Instruction
Early Extension: One of golf’s most destructive swing flaws
It’s known by various names: early extension, pelvic thrust, even “humping” the ball in some circles. What these terms describe is a premature motion of the lower body/pelvis toward the golf ball. In my opinion, there are not many moves in golf swing more destructive than this one.
Watch the video below, where I explain a classic example of this move.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IomNBDmBEvc&feature=youtu.be
When the pelvis thrusts out toward the golf ball, invariably the torso moves AWAY from the golf ball, as you saw in the above video. Here are just some of the problems associated with this move:
- Loss of posture.
- Loss of ability to leverage the ground properly.
- Inability to swing the club through impact with any kind of proper arc.
- “Standing the club up,” which means that the hands will come in well above where they started on the downswing
- Inconsistent contact on face of the club.
- Inconsistent attack angle into the golf ball.
In short there is nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost when a player falls into this habit. That’s why you see so few tour players in this position. Notice the difference between the lower body motion in the first video and the way Jason Dufner moves his lower body in the video below.
I love the way Jason Dufner keeps his lower body UNDER him, which allows so much freedom for him to swing the arms through impact. He can exit to the left all he wants and hit down on the golf ball by applying the correct force. His path and attack angle are so consistent because he can maintain his posture right through impact.
If you suffer from this move, here’s a drill to help.
Try hitting some balls with an aim stick behind you, touching your rear end. Start without a club, and then progress to a few easy swings with a club. Gradually build to partial swings with a ball until you feel comfortable hitting full shots. See if you can feel the lower body using the ground and staying under you.
At first, you might feel as though the pelvis is actually backing up, pulling away from the ball, but I guarantee that it won’t be.
Even at home, you can take an address position with your rear against a wall and make some arm swings without a club. It will feel different, but create awareness of how the best golfers in the world create a position that allows for consistent ball striking.
If you’d like me to analyze your swing, go to my Facebook page or contact me (dennisclarkgolf@gmail.com) about my online swing analysis program.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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AB
Sep 11, 2015 at 11:04 pm
Trying to move the the hips to start the down swing will also cause you to thrust the hips forward. The crease in the right hip and the position of the right knee at the top of the swing must be held for the hips to stay back. Moving the left shoulder away from the chin helps the hold the hips for a split second. People have been taught to turn the hips to start the downswing from the top of the swing with disastrous results. By moving the shoulder away from the chin, the club drops and we get into the Sam Snead squat position with the hips back over the heels. Your left shoulder and left hip work together. Try this little exercise to prove it to yourself, stand straight up and have someone tap you on your left shoulder from behind you. You will notice that your left shoulder and left hip both moved at the same time when you turn. This also shows you how slow this move is from the top. This allows you to also swing left because the left shoulder is moving back to its original starting position and back behind you, not up which causes the high left shoulder and head to fall to the right straightening the hips. Tension in the lower body will cause your hips move forward and thrust outward also. Your lats will get tight forcing the hips to extend forward to release the pressure. Softness in the left shoulder and lower body helps the alleviate this. Try it!
Dennis Clark
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:26 am
you need to see someone, really. Sometimes trying to correct it yourself can dig a deeper hole. where do you live?
Andy Saunders
Sep 8, 2015 at 9:22 pm
I am a 4 cap, currently overhauling my swing with my PGA pro. I’ve been working on this for 7 weeks, with a goal of finishing the change by July 2016. I need some advice! Right now, I am 80% lost. Basically, I hook most shots. When you are doing such an extensive overhaul(grip, path, release, hip turn, etc.) how lost do you get before it starts to click? Right now, on the range, I hit 1/10 sweet. On the course I’ve gone from mid 70’s to mid 80’s. Bogeyman is very frustrating. Can someone who’s really committed to a long term change like ridding early extension please tell me that this is the right choice? Right now I am very afraid I will never be good amateur again, I’ve been as low as 1.5 and shot a low of 66 off the tips of my course. Right now, that’s a far off fantasy! Feedback is appreciated. Take care.
Rox
Sep 5, 2015 at 1:01 pm
I’m also seeing the amateur in the Video comparison roll up on his Right toes(Right foot moves towards the ball initially allowing the hips to move closer to the ball) before rolling his foot over to follow as opposed to Mahan who rolls his Right foot over to the instep and holds it to the ground long enough to help keep his hips under the upper body.
IMO this is also an issue for most amateurs that slide too far out from the upper body on the swing.
So many things that contribute to the early extension.
Get a PGA instructor to help focus on prioritizing what needs to be worked on and improvement will come.
Bill Gillenwaters
Sep 5, 2015 at 12:11 pm
I have also struggled with this to the point where my club stops shortly after impact. When I tried to keep my posture I would lose balance. After viewing this and making some practice swings, I have made some observations. It seems if I put my weight on the instep of my right heal on my backswing and less into the heal I am able to transfer left, maintain my posture, and complete my finish in balance. Does that make sense.
Dennis Clark
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:04 pm
https://youtu.be/_EPM-OqjmG0
Bill Gillenwaters
Sep 5, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Edit last comment. ” when I put my weight on instep of my right FOOT…
christian
Aug 27, 2015 at 4:11 am
A simple swing thought to avoid this is “keep the bum sticking out”
adam
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:48 am
My girlfriend (6HDCP) was taught to think of sitting on a barstool which has helped me “stick my bum out.” Helped immensely.
Loz
Aug 27, 2015 at 1:54 am
Most other articles now seem to focus on how this is often the result of a physical limitation. I’ve got very poor flexibility, I’ve never been able to touch my toes (I’m 6′ 4″ with long legs), but have in the past played to a 3 hcp in the UK. Having recently identified this through video, this wasn’t available when I was younger, this bad habit has just been part of my swing. I’d love to get rid of it but think it’s pretty much impossible now as I hardly play these days and am no doubt even less flexible. I’ve tried some of the TPI exercises and can’t get close to any of the positions they mention.
Dennis Clark
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Im not saying it isn’t a physical limitation, it may very well be. That’s what TPI people can help with when it is identified. But we never really differentiate a bad habit from a physical shortcoming. Both are needed, the diagnosis and the training…
Dennis Clark
Aug 26, 2015 at 10:30 pm
yep, almost always is…nobody makes bad moves for no reason; they do it because the HAVE to when the club gets out of position. Thats why I have written volumes about the body responding to the club, not the other way around
jylos
Aug 26, 2015 at 8:45 pm
I think this is a compensatory move when you feel the clubface closed during the backswing.
Dennis Clark
Aug 26, 2015 at 6:16 pm
I think it important to understand how ANY move affects impact. There is far too much emphasis on the motions of the body and not nearly enough on how these motions affect the GOLF CLUB. Thats why I mention the things the motion can CAUSE! Nobody’s hips hit the ball, but IF the hip motion is causing too steep or shallow, or toe hitting etc. THEN this might be cause. Read any of my writing and you’ll see this is how I have taught golf all my life. The only thing that matters is the club face, the path and the attack angle. Everything we do is control THOSE IMPACT FACTORS Thx for reading
Dennis Clark
Aug 26, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Sure, whatever it takes…its the great chicken or the egg debate isn’t it? Does the body drive the swing or does the swing drive the body? My experience tends to favor the latter.
blake
Aug 26, 2015 at 4:03 pm
i mean isn’t the ability to do this and really hold your spine position the difference between a scratch golfer and a 10+ handicap?
I am 32 and in the best shape of my life and I just cannot keep from losing my posture and my head rising at or near impact.
It seems that in order to really fix this issue one would need to devote a lot of time to flexibility and strength training, no?
Dennis Clark
Aug 26, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Yes thats why we’ve just added a Pilates studio to our golf academy. But losing your posture is often the result of the club getting out of position itself and the “hump” is an attempt to get it back into position. I believe you may have the ability to stay in your posture, but possibly the golf club is position is not allowing you to do so.
blake
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:12 am
yes, i think it is the club position too. after doing some research last night I think i might be mixing one plane/two plane swing tendancies and thus having to compensate on the downswing….causing my fwd hip thrust. Now i just need to figure out which plane is best i reckon
blake
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:30 am
maybe you can help make a recommendation…here is my down the line swing. what would you recommend I work on to stop thrusting at impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTgQOxWqlZ4
Stretch
Aug 31, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Try getting your head higher. My key is to make sure I see the ball centered in between the 2 noses (each eye sees one side of the nose.) Your video shows your head rising in order to give enough width at impact so the club head doesn’t bottom out behind the ball. I would also use video to see if the same move is evident with an iron swing.
Tb
Aug 12, 2016 at 10:09 am
Blake, first it’s shot at an angle. Get a true down the line. But it looks like your club face is pretty shut at the top. And your angle of attack looks suspect. My advice, increase forearm rotation in the half way back position and after a few topped shots, she’ll come in nicely. Increase rotation of the forearms in the backswing helps get the club in line with your shoulder plane. That should help you stay down. You can wire me the 50 bucks for that one.
Jack
Aug 26, 2015 at 11:11 pm
Not really. I learned to keep that angle and I’m still 10+. There are other things like injury and time limitations too. It is key though. Watch the pro’s, they all keep the crunch position through impact. When you execute that, it’s a very different feeling than from standing up through impact. BTW you can get pretty low scores if you just have a really good short game.
blake
Aug 27, 2015 at 9:15 am
I agree. I play to a 7 handicap but still cannot for the life of me keep the proper spine angle. I don’t think it is a strength or flexibility issue but more of an incorrect club position that leads to this form of compensation as Dennis points out. I think I am mixing one plane and two plane swing characteristics and causing the hip thrust.
other paul
Aug 28, 2015 at 6:08 am
Dont slide forward, rotate more in your center. Read the articles from this web site, i gained 30 yards on every club in the bag and everyone tells me how professional my swing looks. Driver club head speed jumped to 115 with techniques i learned here (on my first week) No jump, and no hip stalls allowed in this swing. Kelvinmiyahira.com
Derek
Aug 26, 2015 at 12:05 pm
It’s hard to shake this habit and I made progress with this drill and also using the seat on my golf buggy resting against the back of my thighs. I made the most progress by stretching my hips, thighs and hamstrings to improve my mobility. I was told to abopt an open stance and close my shoulders at address to built a consistent in to out swing path resulting in a slight draw but this also seemed to help my left hip rotate and not extend.
Jonny B
Aug 26, 2015 at 11:48 am
This is confusing to me. I was under the impression that it was good to “lead with the hips” in the golf swing, meaning the hip turn should be faster that the upper body/hands because this helps create lag and speed at the moment of impact. This allows the hips to “clear” and get out of the way of the arms which can in turn follow through to impact better.
I find that some of my best swings occur when I am trying to do just that – I concentrate on leading with my hips or “firing my hips” from the moment I reach the top of my swing. Players like Rory and Sergio seem to do this well, should we not be trying to emulate them?
Mac n Cheese
Aug 26, 2015 at 2:12 pm
There is a difference between what you describe and what the article is describing. There is no harm in a forward press of the hips, which you describe which is a small lateral shift in the hips towards the target. however; the article describes shifting the hips towards the ball, which is a different motion than a lateral shift. A great way to think of it is imagine trying to scoot forward on a stool just an inch. That quick small motion is what the article is talking about.
Dennis Clark
Aug 26, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Sure should, but they lead with the hips staying UNDER them, not going out toward the golf ball.
Jonny B
Aug 28, 2015 at 7:49 am
Thanks for clarifying
Marcus
Aug 26, 2015 at 10:14 am
Hi Mr. Clark,
I have myself suffered from this bad habit and what TW calls the ooh-lay swing. I have tried hard to find a solution and have found many “solutions” not workable. I believe the basic reason of the early extension is the swing balance, whereby the weight of the club, being swung too low and around the body causes the hips to extend, simply to maintain balance. What I have found is that keeping the clubface “outside” the hands will promote a better attack angle, swing plane and lower hands thru impact – all preventing the hips from extending thru the shot. To check that I draw a line from the clubhead through the shaft (from DTL view) and make sure my clubface never “drops” under that line in the swing. I believe that would be evident in your first video w. mahan. Does that sound like a solution ? Thanks !