The moment of impact in the golf swing lasts just a fraction of a second, but it determines the quality, distance, and direction of your shot. The goal of every golfer should be to achieve full extension through impact—the professional look where the arms are straight, the body is fully rotated, and the club is accelerating towards the target. Without this extension, your swing loses power, consistency, and often results in the frustrating “chicken wing” finish.
Our video, “Get More EXTENSION Through IMPACT || 4 Easy Tips!”, breaks down this critical move into four simple, actionable steps. These tips are designed to help you unlock the effortless power of a full body release.
Why You Need Extension
Amateur golfers often ‘quit’ on the swing, pulling their arms in immediately after contact. This lack of extension is usually due to:
- Poor Sequencing: The upper body is dominating the downswing, preventing the lower body from clearing.
- Deceleration: Fear of over-hitting causes the body to slow down just before impact.
- Faulty Finish: Focusing on a pretty finish rather than a powerful, extended release.
Extension is what allows the clubhead to reach maximum speed after the ball, ensuring proper compression and distance.
4 Easy Tips to Get More EXTENSION Through IMPACT
These simple tips focus on the feeling and structure needed to maintain width and speed through the hitting zone:
Tip 1: The ‘Feel’ of the Trail Arm
Instead of trying to keep your lead arm straight (which causes tension), focus on the straightening and extension of your trail arm (right arm for right-handers) immediately after impact.
- Drill Focus: Rehearse swings where you feel the trail elbow pushing toward the target, making the arm straight and long. This encourages a powerful release down the target line.
Tip 2: The Hip Clearance (The Rope Pull)
A lack of extension is often caused by hips that haven’t rotated enough. You must feel like you are clearing your hips aggressively.
- Drill Focus: Practice the sensation of the lead hip moving back and out of the way, as if pulling a rope backward. This creates the space for your arms and club to fully extend through the ball, preventing a cramped, trapped feeling at impact.
Tip 3: The Low Point Check
True extension comes from achieving a shallow angle of attack and ensuring the club’s lowest point is after the ball (especially with irons).
- Drill Focus: Use a tee or alignment stick on the ground a few inches in front of the ball. The goal is to hit the ball, take a divot, and sweep the tee after contact. This promotes the forward shaft lean and extension needed to compress the ball.
Tip 4: The Target Shoulder Finish
Your lead shoulder (the one closest to the target) should finish high and behind your head. Many amateurs let this shoulder drop down or ‘spin out’ early.
- Drill Focus: Focus on rotating your lead shoulder high towards the sky in the follow-through. This keeps your spine angle correct, allows your body to continue turning, and encourages the full, extended finish that mimics professionals.
Ready to transform your impact position and unlock effortless distance? Check on YouTube