Premature stretching in golf is a common ailment for amateur players – especially new players and those who do not stretch properly before a round. While it can lead to a variety of issues with your swing, it is most often caused by physical limitations.
Problems known to cause premature extension can be as simple as poor posture to as complex as the inability to rotate the hips. Regardless of the cause of premature stretching in the golf swing, there are several ways to solve the problem.
Sure, there are stretches and other routines to help loosen you up before the round, but today we’re going to focus on a fun drill demonstrated by Top 100 GOLF Instructors Jason Baile. In the video above, Bailey (Director of Instruction at Jupiter Hills) shows us how a water bottle can reduce premature dilation.
“If you’re one of those players who resist early extension and drive your butt forward toward the golf ball, I have great advice for you,” says Bailey. “I have a water bottle sitting here inside my ankle, and as I work through the crash, I want to see if I can drop that water bottle inside my foot.”
Why is this important? By incorporating the water bottle, you will engage your entire torso and spin, creating a more consistent swing path to the golf ball. This will help generate clubhead speed while maintaining your proper positioning through your swing.
“The inside of the trail foot will tend to bend before it works to lift the toe up,” Bailey adds. “If you’re having it, it’s because your right knee is working, and your heel is really working around the water bottle.
“So if you’re in an early stretch, holding that butt back and knocking that water bottle around leaves plenty of room for the handle to go over to the golf ball.”
You can practice this exercise at home or with a golf ball on the range, so get it and see how your putting improves, along with your golf swing.