Stop Thrusting Towards the Ball! How to Fix Early Extension in Your Swing

It’s Thursday and you’ve got this coming,

Create Space in Your Golf Swing: Two Essential Drills ⛳️

Golfers often struggle with the feeling of being "stuck" during their swing, especially at impact. This sensation can lead to a whole range of issues, like early extension, poor contact, and a lack of space to really execute a proper shot. Today, we’re going to break down why golfers feel stuck, how to address these problems, and two effective drills to help you create more space in your swing.

We’re next up on the tee, let’s go!

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This week’s newsletter is brought to you by Rapsodo Golf. 

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What Does the Data Say About Grip Pressure?

A study earlier this year from the at The Golf Lab sheds light on how grip pressure varies between pros and amateurs, offering valuable insights for improving your swing. Professionals tend to maintain consistent grip pressure throughout their swing, even slightly reducing it during the downswing. In contrast, high handicappers often tighten their grip, especially with the trail hand, leading to tension and poor contact. Another key finding was that pros maintain balanced pressure between both hands during short game shots, while amateurs often rely too heavily on their lead hand.

The takeaway? Keep your grip steady and balanced, avoid tightening up during the swing, and practice relaxing your hands and forearms. By mimicking the pros' approach, you can achieve smoother, more consistent ball-striking.

ONE TIP
Understanding the Feeling of Being Stuck

If you want to watch my breakdown of this tip, check it out here!

When golfers talk about feeling "stuck," they’re usually referring to two main issues:

1. Pelvis Movement: Your pelvis moves too close to the ball during the downswing.

2. Restricted Trail Arm: Your trail arm feels like there is no where to go because the body is in the way

Both of these problems can seriously mess with your ability to make solid, consistent contact.

The common misconception

A common misconception is that setting up further away from the ball will help create more space. But here’s the thing: that often just throws off your balance and makes it harder to swing properly. When golfers try this, they end up putting too much weight on their heels, which stops them from getting their body to move back or gain depth in the backswing. The only thing left? Thrusting towards the ball and extending early, which is a huge reason why we hit these poor and shots and in the worse cases, shanks happen.

So, instead of adjusting your setup, let’s focus on drills that help create the right space in your swing, while keeping you balanced and in control.

Drill 1: Skip the Stick

The first drill, "Skip the Stick," helps you feel how to maintain space during your downswing. Here’s how it works:

1. Setup: Place a stick or alignment rod a few inches outside your normal swing path.

2. Stance: Take your usual stance, with the club on the far side of the stick.

3. Backswing: Focus on feeling your pelvis move back (away from the ball) rather than towards it as you start your backswing.

4. Downswing: As you swing down, aim to bring the club on the inside of the stick without moving towards the ball.

Start practicing this drill slowly, and then gradually pick up the pace as you get comfortable. The goal here is to keep your pelvis back, allowing for a smoother rotation and eliminating that stuck feeling.

Drill 2: Two Ball Setup

This drill reinforces the feeling of space by using two golf balls:

1. Setup: Place two golf balls in a line—one closer to you and the other a bit farther away.

2. Stance: Set up to the ball that’s farther away, with your normal stance.

3. Swing: Focus on hitting the closer ball. This encourages your body to maintain space during the downswing, rather than crowding the ball.

This drill is great for helping you keep the right body position and avoid early extension, while still allowing for natural rotation through the swing.

The Real Problem: Loss of Space Between Setup and Impact

Here’s the real kicker: a lot of golfers think the solution is to set up further away from the ball, but that actually causes more problems. When you move further back, your weight shifts to your heels, which stops you from moving your body back properly during the backswing. As a result, you end up thrusting towards the ball and extending early. This is why so many golfers struggle to make clean contact.

The misconception of what feels right versus what’s actually happening sets a lot of players back when they’re trying to improve. That’s why these drills are focused on training your body to maintain the correct positions throughout the swing.

Taking It to the Course

Once you’ve got the hang of these drills on the range, it’s time to take them to the course. When you’re out there, keep these key points in mind:

• Stay Balanced: Make sure your setup is balanced and that you’re not too far from the ball. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet to feel grounded and stable.

• Push Your Pelvis Back: As you start your downswing, think about pushing your pelvis back. This will help create the space you need to make a solid, clean strike.

Wrapping It Up

Feeling stuck in your swing is a frustrating experience, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. By working on these two drills—Skip the Stick and Two Ball Setup—you can train your body to create space, maintain balance, and improve your overall swing performance. Remember, it’s all about focusing on your pelvis movement and staying balanced throughout your swing.

Thanks for joining me today. I hope these tips help you on your journey to better golf! Keep practicing, and I’ll see you next time.

As always, I’m here to help you become a better golfer! If you’ve got any questions about alignment or anything else, click here to send me an email

Remember, if you want the full breakdown video, you can click here

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If you know someone looking for a personal launch monitor, or if you have a space at home that you would like to turn into an at Home Golf Simulator, please check out Rapsodo!