Early extension/loss of posture/goat humping

[tdiii]

Drills or thoughts that helped you with this bugaboo once and for all?

Struggling with this and it really is an issue with driver and 3W.  I think it is closely related to poor sequencing; i.e., if one initiates the downswing with the lower body there's less chance of extending early.

But really interested in input from anyone who truly struggled with this and eventually overcame it.  It is one of those things I don't feel as I do it and only realize after the fact.

Thanks!

[allenc]

I can't help you with a drill but I believe this is one those things that is more "effect" than "cause."  That is you are probably forced to do the early extension in order to find the ball because you of what came before in the swing.

For instance, you might be coming in too steep and your body knows it needs to pull out of it to avoid smashing the club into the ground.  In that case if you absolutely forced yourself not to early extend without changing anything else it would just be chunk city.

So yeah, you're going to need to find a good instructor to help you with what is really going on.

[tdiii]

Just now, allenc said:

I can't help you with a drill but I believe this is one those things that is more "effect" than "cause."  That is you are probably forced to do the early extension in order to find the ball because you of what came before in the swing.

For instance, you might be coming in too steep and your body knows it needs to pull out of it to avoid smashing the club into the ground.  In that case if you absolutely forced yourself not to early extend without changing anything else it would just be chunk city.

So yeah, you're going to need to find a good instructor to help you with what is really going on.

Yeah, working with the instructor at my Club.  And I think you are right -- it is an effect not a cause. 

[billchao]

1 hour ago, tdiii said:

Yeah, working with the instructor at my Club.  And I think you are right -- it is an effect not a cause. 

If you're working with a good instructor, my advice is to follow that person's instruction.

[tdiii]

Just now, billchao said:

If you're working with a good instructor, my advice is to follow that person's instruction.

Of course.  But we've been working at this problem for a couple of months.  There's been some improvement but not a lot.  He seems to shrug his shoulders, say that this is the biggest struggle he sees for mid handicappers, and that it will take time.  I've worked on drills he's given me, found some others and checked with him to see if he's okay with them (he is), but not totally convinced that we are on the right track. 

 

[billchao]

3 minutes ago, tdiii said:

Of course.  But we've been working at this problem for a couple of months.  There's been some improvement but not a lot. 

Do you have a swing thread?

5 minutes ago, tdiii said:

He seems to shrug his shoulders, say that this is the biggest struggle he sees for mid handicappers, and that it will take time. 

That doesn't exactly scream "good teacher" to me. If a feel or a drill he gives you isn't clicking, he should be giving alternatives. Shrugging and saying lots of people have the same problem kind of sounds like he doesn't really have an answer.

As you basically said yourself, EE is a symptom, not a cause. What has he identified as the root cause of the problem in your swing?

[tdiii]

3 minutes ago, billchao said:

Do you have a swing thread?

 

As you basically said yourself, EE is a symptom, not a cause. What has he identified as the root cause of the problem in your swing?

On cause/symptom he says it is a chicken/egg thing.  It could be a cause or an effect -- I think he realizes some cures work for some people but not all.  He has suggested sequencing (which I'm also working on); i.e., not initiating with lower body enough.  Video discloses that, unlike a touring pro, my hips are only beginning to open at impact, rather than being well open. 

No swing thread. Yet. 

[billchao]

Just now, tdiii said:

No swing thread. Yet. 

You should start one. Without seeing your swing, we'd only be guessing. Hard to say if whatever advice you get is really the priority you should be working on.

[Mr. Desmond]

Looks like several good responses above ... one suggestion I saw elsewhere is to stand a bit taller at address with butt tucked in a bit - I think the thought is if you stand a bit taller at address, then it's easier to get the butt out on the downswing - looking in the mirror, if you open that front knee first during the transition, you automatically get a squat and get rid of the goat hump. Makes sense in that if you start the swing lower, it's tough to get lower; but if you start slightly taller, and get the front kness and then hips to open, you squat. I've tried it and it seems to help.