How to Stop Standing Up in Your Golf Swing and Crush That Ball

Hey there, fellow golfers! Ever watch someone on the driving range who looks like they’ve got it all figured out until they swing and whoosh, the ball goes flying off in the wrong direction? It’s frustrating, right? I recently saw a student doing this exact thing. Flawless setup, smooth takeaway, and then—boom—twenty shots that ended up nowhere near the target. It was like watching a magic trick gone wrong.

So, what’s going on there? Well, this student was experiencing what we call "early extension." If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not hitting the ball cleanly, you might be guilty of this too. After teaching golf for over two decades, I assure you, most golfers aren’t doing it on purpose. They’re just trying to compensate for swing flaws that lead them to stand up through impact.

Why Are You Standing Up in the First Place?

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of why you might be standing up during your swing. Early extension occurs when your hips push toward the ball and your spine angle changes dramatically. What happens next? Your arms and the club get trapped behind your body, and the only way to make good contact is to stand up.

The most common suspect for this behavior? Poor posture at setup. Picture it: You’re hunched over the ball, bending your spine too much. When you start your downswing, there’s no room for your arms to go except up and out. It’s like a bad game of Jenga — everything just collapses.

But guess what? An even bigger culprit might be lurking around the corner. Ever heard of the “over the top” move? Yep, that one’s a classic. If you’re initiating your downswing with your upper body instead of your lower half, your club will come at the ball from a weird angle, leading to that dreaded early extension.

Fixing Your Setup: The Game Changer

Alright, let’s get you sorted out. Proper posture can eliminate most early extension before you even start swinging. Here’s the deal: Stand tall and hinge forward from your hips, not your waist. Keep your back straight and think about sticking your chest out and your butt back — like you’re ready to plop down on a chair a little too far away.

Make sure your arms are hanging naturally from your shoulders. If you’re reaching for the ball, you’re creating a world of issues that will come back to haunt you later.

Want to take it up a notch? Here’s a sweet drill: Practice your setup against a wall. Your butt should touch the wall at the address and stay there through your backswing. If you lose contact, you can bet there’s a posture problem going on that will require some compensating moves later.

The Mental Shift for Serious Compression

Now, let’s talk about something crucial: the mental shift that creates compression in your shots. Compression happens when two things are working in harmony: forward shaft lean and a descending strike. The loft of your club launches the ball; your job is to set it up for a nice solid impact.

Let’s break this down. Forward shaft lean is your new best friend. When your hands lead ahead of the clubhead at impact, you reduce the loft on the clubface, almost turning your 7-iron into a 6-iron just for that brief moment. That’s the secret sauce for those crisp shots you dream of.

The idea is to hit the ball first and then the ground, ensuring that your hands lead the way. This keeps you in proper posture while also nailing that sweet compression. Remember, it’s not about hammering down harder; it’s about maintaining that forward shaft lean while making a controlled descending strike.

Stop Trying to Lift the Ball

If there’s one thing you need to take away from this, it’s this: Stop trying to lift the ball! Seriously. The loft of your club will take care of that. Your mission should be to make solid descending contact.

Visualize hitting the ball first and then the ground. It’s a neat mental trick that helps you stay in your posture through impact instead of standing up to help the ball on its way. Some people love to think they’re driving the ball into the ground. Sounds strange, right? But this mindset helps you find that perfect angle of attack for compressed contact.

Drills That Make it Stick

Now that we’ve nailed down the mechanics, let’s get into some drills that can help you make these changes permanent. Here’s an awesome one: Place a chair or bench about six inches behind your butt at address. While you make practice swings, keep in touch with that chair throughout both your backswing and downswing. If you stand up or push your hips forward, you’ll lose that contact.

This drill provides immediate feedback about maintaining your spine angle during the swing. You might be shocked to discover how often you stand up. But once you start keeping your posture intact, you’ll see a significant improvement in your ball striking.

Embracing Physics in Your Swing

The bottom line is this: Stop fighting against your natural swing tendencies. Instead, work on your setup and weight shift to eliminate early extension. Once you do that, you’ll be on your way to achieving the solid contact you’ve been chasing forever. Balancing physics and technique will only lead to better ball-striking.

Your golf game should feel effortless, not like a battle. So, get out there, practice these tips, and revel in the sound of that sweet spot connection. You’ll be hitting crisp shots before you know it.

Conclusion: Commit to the Change

There you have it, folks! By understanding what causes early extension and taking tangible steps to remedy it, you’ll be well on your way to improving your golf game.

So, the next time you’re out on the range or the golf course and you feel that urge to stand up through your swing, remind yourself of these tips. Commit to your setup, focus on your mental shifts, and practice those drills. If you do, I promise you’ll see a world of difference in your game.

Now, get out there and make those rounds count! Happy swinging!