| EARLY EXTENSION | | | | - Poor separation of upper and lower body |
| Golfers striving to improve their scores must focus | | | | - Inability to control pelvis |
| on fundamentals for success. The single most | | | | - Weak Glute and Core strength |
| important and most overlooked swing fundamental | | | | (These limitations all have a direct effect on your |
| that could be the cause of you losing power, | | | | downswing and are best evaluated with a Golf |
| distance and accuracy is a swing fault known as | | | | fitness Evaluation/Assessment). |
| Thrusting or today's term - Early Extension. | | | | HOW TO CREATE PELVIS CONTROL AND |
| Is there a relationship between an early extension | | | | STRENGTHEN YOUR GLUTES AND CORE |
| and your physical limitations? | | | | Inability to control the pelvis, we need to be able to |
| The answer to this question may be your missing link | | | | control the position of your pelvis for the correct |
| to a great game and to years of enjoyment instead | | | | sequence of the downswing from the ground up. If |
| of frustration on the course. | | | | you unable to sequence properly, there is a good |
| According to the Titleist Performance Institute, Early | | | | chance your posture is changing throughout the |
| Extension is defined as: "Any forward movement | | | | swing. Check first to see if you can control your |
| (thrust) of the lower body toward the golf ball during | | | | pelvis in address position. |
| the downswing." Players who have this fault also | | | | Keep in mind the golf club does not perform the |
| complain of getting their hands "stuck" or "trapped" | | | | mechanics of the golf swing. It is you and your body |
| behind their back hip on the downswing, this is due to | | | | executing the mechanics of the golf swing together. |
| the fact that the lower body has moved closer to | | | | And for every action, there is a re-action. The point |
| the golf ball on the downswing. | | | | to make here is your body directly affects the |
| The result can be a block or hook as the hands and | | | | mechanics of the golf swing. And no matter what |
| arms desperately try to deliver the club to the ball. If | | | | you do in terms of practice or instruction, these |
| you don't do anything with your hands through | | | | alterations will not go away until you address them. |
| impact, you may actually shank some shots because | | | | WHAT CAN HAPPEN? |
| you are closer to the ball then you were at address. | | | | So I have given you a starting point to help correct |
| And as most players know, having two misses, one | | | | some physical limitations that could be causing the |
| to the right and one to the left, can be disastrous in | | | | Early Extension swing fault. Ideally, you would have a |
| the quest for lower scores. | | | | golf fitness professional give you an accurate |
| As a golf fitness professional, It's my job to discover | | | | assessment to know exactly the physical limitation to |
| your physical limitations and show you how to try to | | | | be corrected.. |
| correct them. | | | | Remember, when you "clean up" some of the |
| Physical Limitations that can cause Early Extension: | | | | imbalances, and weaknesses in your body, it will |
| - General lower body stiffness, joint immobility or | | | | make it easier for you to get into the positions your |
| muscle imbalance | | | | teaching golf pro is asking for --in a shorter amount |
| - Poor Lead Hip Internal Rotation | | | | of time. |