
Proper Use of the Wrists
- Flat Left Wrist The flat wrist position at the top of the swing refers to the front wrist. This is the most popular and widely accepted position. ...
- Bowed Left Wrist The bowed position at the top of the swing is where a player bows their front wrist at the top of the back swing. ...
- Cupped Left Wrist
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. ...

Should you use wrist in 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.
How do I control my wrists in my 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.
When should you set your wrists in a golf swing?
When should you set your wrists in the golf swing? You can begin hinging your wrists at two moments in your takeaway: when your lead arm reaches parallel to the ground, or when the club nears the top of your backswing. If you prefer a one-piece takeaway, your wrists will naturally start hinging later in your swing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 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 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.
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.