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how to use your wrists in a golf swing

by Dr. Paxton Metz MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Proper Use of the Wrists

  1. 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. ...
  2. 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. ...
  3. Cupped Left Wrist

Part of a video titled How to Use Your Wrists in the Golf Swing - GOLF WRIST HINGE
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In 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.

Full Answer

How to use your wrists in the golf swing?

How To Use Your Wrists In The Golf Swing

  • Hinging Wrists Early Can Hurt Your Golf Swing. Setting or hinging your wrists early in the backswing can hurt your golf swing. ...
  • Set The Wrists Late for More Speed and Distance. Setting your wrists later in the swing will take advantage of the stretch shortening cycle. ...
  • Gary Woodland Wrist Movement in Swing. ...

How do wrists move in golf swing?

Rotation of the wrists occurs from the forearms. 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.

How your right arm works in the golf swing?

How the Right Arm Works in Golf

  • Backswing Plane. Because you stand to the side of the golf ball at address, your clubhead moves on an arc angled to the ground called the swing plane.
  • Top of the Swing. Old-time golf instructors recommended players feel as if they were supporting a tray with their right hand at the top of the backswing.
  • Starting down. ...
  • Through Impact. ...

How to prevent wrist injuries in golf?

The following are a few ways that could reduce the chances of an injury while golfing:

  • Proper warm up and stretching is important. ...
  • It is not advised to have sudden, large changes in the number of swings of the club. ...
  • Make sure you have good aerobic conditioning and core muscle strength to improve swing mechanics.
  • It may help to get instruction with a teaching professional to refine technique. ...

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What do you do with your wrists during a golf swing?

0:397:18WRIST SET IN THE GOLF SWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo 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.

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.

How do you turn your wrists in the golf swing?

2:585:44WHEN SHOULD YOU START ROLLING THE WRISTS IN THE ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd from here I want you to get the feeling of getting your knuckles. And turning them down. So youMoreAnd from here I want you to get the feeling of getting your knuckles. And turning them down. So you can see the direction my knuckles are going they're going down behind me.

Do you roll your wrists at impact in a golf swing?

That makes the swing plane way too flat and forces the player to re-route the club dramatically to even hit the ball. The wrists shouldn't roll sideways. They hinge by moving up and down. Try this: Hold the club out in front of you, and hinge it upward as if you were going to tap your nose.

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.

What happens if you don't hinge your wrists in golf swing?

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.

Should you roll your forearms in golf swing?

6:5310:36Forearm Rotation in Golf Swing | Do This For Power and ConsistencyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe 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.

Should you hinge your wrists in backswing?

2:367:53When To Hinge Your Wrists In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt probably will be a little bit less they're probably more out here instead of actually creating aMoreIt probably will be a little bit less they're probably more out here instead of actually creating a right angle because you're trying to create with. So that's pretty general a lot of people ask me.

Should I bow my wrist in golf?

Bowing the left wrist can help hold the clubface more stable throughout the swing and prevent a flipping of the hands at impact, leading to better compression of the golf ball. Obviously, the middle ground between a bowed and cupped left wrist can be described as a 'neutral' position.

Should you break your wrists when chipping?

1:359:44IT'S ALL IN THE WRISTS: STOP BLADING and CHUNKING chip shotsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf i was doing no wrist break it'd stay very much like this. So back make this angle a little bitMoreIf i was doing no wrist break it'd stay very much like this. So back make this angle a little bit bigger. Come back into the golf ball.

Should you roll your forearms in golf swing?

6:5310:36Forearm Rotation in Golf Swing | Do This For Power and ConsistencyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe 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.

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.

Hinging Wrists Early Can Hurt Your Golf Swing

Setting or hinging your wrists early in the backswing can hurt your golf swing.

Set The Wrists Late for More Speed and Distance

Setting your wrists later in the swing will take advantage of the stretch shortening cycle. They will want to fire right away creating a whipping effect in the downswing.

Gary Woodland Wrist Movement in Swing

If I had to pick one player who executes a late wrist set, it would be Gary Woodland.

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.

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.

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