Power Leak
A power leak is any fault that causes energy built up in the backswing to dissipate before it reaches the clubhead — examples include early release, reverse pivot, and early extension.
Energy must travel through the kinetic chain without escaping. Reverse pivot (weight going the wrong way), casting (releasing lag too early), early extension (hips pushing toward the ball instead of rotating), and poor sequencing (shoulders firing before hips) are the most common power leaks. Identifying and plugging the primary leak is often more efficient than rebuilding the entire swing, as it can add meaningful distance without mechanical overhaul.
Example
A player who builds 90° of shoulder turn but casts the club at the top loses the stored lag — a power leak that appears as weak, high ball flight despite a full backswing.
Related terms
- CastingCasting is releasing the wrist angles too early in the downswing — like a fisherman throwing a line — which destroys lag, reduces speed, and adds loft at impact.
- 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.
- LagLag is the acute angle between the lead arm and the shaft in the downswing — the loaded position that releases into club speed at impact when timed correctly.
- Kinetic ChainThe kinetic chain is the linked sequence of body segments — feet, knees, hips, torso, shoulders, arms, wrists, club — where each segment transfers and amplifies energy to the next.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.