Chair Drill for Early Extension
Curated PGA Drill by Matthew Galley
Posture
3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps
Golf club, alignment stick (optional)
Intermediate
Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)
Provides immediate tactile feedback. If you leave the chair, you have early extended (thrust hips forward). Staying on the chair forces proper pelvic rotation and side bend.
How to Perform the Drill
Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.
- 1
Step 1
Place a chair or golf bag behind you, lightly touching your glutes at address.
- 2
Step 2
Backswing: Maintain contact with the chair using your trail glute.
- 3
Step 3
Downswing: Keep your glutes in contact with the chair through impact and follow-through.
- 4
Step 4
Start with half swings to build the feeling of staying 'deep' before hitting full shots.
What Good Feels Like
Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.
Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed
Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill
Fix early extension by keeping your trail-side glute and hips turning back and down instead of thrusting forward toward the ball. Build real backswing depth, then use wall or chair contact drills to feel your pelvis stay back through impact. This preserves spine angle so the club has room to release without you standing up.
Fat shots happen when the low point of your swing bottoms out behind the ball instead of in front of it. The usual culprits are hanging back on your trail foot, casting the club early, or losing posture in the downswing. Shift your weight forward before impact and keep the shaft leaning toward the target at contact to move the low point where it belongs.
