Blocking
Also known as: push-block, holding off the release
Blocking is when the arms and club fail to fully release through impact — the face is held open and the ball flies straight right (for a right-hander) with no draw curve.
A block is usually a reaction to an overly steep or over-the-top path that the golfer has compensated for by steering the face open to "hold it off" and produce a straighter shot. When the compensation overcooks, the result is a hard right push-block. It can also result from early extension trapping the arms. The cure is improving the path and hip clearance so a full release is possible without fear of a hook.
Example
A player under pressure who "stiffens" through the shot and watches the ball fly dead right has blocked it — the release was cut off.
Related terms
- ReleaseThe release is the natural unhinging of the wrists and rotation of the forearms through impact that squares the clubface and delivers maximum speed.
- PushA push is a shot that starts and flies straight to the right (for a right-hander) with no significant curve — caused by an in-to-out path with a face matching the path direction.
- Early ExtensionEarly extension is thrusting the hips toward the ball during the downswing, which causes the golfer to stand up out of posture and forces compensations at impact.
- Hip ClearanceHip clearance is the rotation of the lead hip out of the way through impact, creating room for the arms and club to swing freely past the body.
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