GolfVotes
AllSliceShanksEarly extensionOver the topHookFat & thin shotsDriver & distanceIron compressionChippingPuttingCasting & lagWedges & pitchingHip rotationTakeaway & backswingAll problems →

Swing faults

How do I fix early extension?

Hips move toward the ball in the downswing and you lose your posture. One of the most common faults among amateurs.

103 lessons ranked by 413 independent recommendations · 57 golfers said it fixed it. How we count

What causes it

Early extension means your hips move toward the ball in the downswing and your pelvis loses its posture angle. It forces you to stand up, squeeze the arms and then either flip or block the club. Causes include weak glutes, tight hips, setting up too close to the ball and a downswing that does not rotate the pelvis.

How golfers fix it

Athletic Motion Golf's Pros vs. Ams hip rotation video is recommended by 39 golfers, 6 of whom say it helped. It shows how the lower body sequences in a swing that avoids early extension. Their follow up on clearing the hips has 22 recommendations. Eric Cogorno's Fix Early Extension FAST gives a simple drill to keep the hips back, recommended by 16 golfers. Popular fixes include:

Common mistakes

Golfers often try to hold their hips back so stiffly that the swing becomes blocked and the arms get stuck. The goal is rotation, not freezing. Also avoid fixing it by standing further away than your reach allows; that only trades one fault for another.

Written with AI from the lessons and recommendations above. Not a substitute for a coach.