
The wrists are responsible for three sets of movements in golfing which are:
- Flexion and extension
- Ulnar and radial deviation
- Supination and pronation
Full Answer
How to hinge your wrists correctly in the golf swing?
- What is the proper wrist hinge in golf?
- Cupped, bowed or neutral wrist position: which is better?
- Should you hinge your wrists in the backswing?
- When should you set your wrists in the golf swing?
- How do I get more wrist hinge in my golf swing?
- Drill #1: Upside down club hinge
- Drill #2: Pre-hinge and swing
- Final message
When to hinge your wrists in the golf swing?
- With your arm extended, hold a golf club by the grip end, pointing the clubhead up to the sky.
- Slowly rotate your wrist so that the club drops parallel to the ground. Hold position for a moment and return to start position.
- Slowly rotate your wrist to the opposite direction.
- Repeat this exercise for 8 to 10 repetitions.
Which hand should be dominant in a golf swing?
- The takeaway. It is extremely important that you manage to make it through this phase of the swing without letting your right hand do too much work. ...
- The first move down. Another danger point during the swing is the moment when you transition from backswing to downswing. ...
- Swinging through impact. This last point is the most difficult one to explain. ...
How do the wrists release in the golf swing?
Watch this video and use these steps to get started:
- To release the golf club correctly, start by taping an alignment stick to a 9 iron so that the alignment club extends under your left armpit.
- Get two more alignment sticks or clubs and place one on your feet and one at the ball. ...
- On the backswing align your club directly on top of the alignment stick at your feet. ...

How do you use your wrists in the golf swing?
6:227:50In your arms. By just literally swinging my arms. Okay and that is a different type of release withMoreIn your arms. By just literally swinging my arms. Okay and that is a different type of release with the wrist than it is for the tour.
Are your wrists supposed to move in a golf swing?
In the golf swing, the movement in the wrists is incredibly important for both the distance and direction of a shot. Without the proper wrist action, a player will struggle to do what the game requires; get the ball in the hole.
What should wrists do golf swing?
How should your wrists work in the golf swing and what are the consequences of improper wrist action? A golfer's wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club. Such a hinge can provide an advantage for moving the golf club faster, necessary for longer distance golf shots.
How do golfers rotate their wrists?
Swing your right arm through the hitting zone and follow through normally, stopping when your forearm is again parallel to the ground. If you've rotated your hand correctly, your thumb should be aimed skyward while your palm is pointed in the opposite direction that it faced on your backswing.
Do you hinge wrists with driver?
3:127:25And you see the 90 degree angle this is an exaggerated hinge position for the driver. Usually forMoreAnd you see the 90 degree angle this is an exaggerated hinge position for the driver. Usually for the driver.
Do you keep your wrist straight in golf swing?
2:043:38And then that lead wrist will maintain its flat or increase its bow. During the down swing. SoMoreAnd then that lead wrist will maintain its flat or increase its bow. During the down swing. So here's still flat or slightly bowed.
How do wrists hinge in backswing?
1:023:27The lead hand cocks up all right so you can see here here's our hinge the trail hand works this way.MoreThe lead hand cocks up all right so you can see here here's our hinge the trail hand works this way. So if I took it off here it is all right and you put them together bang top of the backswing.
Which hand is the power hand in the golf swing?
The left-hand dominant golf swing is known to be very powerful, and it will help correct some misses golfers have in their game. If you are a player who wants power and you like the classic methods of pulling the golf club through your swing, then left-hand dominance is the right idea for you.
When should you hinge your wrists with golf swing?
There is no 'proper' wrist hinge in golf. Many coaches suggest to start breaking your wrists once you pass parallel in the takeaway, while others advocate a one-piece takeaway and only allowing your wrists to hinge at the top of the backswing. Both methods can produce repeatable, powerful golf swings.
Should you roll your forearms in golf swing?
6:5310:36The movement of the wrists to allow the forearms to roll in such a manner back and through that theMoreThe movement of the wrists to allow the forearms to roll in such a manner back and through that the weight of the club is swinging rather than forcing it well we need to isolate.
How do you Supinate your wrist in the golf swing?
0:3810:11If you were to kind of just hold your left arm for a handed golfer lead arm out in front of you palmMoreIf you were to kind of just hold your left arm for a handed golfer lead arm out in front of you palm facing to the right from my view if you were to take that arm. And make it go palm up.
Do the hands roll in the golf swing?
The forearms, hands and club should be rotating in a counterclockwise motion as you swing down and through the ball. When you do this correctly, the right palm, back of the left hand and clubface will be facing down after impact (above, left).
How does a golfer retain his wrist position?
Essentially, he retains the wrist position from the top as his body rotates and moves toward impact. So the lesson behind the explanation is for you to understand the situation of your wrists and the club-face at the top of your swing, and how to move towards a sound impact position.
What is the lead wrist in golf?
At impact the lead wrist is largely in flexion (slightly bowed with the wrist bone raised) and in supination (rotated so that the palm is pointing toward the sky). Everything that comes before this should lead to that situation. And for all you “Grill Room Golf Tip Guys”, no amount of keeping your head down, your eye on the ball, or swinging smoothly will make the ball go properly if your wrist alignments (and by extension the clubface) are not in order.
What are the three movements of the wrist?
Basically, they are capable of three sets of distinct movements: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation.
What does a bowed wrist with a neutral grip mean?
All things remaining the same, at the top, a bowed wrist with a neutral grip will manifest in a closed clubface, and a cupped wrist will show an open clubface. Either way, the object is to move in a way that presents a squaring clubface through impact .
Who was more cupped, or lead wrist extended, at the top of the swing?
Back to our Hogan/Morikawa comparison. The legendary Ben Hogan, who was more “cupped”, or lead wrist extended, at the top of the swing, would have to transition from that position to an extended, or bowed, and supinated situation at impact.
Is Morikawa a good golfer?
Morikawa is blessed with a beautifully reliable and repetitive golf swing. He is technically sound and exhibits elements common to many leading iron players throughout the ages. Not the most powerful guy in the game, he does compress the ball effectively, shape it comfortably, and vary the trajectory easily.
What is the function of the wrist in golf?
A golfer’s wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club. Such a hinge can provide an advantage for moving the golf club faster, necessary for longer distance golf shots. How the wrists work in a golf swing is varied, dependent on the golfer’s grip style, joint mobility, and strength. The wrist joint has a wide range ...
What is the purpose of wrists in golf?
How should your wrists work in the golf swing and what are the consequences of improper wrist action? A golfer’s wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club. Such a hinge can provide an advantage for moving the golf club faster, necessary for longer distance golf shots.
What happens to the wrists when the body turns forward?
Because the body motion is generally circular, the wrist will begin to unload through the impact zone. Ideally, at ball impact, the lead wrist will be fully uncocked while the trail wrist will be in the process ...
What is wrong with wrist action?
Improper wrist action can be categorized by faulty timing and rotation. Faulty timing is allowing or creating the unloading of the wrists too early or too late relative to ball impact. Too early will cause loss of power, increased loft, and typically fat or thin ball strikes.
Which direction do forearms rotate?
For right-handers, forearms rotated in a clockwise direction will create an open clubface orientation; forearms rotated in a counter-clockwise direction will create a closed clubface orientation. If either of these rotations occurs during the impact zone, the direction of the clubface can be altered from the intended target.
Do forearms stay passive?
Ideally, the forearms will remain passive through the impact zone while the wrists unload, producing generally straight golf shots. If you’d like to study with Ken Martin and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today. Back to Blog.
Why do golfers use wrists?
Because the hands are the only contact with the club, players are forever looking for some new wrist technique, some grip secret that will revolutionize their golf games. Ironically, the only real secret to proper wrist action is not in what you do, but in what you do not do. The proper motion is a natural one, described here as a right-handed player would perform it; left-handers should substitute “left” for “right” and vice versa.
How to grip a golf club with your left hand?
With your left-hand grip focused in the last two or three fingers, your wrist will remain relaxed enough to move freely… but you still need to provide a bit of guidance to the club. According to teacher Jay Williamson, the simplest way to do this is to keep the back of the left hand flat—that is, the back of the left hand and the back of the left forearm form a straight line. Doing so limits the movement of the wrist to a single plane, improving consistency. This action will not be difficult because using only the last two or three fingers to grip the club actually encourages this movement.
What is proper wrist action?
The Proper Wrist Action for a Golf Swing. This position happens naturally with proper wrist action. Because the hands are the only contact with the club, players are forever looking for some new wrist technique, some grip secret that will revolutionize their golf games. Ironically, the only real secret to proper wrist action is not in what you do, ...
What hand is the best for controlling a golf club?
Even if your forearms are relaxed, there are other ways tension can creep into your arms. The left hand provides the primary connection for controlling the club. It is very common to grip too tightly with this hand. According to teacher Michael Hebron, the secret is to tighten only the last two or three fingers of your left hand—the pinky and ring fingers, and perhaps the middle finger. In doing so, you create a strong grip without locking the wrist muscles and interfering with the free movement of your wrists.
What finger do you tighten with a left hand?
According to teacher Michael Hebron, the secret is to tighten only the last two or three fingers of your left hand—the pinky and ring fingers, and perhaps the middle finger. In doing so, you create a strong grip without locking the wrist muscles and interfering with the free movement of your wrists.
Which hand can lock the right wrist?
Just as the thumb and forefinger of the left hand can interfere with proper wrist action, the thumb and forefinger of the right hand can lock the right wrist in position. Hogan recommended practicing with those two fingers completely off the grip. He also recommended adding some pressure with the middle and ring fingers ...
Which hand to grip golf club?
He also recommended adding some pressure with the middle and ring fingers of the right hand to help grip the club, but many players trust the left hand to grip it and merely wrap the right-hand fingers loosely around the grip for support.
Why is wrist movement important in golf?
The way the wrists move in the golf swing is very important for how much speed, forward shaft lean, and compression you will create. One of the main issues I have found in golf instruction, is that it is very hard to find detailed instruction on exactly what should happen in the wrists.
How many wrist movements are there in golf?
Hi guys, and welcome back. In today’s video we’re going to talk about the wrist movements, there’s three pair s of wrist movements that happen throughout the swing.
What is it called when your wrist is forward?
The palm will be back this way and we’re going into the release it’ll go into wrist neutral. Now if the palm goes forward, this would be what’s called flexion of the wrist, ...
What is the first movement of the wrist called?
All right, so the first wrist movement we’re going to talk about is what’s called wrist extension, and for each one of these I’m going to give them more of a common name, and I might refer to these in later videos as knuckles back, or palm forward, or different things like that.
What is it called when the palm goes forward in golf?
Now if the palm goes forward, this would be what’s called flexion of the wrist, and that’s what’s often referred to in the golf swing is a flip.
What is the last motion of a doorknob?
The last motion we’re going to talk about here is what is called pronation and supination, and this is very similar to what you do when you grab a doorknob and twist the handle of a doorknob.
How does the right hand work?
That’s how the right hand works, palm back is wrist extension, palm forward is wrist flexion. Same thing for the left hand, as you’re coming into impact you may get a little bit of palm forward, or flexion, as you’re coming down as the hand bows back, but again I’m going to get more into detail in the left hand video for that one.
How do wrists work in golf?
One should bear in mind that the only contact with the golf club is with the hands and a good golf grip will set the wrists in the correct position to hinge and unhinge, creating a powerful strike on the ball. It all starts with the hands and wrists, and get this right and watch the effortless power develop through impact.
How to swing with hands and wrists?
Both point to an area between the head and right shoulder. Another tip: place the palms of the hands together facing each other. Now move the hands and wrists in all directions. This is how free the wrists should be in a swing, to work together.
What is the power source for hitting the ball further?
Cocking or hinging the wrists during the backswing and then releasing them through the downswing is a power source for hitting the ball further. If the hinging is not free and easy, the tendency is to use the arms and shoulders to muscle the ball through impact. So developing this power source is a must!
What does bowing the left wrist do?
Bowing the left wrist on the backswing, will shallow out the downswing or change the swing plane coming into the ball. Very few top players today keep the same swing plane from the backswing through the downswing. It closes the clubface and will enhance a draw spin bias on the ball.
How to hit a golf ball with a driver?
Place the club on the ground in preparation to hit a ball. Now lift the arms and clubhead off the ground in front of you to shoulder height keeping the left arm straight and cocking the left wrist. The shaft should be pointing straight up at the sky and the wrinkles between the thumb and wrist are evident.
How to swing a golf club with your right hand?
Think of carrying a tray of drinks like a waiter, with the right hand at shoulder height. The right palm faces upwards and the right elbow points down to the ground at 90-degrees. The club rests in the right-hand palm in the same fashion at the top of the swing. In fact, this is a perfect position for the right hand and arm! Check the wrinkles between the wrist and hand.
What happens when you cup your left wrist?
By opening or cupping the left wrist, it changes the clubface to an open position and unless manipulated by the the hands just before contact, will deliver a glancing, weak blow or slice sidespin to the ball. Probably one of the most common errors for players who cut the ball. Another telltale feeling is the lack of tension in the wrist.
What happens if you don't hinge your wrists in golf?
Similarly, if you don’t hinge your wrists in the golf swing you could be throwing away loads of clubhead speed and delivering your irons with less of a descending angle of attack than is ideal.
How to set a golf club in the backswing?
In the backswing, the body and arms should take the club away smoothly as one unit, while the wrists start to set. Once your lead arm is parallel to the ground, the club should be pointing towards the sky, roughly forming a right angle.
Why hinge wrists early?
It’s much easier to encourage the wrists to hinge early to benefit from the power that angle can give us later on.
What happens if your wrists aren't hinged?
Alternatively, if the wrists haven’t hinged, there is less angle to unload and therefore generating power becomes a mission. Some players - like Bryson DeChambeau for example - still manage it, but for the club golfer it’s a big ask.
Who is the pro golfer who discusses wrist hinges?
PGA pro Katie Dawkins discusses wrist hinge in the golf swing and how it can help golfers generate more power
Can you turn up to the top of the golf club?
From here, you need only turn as much as your mobility allows to wind up to the top. For some, this results in a Jon Rahm -esque compact motion, and for others with oodles of flexibility, the club will get close to, or even beyond, parallel to the ground.
Do wrists unhinge on downswing?
Whatever the case, the fact that the wrists have done their job early on means they are way more likely to unhinge at the right time on the downswing. This should create a nice amount of lag and stored up power that can now be released through impact.
