Lately, I watched a scholar follow on the vary with textbook kind. Stunning setup, clean takeaway, good place on the prime — every thing regarded flawless by means of the primary three-quarters of his swing.
Then got here the predictable breakdown: 20 consecutive pictures the place he’d get up by means of 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 — probably the most widespread swing flaws I see, and probably the most damaging to ball compression. After 20-plus years of instructing, I’ve realized that golfers who get up of their swing aren’t making a acutely aware option to smash their pictures. They’re responding to setup and swing points that power this compensation.
Right here’s what drives me loopy: most golfers assume standing up is a downswing downside. It’s not. The true offender 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 assume)
Early extension — the technical time period for standing up by means of 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 commonest 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 strategy to make contact.
One other main offender: 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 referred to as early extension) in an effort to take care of 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 take a seat in a chair that’s barely too far-off.
Your arms ought to dangle 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 house points that power early extension later.
One drill that transforms my college students: Apply your setup in opposition to a wall. Your butt ought to contact the wall at handle and keep related all through your backswing. If you happen to lose contact, you’re altering your backbone angle in methods that can power compensation strikes later.
The psychological shift that creates compression
The most important breakthrough occurs when golfers perceive that ball compression comes from two key components 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 stable compression.
Ahead shaft lean is the key. When your arms keep forward of the clubhead by means of influence, you successfully cut back the loft in your membership face. A 7-iron turns into extra like a 6-iron for that break up second, creating the compressed contact you’re after.
Take into consideration hitting the ball first, then the bottom—however together with your arms main the way in which. This psychological picture retains you in correct posture whereas guaranteeing your arms keep forward of the clubhead at influence.
The important thing isn’t hitting down more durable. 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 attempting to raise the ball and begin attempting to hit down and thru it. The loft of your membership will get the ball airborne—your job is to make stable, descending contact.
Take into consideration hitting the ball first, then the bottom. This psychological picture ought to assist hold you in your posture by means of influence as a substitute of standing as much as assist the ball fly.
I inform college students to think about they’re attempting 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 prompt 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 after they preserve their posture.
Cease preventing your swing and begin fixing the actual issues. Correct setup and weight shift eradicate early extension naturally, supplying you with the compressed contact you’ve been chasing.
Your ball-striking will enhance while you work with physics, not in opposition to it.
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