Drills for Early Extension: What Works for You?

Golf Techniques
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Early extension is a common issue that many golfers face, impacting swing consistency and overall performance. If you’re struggling with this problem, you’re not alone! Here are some effective drills and tips that can help you correct early extension in your golf swing.

Understanding Early Extension

Early extension occurs when a golfer stands up or moves closer to the ball during the downswing. This can lead to poor contact and inconsistent ball flight. Identifying the root cause is essential, whether it’s a physical limitation, swing flaw, or even mental pressure.

Helpful Drills

Here are some drills that I’ve found to be helpful in addressing early extension:

  1. Wall Drill: Stand facing a wall with your toes about a foot away. Practice your downswing while maintaining your spine angle. This will prevent you from moving toward the ball. Make sure your hips do not touch the wall.

  2. Chair Drill: Place a chair behind you, ensuring it’s situated at the distance where your hips would touch it if you extended early. Practice swinging while keeping your hips back from the chair through impact.

  3. Feet Together Drill: Hit shots with your feet together. This will restrict your body movement and force you to maintain your posture throughout the swing.

  4. Slow Motion Swings: Take slow swings and really focus on keeping your posture consistent. This can help reinforce the right muscle memory.

  5. Video Analysis: Record your swing while focusing on your posture. Reviewing it can help you see where you’re going wrong and what adjustments need to be made.

Additional Tips

  • Flexibility and Strength: Work on your flexibility and core strength. Yoga or Pilates can be excellent for improving your overall physical condition, which supports better swing mechanics.
  • Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to reach out to a coach or use technology like swing analysis apps. Getting feedback can greatly accelerate your learning process.

I’d love to hear what drills or tips have worked for you in combating early extension! Let’s help each other improve our swings and enjoy the game more.

Feel free to share your experiences, or any questions you might have!

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Early extension can really mess with your swing. It happens when your hips move toward the ball too early, causing a loss of power and accuracy. Understanding what causes it is crucial for improvement.

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Totally agree! A big cause for me has been my balance. When I lose my balance, I tend to extend early. Anyone else feel the same?

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Right! And sometimes it stems from just wanting to hit the ball too hard. Relaxing a bit can make a big difference!

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Early extension occurs when you stand up too soon in your swing. It can throw off your alignment and lead to inconsistent ball striking. It’s often related to poor setup or weight transfer.

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I think drills that focus on maintaining posture through impact can be super helpful. Try practicing with a mirror or recording yourself to see if you’re extending early.

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Absolutely! I’ve been doing the wall drill where you stand close to a wall to prevent early extension. It’s worked wonders for me!

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You know, I never thought I had an early extension issue until I saw my swing on video. It’s amazing how much our perception can differ from reality.

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Exactly! A friend of mine told me that early extension was a common problem for a lot of players, but I thought I was immune. Guess I was wrong!

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Common causes include tight hip flexors and poor lower body movement. Stretching and mobility work can often help tackle these issues.

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I was just about to say that! A good warm-up focusing on flexibility can make a noticeable difference in how your swing feels.

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While it might sound simple, it often takes a lot of practice and patience. But yes, it can work wonders!

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I find it hard to believe that such a simple adjustment can fix early extension for some players. Is it really that effective?

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One thing I do when I feel like I’m extending early is to humor myself – I tell my swing, ‘Stay down, buddy!’ It helps lighten the mood while I work on it!

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I’ve found that using a wall to practice my backswing really helps. Stand a few inches away and try to keep your hips from touching it. It reinforces proper posture and helps with timing.

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That wall drill sounds great! I also like using a mirror to check my form. It’s amazing how just seeing your posture can correct issues like early extension.

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A great drill I learned is to focus on keeping your left knee flexed during the downswing. It forces your lower body to stay stable and can prevent early extension.

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That’s a solid tip! I sometimes struggle with that. Any specific techniques on how to keep the knee flexed while swinging?

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I practice a drill where I place a golf tee behind my right heel. It encourages me to keep my rear leg straight, which helps maintain my posture throughout the swing.

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What about timing? Any drills specifically for that? I feel like my swing gets too rushed and that leads to early extension.

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