Easy to forget the basics.. SPINE EXTENSION

There's probably a million other things that can be improved about my swing, like my lead hand isn't on my shoulder line, probably caused by my hands being too close at address, as you can see in this video. However, the search for swing perfection can easily cause you to get lost in the tiny minutiae, and can make you forget about the basic building blocks of the tilt, turn, and EXTEND, especially when you are a rookie like myself. I feel like the extension part of the swing is particularly prone to neglect, since it is a more hidden mechanic; not as obvious as the tilt, and certainly not as obvious as the turn, but equally important for consistent contact.

I pause in my backswing to indicate non-extension with a head shake, and full extension with a head nod. Then I take a crack at one, focusing on extension. This basic movement gives me much more consistent contact with the ball first. Try it out yourself!