Golf Swing Getting Stuck What It Means and How to Correct It

Overview

golf swing getting stuck what it means and how to correct it is a common phrase for the sensation that the club head, arms, or upper body stop or lag through the transition and downshot. This guide explains what “stuck” typically indicates in mechanics, how to diagnose the exact cause, and step-by-step drills you can use on the range and at home to correct it.

What you’ll learn and why it matters

• How to recognize whether the problem is a lower-body timing issue, an early extension, a collapsed wrist, or a grip/setup cause.
• Specific drills to re-establish proper sequencing, club release, and impact position.
• How to practice with measurable checklists so your improvement is reliable and repeatable.

Prerequisites and time estimate

• Basic familiarity with swing terms: takeaway, transition, impact, release.
• Access to a practice area, alignment stick, and a towel or impact bag.
• Expected initial practice time: ~60 minutes total. Typical session format: warm-up 10 minutes, drills 40 minutes, validation 10 minutes. Total practice plan for lasting change: 3 sessions per week for 4 to 8 weeks.

Golf Swing Getting Stuck What It Means and How to Correct It

“Getting stuck” usually means the club or arms are held back in the downswing by poor lower-body initiation or by collapsing wrists and early vertical movement.

1. Overactive upper body that swipes down before the hips rotate.
2. Early extension where the torso moves toward the ball, pinching the swing.
3. Loss of lag through an inactive right side (for right-handed golfers).
4. A grip or setup causing restricted wrist hinge or blocked release.

Match your feel to the cause:

• If your arms feel jammed and your clubhead lags behind impact, suspect lower-body timing.
• If you stand up or straighten as you start down, suspect early extension.
• If the club flips at impact with weak ball contact and short distances, suspect a release/timing problem.

Step 1:

Diagnose the exact stuck point

Action to take

• Record slow-motion video from down-the-line and face-on angles hitting 10 shots with an iron. Use your phone and record at slow-motion if available.
• Note where the swing feel changes: transition, mid-downswing, or impact.

Why you’re doing it

• Visual feedback isolates whether the problem is hips, torso, arms, wrists, or setup. Diagnosis guides which drills you choose.

Commands and examples

1. Place phone on tripod at 3 feet behind ball and 2 feet left of target line (down-the-line).
2. Place second phone face-on at 10 feet in front and level with impact zone.
3. Record 5 swings full speed and 5 swinging at 50 percent tempo.
4. Review frame-by-frame, noting where the shaft angle stops or the hips fail to rotate.

Expected outcome

• Clear identification of whether the stuck sensation is caused by lower-body timing, early extension, or an early flip.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Video angle too high. Fix: Keep cameras at stomach/shoulder height.
• Issue: Not enough swings recorded. Fix: Capture 10-12 swings to see pattern.
• Issue: Misreading frames. Fix: Compare the slow-motion clip to a model pro swing for reference.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 2:

Check grip, setup, and address position

Action to take

• Confirm grip pressure, wrist hinge at address, spine tilt, and ball position. Correct basic setup faults before moving to dynamic drills.

Why you’re doing it

• A poor grip or setup forces compensations that appear as “stuck” movement during the swing. Fixing setup removes unnecessary restrictions.

Commands and examples

1. Grip: Hold a practice grip pressure routine 1 to 5 scale. Aim for 3 out of 5.
2. Wrist hinge: At address, set a slight wrist hinge so the shaft points to your lead thigh with hands slightly ahead of the ball for irons.
3. Spine angle: Tilt spine away from target slightly for proper lower-body leverage.
4. Ball position: Mid-iron at center, long iron/wood forward, wedges back.

Short drill example

1. 10 dry swings focusing on grip pressure 3/5.
2. 10 half swings checking hand position ahead of ball at impact.
3. 10 tee-less chip shots to test setup and feel.

Expected outcome

• Easier rotation and less arm-only forcing through the downswing; fewer stuck sensations caused by setup limits.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Grip too tight. Fix: loosen gradually to 3/5 and have someone check.
• Issue: Hands too far behind ball. Fix: move hands slightly forward and test impact feel.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 3:

Rebuild lower-body lead and sequencing

Action to take

• Train the hips and lower body to initiate the downswing so they lead the arms. Emphasize weight shift and hip rotation drills.

Why you’re doing it

• Most “stuck” swings come from the upper body trying to pull the club down because the lower body did not start the sequence. Proper sequencing creates space for the arms and release.

Commands and examples

1. Feet-together drill: Take 20 slow swings with feet together, focusing on initiating the downswing with a small hip bump toward the target before the arms move.
2. Hip bump drill: From address, take a slow practice swing and feel the left hip move slightly toward the target at transition.
3. Step-through drill: Start with feet together at top, step left with lead foot at transition and swing through.

Expected outcome

• Better lag retention, smoother release, straighter ball flight, and improved contact.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Over-rotating hips and opening too early. Fix: feel a controlled 2 to 3 inch lateral hip shift, not an explosive turn.
• Issue: Still feeling stuck. Fix: Slow the tempo and exaggerate the lead hip bump in the drill.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 4:

Prevent early extension and maintain posture

Action to take

• Use wall and alignment stick drills to stop standing up or “early extension” through transition and downswing.

Why you’re doing it

• Early extension reduces room for the club to pass through the impact zone and creates the jammed or stuck sensation.

Commands and examples

1. Wall drill: Stand with your buttocks 6 inches from a wall. Take slow full swings keeping your buttocks and beltline distance from the wall through transition.
2. Alignment stick under armpits: Place a stick across your chest or under both armpits and make slow swings without losing contact.
3. Impact bag drill: Strike an impact bag to feel forward shaft lean and avoid standing up.

Expected outcome

• A steadier spine angle through impact, more consistent impact position, and reduced “stuck” feel.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Buttocks touching wall during follow-through. Fix: Keep only through transition and recheck balance.
• Issue: Over-focusing on not moving and becoming rigid. Fix: Maintain athletic flex in knees and allow rotation.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 5:

Restore lag and proper wrist release

Action to take

• Use lag preservation drills and release drills to train the wrists and forearms to release naturally after the hips start the turn.

Why you’re doing it

• If the wrists unhinge too early or the hands flip, the clubhead will appear to be stuck behind and then flip at impact. Controlled release ensures power and solid contact.

Commands and examples

1. Towel-under-arm drill: Place a towel under your trail armpit and make half and three-quarter swings without dropping the towel.
2. Toe-up to toe-down drill: Swing slowly and watch the clubhead move from toe-up at waist to toe-down at impact; pause at transition to feel the lag.
3. Impact bag sequence: Make 10 swings hitting the bag and hold the impact position for 2 seconds.

Short drill schedule

1. 10 towel-under-arm swings.
2. 10 toe-up to toe-down swings slow.
3. 10 impact bag hits holding position for 2 seconds.

Expected outcome

• Improved lag, delayed release, stronger iron compression, and less flipping at impact.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Towel falls. Fix: tighten the trail elbow connection, check grip pressure.
• Issue: No toe-down feeling. Fix: exaggerate wrist hinge on backswing and slow down transition.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 6:

Integrate tempo, rhythm, and a repeatable practice routine

Action to take

• Build a limited, repeatable practice plan that integrates the previous drills into a flow designed to change motor patterns.

Why you’re doing it

• Repeated, structured practice with tempo control consolidates new sequencing so the “stuck” sensation disappears under pressure.

Commands and examples

1. Practice routine (example 60-minute session):

• 10 minutes warm-up and mobility.
• 20 minutes drills from Steps 3 to 5 (3 sets each).
• 20 minutes ball-striking with 50 percent tempo to integrate.
• 10 minutes validation and notes.

2. Metronome tempo: Use a metronome app set to 60 bpm. Take backswing on 2 beats, transition and downswing on next 2 beats.

Expected outcome

• A clear improvement in swing sequence, reduced instances of being stuck, and more consistent ball flight.

Common issues and fixes

• Issue: Returning to old habits under fatigue. Fix: Shorten session or reduce volume and focus on tempo.
• Issue: Overcomplicating practice. Fix: Stick to 2 to 3 drills per session and build consistency.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Testing and Validation

How to verify it works with checklist

• Use the original slow-motion video setup and record 10 new swings after practicing the drills for at least three sessions. Checklist:

1. Down-the-line video shows hips initiating downswing before arms.
2. Face-on video shows no early extension and maintained spine angle at impact.
3. Ball strike quality improved with less flipping and more compression.
4. Feel: downswing feels connected, not jammed or blocked.

Perform a simple on-course test: hit 5 approach shots with your preferred iron and note dispersion and distance compared to pre-practice baseline. If 3 of 5 shots show better contact and more consistent distance, consider the correction validated.

Common Mistakes

Pitfall 1: Trying to fix everything at once

• Focus on the single diagnosed cause. Changing grip, swing path, and tempo simultaneously creates confusion.

Pitfall 2: Over-rotating the lower body

• A common overcorrection is spinning the hips too fast. Aim for proper sequencing not speed.

Pitfall 3: Ignoring setup and grip

• Setup faults will undermine all drills. Always re-check grip pressure and hand position before practicing.

Pitfall 4: Insufficient deliberate practice

• Quick, unfocused practice will not rewrite motor patterns. Use short, repeated sessions with clear goals.

FAQ

How Quickly Will I Stop Feeling Stuck in My Swing?

Most golfers see noticeable improvements in 2 to 4 weeks with focused practice three times per week. Persistent issues tied to physical restrictions may take longer and benefit from a coach or fitness work.

Can a Poor Grip Cause the Stuck Feeling?

Yes. A grip that is too strong, weak, or excessively tight can restrict wrist hinge and hand action, creating a jammed sensation. Check grip pressure and hand placement first.

Should I Change My Swing Path to Fix Being Stuck?

Not directly. The primary fixes are sequencing and posture. Adjusting path without correcting sequencing may mask the problem rather than solve it.

Is This Problem Physical or Technical?

It can be both. Limited hip mobility or core strength contributes, but many cases are technical timing faults. Combine technique drills with basic mobility work if you have restricted movement.

Do These Drills Work for Both Drivers and Irons?

Yes. The principles of lower-body lead, maintained posture, and delayed release apply to all clubs. Start with irons to build feel then transfer to longer clubs.

When Should I See a Coach?

If you practice the drills for 4 to 6 weeks with no measurable improvement, a trained coach can provide hands-on diagnosis and corrections specific to your swing.

Next Steps

After you can consistently show improved sequencing on video and better ball contact on the range, integrate the fixes into on-course play. Start with 9-hole practice rounds focusing only on approach shots and par-3s. Track dispersion, distance, and feel in a practice log.

If progress stalls, schedule a lesson with a coach who can analyze your shots and provide advanced drills targeted to remaining issues.

Further Reading

• Golf Swing Early Extension How to Eliminate Standing Up At
• Golf Swing Grip How to Hold the Club Correctly for Any Shot
• Golf Swing Weight Transfer Secrets Shift Properly For
• Golf Swing Casting How to Stop Early Release for More