Not too long ago, I watched a scholar follow on the vary with textbook type. Stunning setup, clean takeaway, excellent place on the prime — every thing regarded flawless by the primary three-quarters of his swing.
Then got here the predictable breakdown: 20 consecutive pictures the place he’d get up by influence and blade the ball throughout the vary.
After one other skinny shot skipped towards the 150-yard marker, he checked out me with real confusion. “I really feel like I’m doing every thing proper,” he mentioned.
That is the curse of early extension — some of the widespread swing flaws I see, and some of the harmful to ball compression. After 20-plus years of instructing, I’ve realized that golfers who get up of their swing aren’t making a aware option to spoil their pictures. They’re responding to setup and swing points that drive this compensation.
Right here’s what drives me loopy: most golfers suppose standing up is a downswing drawback. It’s not. The true wrongdoer often begins at handle or within the backswing, creating a sequence response that makes early extension inevitable.
Why you’re standing up (and it’s not what you suppose)
Early extension — the technical time period for standing up by influence — occurs when your hips thrust towards the ball and your backbone angle adjustments dramatically. This swing attribute causes the arms and membership to get caught behind your physique throughout the downswing, forcing your torso to compensate by standing up.
The most typical trigger? Poor posture at setup. I see golfers hunched over the ball, creating an excessive amount of bend of their backbone. After they begin the downswing, there’s nowhere for his or her arms to go besides up and out. Standing up turns into the one option to make contact.
One other main wrongdoer: the dreaded “excessive” transfer. The over-the-top swing path creates a vicious cycle — when golfers begin their downswing with their higher physique as a substitute of their decrease physique, the membership approaches the ball from exterior the goal line. You’ll thrust your hips ahead (that is additionally known as early extension) in an effort to keep up your steadiness and keep away from chunking behind the ball.
The setup answer that adjustments every thing
Correct posture eliminates most early extension earlier than you even begin your swing. Right here’s what works.
Stand tall first, then hinge ahead out of your hips—not your waist. Your backbone ought to preserve its pure curves, not spherical right into a C-shape. Take into consideration sticking your chest out and your butt again, such as you’re about to sit down in a chair that’s barely too far-off.
Your arms ought to grasp naturally out of your shoulders. If you happen to’re reaching for the ball or pulling your arms tight to your physique, you’re creating the area points that drive early extension later.
One drill that transforms my college students: Follow your setup in opposition to a wall. Your butt ought to contact the wall at handle and keep linked all through your backswing. If you happen to lose contact, you’re altering your backbone angle in methods that may drive compensation strikes later.
The psychological shift that creates compression
The most important breakthrough occurs when golfers perceive that ball compression comes from two key elements working collectively: ahead shaft lean and a descending strike. The loft of your membership will get the ball airborne — your job is to create the circumstances for strong compression.
Ahead shaft lean is the key. When your fingers keep forward of the clubhead by influence, you successfully cut back the loft in your membership face. A 7-iron turns into extra like a 6-iron for that cut up second, creating the compressed contact you’re after.
Take into consideration hitting the ball first, then the bottom—however together with your fingers main the way in which. This psychological picture retains you in correct posture whereas guaranteeing your fingers keep forward of the clubhead at influence.
The important thing isn’t hitting down tougher. It’s sustaining that ahead shaft lean whereas making a managed descending strike. While you mix correct hand place with ball-first contact, compression occurs naturally.
The psychological shift that stops the standing
The most important breakthrough occurs when golfers cease making an attempt to raise the ball and begin making an attempt to hit down and thru it. The loft of your membership will get the ball airborne—your job is to make strong, descending contact.
Take into consideration hitting the ball first, then the bottom. This psychological picture ought to assist maintain you in your posture by influence as a substitute of standing as much as assist the ball fly.
I inform college students to think about they’re making an attempt to drive the ball into the bottom. Sounds counterintuitive, however this thought course of creates the right angle of assault for compressed contact.
The follow that makes it everlasting
Right here’s a drill that eliminates early extension: Place a chair or bench about six inches behind your butt at handle. Make follow swings whereas sustaining contact with the chair all through your backswing and downswing. If you happen to get up or thrust your hips ahead, you’ll lose contact with the chair instantly.
This offers you immediate suggestions about your backbone angle all through the swing. Most golfers are shocked to find how a lot they’re standing up — and the way significantly better their contact turns into once they preserve their posture.
Cease preventing your swing and begin fixing the actual issues. Correct setup and weight shift remove early extension naturally, supplying you with the compressed contact you’ve been chasing.
Your ball-striking will enhance once you work with physics, not in opposition to it.
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