Irons · Lesson
Early Extension Is Often a Symptom
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Early extension means your hips move toward the ball on the way down and your chest rises. Often it's caused by something else. One cause is a steep downswing. If the club comes down too vertical or over the top, your body looks for room. Fix it with a full backswing turn so the club has depth. Another cause is getting stuck on your back foot. Load into your trail foot going back. Then move pressure forward as you start down, so you can turn.
Step by step
- Make a full backswing turn.
- Avoid a steep start down.
- Load the inside of your trail foot.
- Shift pressure forward early.
- Then rotate through.
Why it works
When the club drops too steeply or you stay on your back foot, your body has no room to rotate, so your hips move toward the ball to make space. A full backswing turn gives the club depth behind you, so it can approach from a shallower path. Loading your trail foot and moving pressure forward early lets your hips turn open instead of thrusting toward the ball.
Common mistakes
- You cut the backswing short, so the club has no depth and drops steeply.Turn your chest until your back faces the target more, and let the club reach a full position before you start down.
- You throw the club from the top and it comes over the top.Start the downswing by shifting pressure toward your lead foot, and let the club drop behind you before you turn.
- You stay on your trail foot and then rotate, so your hips have to push forward to get through.Shift pressure toward your lead foot early in the downswing, then rotate your hips and chest through.
How you'll know it's working
- Your belt buckle stays about the same distance from the ball until impact, and your chest does not rise.
- You strike the ball first, then the turf, with a divot that starts at or just after the ball.
- You feel pressure on the inside of your trail foot at the top, then on your lead foot as you start down.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Make slow half swings with a short iron, and pause at the top to feel pressure on the inside of your trail foot before you shift forward.
Harder: Hit full shots with a mid iron while keeping your hips from moving toward the ball, and check your posture on video or in a mirror.
Common questions
What causes early extension in the golf swing?
It is often caused by a steep downswing, a short backswing turn, or staying on your back foot. In each case your body moves toward the ball to find room to swing.
Can you fix early extension by just keeping your hips back?
Usually not. Holding your hips back without fixing the cause leaves you without room to turn. Fix the turn, the club path and the pressure shift first, and your hips will stay in place more easily.
