Early extension is an issue many golfers struggle with. Early extension also comes from a variety of reasons, one of which is a misunderstanding of the two most basic parts of the forward swing.
There are two parts to the forward swing - a downward component and an upward component. The downward happens during what is commonly referred to as transition, where the back swing ends and the forward swing begins. From the top of the swing to impact, the arms, hands, and golf club are all moving down towards the ball. The knees, pelvis, and back all move into flexion as they build up and prepare to release stored energy. The upward happens shortly after impact, where the energy exerted into the ground allows everything that went into flexion to now extend while golf club, hands, and arms begin moving upwards. It's amazing that all of this happens in less than .25 seconds.
A simple and effective way to get the feel for the down and up movement is to get a small platform, anywhere from 2"-5" above the ground/ball. In this video I use a Wii board. If you make your 'normal' swing, without the downward component and moving the body into flexion, you will not contact the ground. Continue making swings until your body and mind begin to understand, and develop a feel, of what going down (flexing) is. Once you can consistently make contact with the ground, then you can move to the next step, which is to hit a golf ball while standing on the board and making your swing.
NOTE: This can be scary at first since it is a new motion but with some practice you will develop two parts of the forward swing that will tremendously improve your ball striking, the down and up.
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What is The Golf Paradigm (Pair-a-dime)?
The Golf Paradigm is a theory that encompasses a Whole-In-One approach to improvement. It begins with the overall paradigm; i.e. the game of golf. Followed by two parts that are always to remain in balance; i.e. the golf yin/yang - ‘improving’ and ‘enjoyment’. Helping to maintain that balance are the 5 elements of the game; the swing, club fitting, health/fitness, mental, and integration. Knowing which area to focus on and how the other areas supplement that helps to form the golfers ‘recipe’ for improvement. As the golfer improves their recipe, or what is focused on, changes and this is what allows them to reach levels of play they never thought possible. It’s not magical, but it’s close.
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