Early Extension: Understanding and Fixing This Common Golf Swing Flaw

Alright folks, grab your favorite golf hat and tighten your grips, because we're diving deep into a swing gremlin that haunts more weekend warriors than you think: Early Extension. It's the silent saboteur, the subtle swing wrecker, and today, we're kicking it to the curb!

Early Extension: The Unsung Swing Villain

What exactly is this dastardly deed, you ask? Simply put, early extension is when your hips move towards the ball during the downswing, rather than rotating. Picture a golfer losing their posture, standing up, and creating a "chicken wing" effect. This leads to inconsistent strikes, a loss of power, and those dreaded pulls and pushes that make you want to fling your clubs into the nearest water hazard.

Why Does It Happen? Blame Your Body (Mostly)
Early extension isn't a moral failing, it's a biomechanical one. Often, it stems from:

• Limited Hip Mobility: Tight hips restrict rotation, forcing you to compensate by thrusting forward.
• Weak Glutes: Those powerhouses are crucial for stability and rotation. If they're snoozing on the job, your hips will wander.
• Poor Core Stability: A weak core can't anchor your spine, leading to unwanted movement.
• Swing Plane Issues: Sometimes, it's just a funky swing path that triggers early extension.

The Early Extension Epidemic: You Are Not Alone!

You might feel like the only golfer battling this beast, but trust me, you're in good company. Estimates suggest that a significant percentage of amateur golfers, potentially upwards of 70%, struggle with some degree of early extension. It's a common hurdle, and that means there are proven solutions!

Operation: Posture Perfection - Exercises to Banish Early Extension

Let's get those hips and glutes firing! Here are a few exercises to build stability and mobility:

• Glute Bridges: Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat. Lift your hips off the ground, squeezing your glutes at the top. This strengthens those crucial muscles.
• Hip Flexor Stretches: Kneel on one knee, other foot forward. Gently push your hips forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your hip. This improves hip mobility.
• Plank Variations: Standard planks, side planks, and rotating planks build core stability, giving you a solid foundation for your swing.
• 90/90 Hip Rotations: Sit on the floor with your knees bent at 90 degrees and feet flat. Rotate both knees to one side, keeping your feet planted, then rotate to the other side. Great for hip mobility and rotation.

Drills for Swing Sanctuary: Building a Bulletproof Move

Now, let's take those exercises to the range and translate them into a swing you can trust:

• Wall Drill: Stand with your backside a few inches from a wall. Swing your club, focusing on rotating your hips without touching the wall. This creates awareness of proper rotation.
• Chair Drill: Place a chair behind you. Swing, aiming to keep your backside from touching the chair. This reinforces the feeling of rotating, not thrusting.
• Medicine Ball Rotations: Holding a medicine ball, mimic your golf swing, focusing on rotating your torso and hips while keeping your posture. This adds resistance and builds power.
• Mirror Work: Practice your swing in front of a mirror, paying close attention to your hip movement. This visual feedback is invaluable for identifying and correcting early extension.

Embrace the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Remember, fixing early extension takes time and patience. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results overnight. Celebrate the small victories, the improved consistency, the straighter shots.
Golf is a game of constant improvement, and conquering early extension is a massive step in the right direction. With a little dedication and these tools, you'll be hitting those fairways with newfound confidence and power.

So, get out there, swing with purpose, and leave early extension in the dust! Your best golf is waiting.

This is Golf as You've Always Imagined!

Daniel is a Top 100 Golf Coach, PXG Staff Pro, World Long Drive Coach and the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf the area's leading golf instruction and advisory firm, host of the IMAGEN Golf podcast and Best-Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".

For more information visit www.ImagenGolf.com or call 215-595-6299 Reach out to Daniel directly at:Daniel@ImagenGolf.com

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