the discussion was about how physical limitations (ie lack of strength or flexibility) can inhibit your ability to make certain moves during the golf swing. Early extension is basically a movement of your hips or pelvis toward the golf ball during the swing. This essentially causes your body to block your arms and forces you do do all sorts of crazy stuff to avoid getting stuck.

So I went back and looked at a some film of my swing, drew a line on my butt and noticed that it was moving forward about 4 inches during the downswing. NOT 4 inches toward the target but 4 inches toward the ball.

I found some drills, worked on them yesterday and this morning and all I can say is HOLY CRAP. If you're struggling with consistency take a look at your swing and see if you suffer from early extension.

[Chillmoon91]

Could you explain it a bit more and what drills you did?

[GolfBear]

Could you explain it a bit more and what drills you did?

This should help explain it better:

http://www.mytpi.com/mytpi05/swing/s...&tab;=solutions I tried 2-3 drills but the most effective drill I did was: http://www.mytpi.com/mytpi05/exercis...exerciseID=266

[spmurph]

Were you experiencing the misses described in the article?

I noticed I have this in my swing and when I asked about it elsewhere I was told that it was inconsequential to hitting the ball. I was told that it is a result of having an outward hand path into impact. I've been working on a more in and down hand path and that has seemed to help, although I've yet to confirm that on video. Getting the right shoulder to go down plane and not just "down" also seems to help.

[senorchipotle]

OP, have you been pushing and push slicing the ball? i've been doing this a bit lately, and i feel i might be moving toward the ball actually.

[shortstop20]

I suffer from this, and my misses are blocks and hooks, just like the article says. I don't really stand up though, it's just that my whole body moves towards the ball.

EDIT: Yes, it can even lead to push slices if you really get stuck behind the ball, even shanks.

[GolfBear]

Spmurph & senor,

If you read the description of the miss hits that can be caused by early extension (block and hook) that pretty much describes perfectly where my misses are. I've always fought an over the top swing and most of my range work focuses on that fault. The most frustrating thing about my misses is that they aren't ever consistent. When I miss it's either a giant climbing bomb to the right or a dead pull hook to the left. I was struggling to diagnose the swing fault that was causing two seemingly opposite misses but using the new ball flight laws I'm assuming the block right is an inside to out swing with the face square to the path and the hook was just the opposite since neither of them turn much and tend to be dead straight.

It's too early to tell if the early extension is contributing to my over the top swing but my video review absolutely proved that I was moving towards the ball at least four inches, maybe more.

It might also explain where that occasional shank comes from??

[shortstop20]

It might also explain where that occasional shank comes from??

Most likely, I sometimes move anywhere from 3-5" closer to the ball, shanks show up sometimes. I had them BAD for about a month, couldn't even get a ball off the ground during that month. Pretty embarrassing when you're used to consistently hitting 7 irons 165 yards out there.

[spmurph]

It might also explain where that occasional shank comes from??

I believe this might also be a result of the outward hand path as it may be causing you to work under the sweetspot. Much harder to turn the sweetspot off the plane with an outward hand path.

Shortstop, if that is you in the avatar it's hard to see you extend 3-5" from that position and shank it. You look in prime postion to lag the sweetspot into impact.

[shortstop20]

Shortstop, if that is you in the avatar it's hard to see you extend 3-5" from that position and shank it. You look in prime postion to lag the sweetspot into impact.

At the time that picture was taken, I wasn't having any problems with the shanks. It was later when my "early extension" got even worse.

[acegolfer]

I realized that I had early extension, aka hip thrust in April. It took 1 month at the range to fix it. Boy, my swing feels totally different now.

I think early extension is #1 swing fault among mid cappers. Among all swing faults, I think this to be the most deadly one that needs to fixed ASAP.

[spmurph]

I realized that I had early extension, aka hip thrust in April. It took 1 month at the range to fix it. Boy, my swing feels totally different now.

How did you go about fixing it?

[golf4ever]

The most common training to fix hip thrust toward the ball is to practice with against the back of a chair (or even a golf bag) on your butt. As you swing slowly at first, keep your butt against the object througout the swing. Just roll your butt along the object. This will help you keep your spine angle throughout your swing.

[acegolfer]

How did you go about fixing it?