7 Golf Swing Faults AI Detects in Your First Session

Why Golf Swing Analysis Has Always Been Expensive#

Golf swing analysis has traditionally required a PGA instructor, a launch monitor, and a video system — a setup that costs $100–$200 per session. The barrier is not the expertise (most swing faults are well-documented) but the measurement: you need slow-motion video from multiple angles and the ability to overlay joint angle measurements to identify subtle faults.

AI pose estimation removes this barrier. By tracking 25 body landmarks at 30 frames per second, AI can identify the 7 most common golf swing faults in your first session — the same faults a PGA instructor would identify, measured with the same precision.

Fault 1: Over-the-Top Swing Path#

What it is: An over-the-top swing path occurs when the club travels from outside the target line to inside during the downswing, producing a pull (ball goes left) or a slice (ball curves right). It is the most common fault in recreational golf.

Why it happens: Over-the-top is caused by initiating the downswing with the shoulders rather than the hips. The shoulders "throw" the club over the correct plane, creating the outside-in path.

What AI measures: AI tracks the angle of the shoulder turn relative to the hip turn at the transition from backswing to downswing. Shoulder initiation before hip rotation is flagged as over-the-top tendency.

The fix: Initiate the downswing by bumping your lead hip toward the target. The hips should begin rotating before the shoulders begin unwinding. This keeps the club on the correct inside-out path.

Fault 2: Early Extension#

What it is: Early extension occurs when your hips thrust toward the ball during the downswing, causing your spine angle to change. This forces the arms to compensate, producing inconsistent contact.

Why it happens: Early extension is a compensation for insufficient hip rotation. When the hips cannot rotate freely (due to mobility limitations or incorrect setup), they thrust forward instead.

What AI measures: AI tracks the distance between the hip joint and the original address position throughout the swing. Hip thrust greater than 5 cm toward the ball during the downswing is flagged as early extension.

The fix: Hip mobility work (hip flexor stretching, hip rotation exercises). Practice swinging with your backside touching a wall — this prevents the hip thrust and forces correct rotation.

Fault 3: Casting (Early Release)#

What it is: Casting is the premature release of the wrist hinge during the downswing, losing the "lag" that generates clubhead speed. Recreational golfers who cast lose 20–40% of their potential clubhead speed.

Why it happens: Casting is an instinctive response to the ball — the brain wants to "throw" the club at the ball, releasing the hinge early to maximise the feeling of effort.

What AI measures: AI tracks the angle between the lead forearm and the club shaft throughout the downswing, measuring when the wrist hinge is released. Release before the hands reach hip height is flagged as casting.

The fix: The "pump drill" — make three downswing pumps, stopping at hip height each time to feel the lag position, before completing the swing. This builds proprioceptive awareness of the correct lag position.

Fault 4: Reverse Pivot#

What it is: A reverse pivot occurs when your weight moves toward the target on the backswing (instead of loading onto the trail foot) and then shifts away from the target on the downswing. This produces thin shots, fat shots, and a significant loss of power.

Why it happens: Reverse pivot is often a misapplication of the instruction to "keep your head still" — players lean toward the target to prevent head movement, inadvertently creating the reverse weight shift.

What AI measures: AI tracks the lateral position of the centre of mass throughout the swing, calculating whether weight is loading correctly onto the trail foot during the backswing. Weight remaining on the lead foot at the top of the backswing is flagged as reverse pivot.

The fix: Feel your weight loading onto your trail foot during the backswing — your trail hip should move behind your trail foot. The cue "turn behind the ball" helps establish the correct weight shift pattern.

Fault 5: Chicken Wing (Lead Arm Breakdown)#

What it is: The chicken wing occurs when the lead elbow bends and points outward through impact, rather than remaining extended and pointing toward the ground. This reduces clubface control and produces inconsistent contact.

Why it happens: The chicken wing is a compensation for an over-the-top swing path — the lead arm breaks down to prevent the club from hitting the ground on the inside-out path that the over-the-top swing would require.

What AI measures: AI tracks the angle of the lead elbow through impact, flagging elbow flexion greater than 20° or elbow rotation outward from the body. This fault is present in 38% of recreational golfers.

The fix: The "towel drill" — place a towel under your lead armpit and keep it there through impact. This prevents the elbow from breaking down and forces the correct arm structure through the hitting zone.

Fault 6: Sway (Lateral Hip Movement)#

What it is: Sway is excessive lateral movement of the hips away from the target during the backswing, rather than rotational movement around the spine. Sway reduces coil, reduces power, and creates inconsistent contact.

Why it happens: Sway is often a mobility compensation — players with limited hip rotation sway laterally because they cannot rotate freely.

What AI measures: AI tracks the lateral position of the lead hip relative to the address position throughout the backswing. Lateral movement greater than 5 cm is flagged as sway.

The fix: Hip rotation mobility work. Practice the backswing with your trail foot against a wall — this prevents lateral sway and forces rotational movement.

Fault 7: Cupped Lead Wrist at the Top#

What it is: A cupped lead wrist (wrist bent backward at the top of the backswing) opens the clubface, requiring a compensatory move during the downswing to square the face at impact. This compensation produces inconsistency.

Why it happens: A cupped wrist is often caused by a weak grip (hands rotated too far to the left on the club). It can also result from insufficient forearm rotation during the backswing.

What AI measures: AI tracks the angle of the lead wrist at the top of the backswing, flagging cupping greater than 15° from flat. A flat or slightly bowed wrist is the target position.

The fix: Strengthen your grip slightly (rotate both hands clockwise on the club). Practice the backswing in slow motion, focusing on maintaining a flat lead wrist at the top. The "wrist flat" checkpoint is one of the most reliable indicators of swing consistency.

Using AI Analysis for Golf Improvement#

SportsReflector's golf swing analysis tracks all 7 of these faults simultaneously, providing a swing score (0–100) with category-level breakdown for swing path, weight transfer, lag, wrist position, and arm structure.

Download SportsReflector and analyse your swing today.