Golf-FAQ.com

how much wrist in golf swing

by Myles McLaughlin Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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You'll be surprised just how simple the answer is. Short and simple answer... If you are 50% done with your backswing, then you should be at 50% wrist set (50% of the full range of motion for cocking of the wrist). If you are 25% complete with the swing, you should roughly have 25% of your full range of motion of wrist set.

Part of a video titled WRIST SET IN THE GOLF SWING - YouTube
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So if I was to hold my forearm. I can use my wrist to move my hand in this kind of fashion hereMoreSo if I was to hold my forearm. I can use my wrist to move my hand in this kind of fashion here where I feel like I'm pointing my thumb down towards the golf ball.

Full Answer

How important are your wrists in the golf swing?

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 much wrist hinge do you need in your golf swing?

A simpler way of determining how much wrist hinge or wrist set you need in your golf swing is this. You should set or hinge your wrists the same percentage in relation to the completed stage of your backswing. Therefore, if you have completed 50% of your backswing your wrists should have hinged about 50%.

Where should your left wrist be on the golf backswing?

The left wrist should remain flat in line with the left forearm. The common error is to open or cup the wrist on the backswing. If you open it or move it to the left, there is no tension on the wrist and the power source is lost. This also opens the face of the club on the backswing. More of this later.

Should wrist cock timing matter in golf swing?

Indeed, relegating wrist cock to its correct timing should normalize the distance travelled by the ball to its full potential. The golf swing is a meticulously organized movement flow that proceeds best when executed in the right order.

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What should my wrists be doing in a golf swing?

In the ideal position, the back of your left wrist should be on a straight line with your arm, and the club should point parallel to your target line. Your clubface will be in a square position, pointing roughly on a 45-degree angle toward the sky.

Should my wrists be loose in golf?

6:5511:42BEST DRILL TO LOOSEN YOUR WRISTS (Get More Clubhead Speed)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you don't know what I'm talking about when I say I need your wrists loose that right there isMoreSo if you don't know what I'm talking about when I say I need your wrists loose that right there is going to give you the exact feeling. Because you can't do it if your wrists are tight.

Do you break your wrists during golf swing?

Contrary to many beliefs, there is no 'perfect' wrist hinge in the golf swing. Some players will hinge their wrists early in the takeaway, while others won't break their wrists until they reach the top of their backswing. There are even golfers who have almost no wrist hinge at all.

Do you hinge wrists with driver?

3:127:25Hinge To Boost Your Driver - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd 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.

How do I keep my wrist flat in the golf swing?

10:1513:09Drills to Flatten The Left Wrist - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipContact. I want my right hand facing down. And then from there I want to release my right hand andMoreContact. I want my right hand facing down. And then from there I want to release my right hand and get the wrist perfectly flat. At about a 45 degree angle in front.

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.

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 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 controls the 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.

Who said "I wish I had three right hands"?

Ben Hogan famously wrote that, after his hands had passed his hips on the downswing, he tried to hit the ball as hard as he could—“I wish I had three right hands.”. But for most teachers, including de la Torre, the right wrist does very little during the swing except respond to the swinging of the club.

How to keep your left hand flat?

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 Grip

The importance of the grip can never be underestimated, and once this is established, we are all set to hit the ball far and consistently. Make sure your grip is in a position for the hands and wrists to work in unison.

The Wrists and Power

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!

Left-Hand Wrist Hinge Position at the Top of the Swing

With the left arm in an extended position, place it down on a table with the fingers extended and resting on the little finger and the thumb pointing to the sky. Now lift or cock the wrist upwards off the table while keeping the arm in the original position.

The Flat or Bowed Left Wrist

The left wrist should remain flat in line with the left forearm. The common error is to open or cup the wrist on the backswing. If you open it or move it to the left, there is no tension on the wrist and the power source is lost. This also opens the face of the club on the backswing. More of this later.

The Right Wrist Position at the Top of the Swing

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.

A Drill to Perfect Hinging

Stand in the address position with a driver or iron. 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.

Bowing the Left Wrist at the Top of the Back Swing

Sergio Garcia has been one of the best strikers of a golf ball for many years and is acknowledged by his fellow pros for this feat. Most of the current top pros make this move and there are two basic reasons.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 role of wrists in golf swing?

The hinging of the wrists plays a vital role in the overall golf swing and is not something you want to ignore. Remember to focus on keeping the wrists relaxed and free of tension and let them hinge upwards naturally as the body turns in the golf swing. Give it a try and let me know your results, I would love to hear.

How to rotate your wrists when playing golf?

Grab a club in a relaxed position at set up and begin shifting your weight to the rear foot and turn your body. If you are holding the club with the right amount of tension your wrists will hinge when you begin to rotate. As long as you are moving the club away with your body and keep the wrists relaxed, as your finish the takeaway your wrists ...

How to swing a golf club?

Ensure your arms, hands, and wrists are free of tension at set up. Practice shifting your weight to your rear leg. When the shoulders have reached 45 degrees begin to turn your body. Keep the wrists relaxed and let them hinge upwards naturally to support the weight of the golf club. Ensure they are hinging upwards.

How much wrist hinge do you need for golf?

Therefore, if you have completed 50% of your backswing your wrists should have hinged about 50% .

What is lag shot golf?

Using the lag shot golf training aid teaches you to hinge your wrists correctly so you make a consistent and on plane golf swing. The good news is you’re not alone as incorrect hinging of the wrists is one of the most common problems among golfers worldwide. Unfortunately, due to golfers’ fascination with distance, ...

Why does my golf swing go off plane early?

The other problem with this method is that because the wrist angle is set so early when you commence the downswing the tension has increased in your wrists due to a constant build-up.

What happens when you downswing a golf club?

As a result, in the downswing, you will lose your lag angle (angle between your wrist and shaft) and all timing and power.

When to use wristy in golf?

It is particularly helpful when facing delicate shots or when the nerves or otherwise shot anxiety creeps into the equation. An example would be a delicate chip from a tight lie during an important match or round.

What is a golf swing?

The golf swing is a meticulously organized movement flow that proceeds best when executed in the right order. Ideally, wrists start hinging at the end of the takeaway, or in other words, when the shaft of the club is parallel to the ground. They continue doing so gradually until the top of the backswing is reached at which point ...

Does wrist cock help with golf swing?

What it tries to cure. Golfers who have a tendency to let early handsy/wristy movements creep into their swings should benefit from remembering this swing tip. Indeed, relegating wrist cock to its correct timing should normalize the distance travelled by the ball to its full potential.

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