There are numerous issues that can kill your swing, but early extension is among the worst. When you start to move your pelvis toward the ball in the downswing, bad things start to happen. It might not sound like the end of the world, but when left unchecked, it will kill your consistency.
When you have a habit of early extending, it’s difficult to get your sequencing correct in the downswing. You’ll either get too steep, or your arms will get stuck behind you. This often leads to a nasty two-way miss that is not only hard to control, but will leave you guessing which direction the ball is going on any given swing.
So, how do we fix this dreaded early extension issue? One way is by focusing on your phone.
Focus on your phone to cure early extension
Early extension creeps on when your pelvis doesn’t stay “back” long enough during the downswing. To get the proper feeling of your pelvis staying back longer, try putting your phone in your front pocket — halfway in and halfway out — and making a swing.
“On the downswing, feel like you compress with your torso and push your phone into your pocket,” says GOLF Top 100 Teacher Martin Chuck.
When you keep your pelvis back a little longer and compress down with your torso, you’ll be able to create the correct sequencing and eliminate early extension.
“That will help you with the sensation of lowering,” Chuck says. “[Now] you can push and rotate properly.”
