Early extension in the downswiwng

Early Extension Perhaps the most frequent swing issue that I see with my students is early extension. When the hips and spine of a golfer start to go into extension or straighten up too early on the downswing, it is termed Early Extension. This can be seen when the hips and pelvis move closer to the ball on the downswing. This causes the upper body to lift up in order for the golfer to maintain their balance. The lower body does not easily rotate through impact, instead it pushes forward and the person stands up. Players will often complain of being stuck or trapped with their arms on the downswing. This is due to the fact that the lower body has moved into the space where the arms need to go. The result can be a block or hook as the hands and arms desperately try to deliver the club to the ball. If you don't do anything with your arms through impact you may actually shank some shots because you are closer to the ball than you were at address. What is the root cause of this issue? Very often it is due to poor posture in the set-up. Some golfers get into what is commonly called “S” posture where there is an arch in the lower back and the backside is sticking out. From this position most people are going to feel stress and discomfort in the lower back (lumbar region) as they take the club to the top of the backswing. And what are most people likely to do to alleviate that stress? They’re going to thrust the pelvis towards the ball which leads to the issues listed above as well as limiting rotation in the through swing which, in turn, limits power. The solution is to feel as though the backside is tucked under the pelvis and that the lower back is either flat or even slightly rounded in the set-up posture. From this position, during the downswing the pelvis will actually move away from the ball creating plenty of space for the arms to swing and plenty of rotation that will have the golf ball flying father than ever!