What is a bowed wrist in a golf swing?
What Is a Bowed Wrist in Golf? A bowed left wrist, also called a supinated wrist, in a golf swing describes the ideal position at impact, at least according to most golf instructors. The importance of a bowed left wrist stems from the teachings of Ben Hogan, perhaps the finest striker of the golf ball in the history of the sport.
Should you bow your left wrist when you hit a golf club?
Hogan stressed that the left wrist must be bowed at the moment of impact in order for the club to be traveling on the target line and in order to achieve the maximum amount of accuracy and distance.
Is your left wrist bowed at the top of the backswing?
While the wrist can be bowed at any point during the swing, it is most-easily observed at the top of the backswing. When the club is transitioning from backswing to downswing, it will be easy to tell if the left wrist is bowed, flat, or cupped. So what does a bowed left wrist at top of the backswing look like?
Why does my left wrist bend when I hit a golf ball?
Some golfers try to force the swing by flipping their wrists at the ball at impact in a vain attempt to generate more power and get the ball skyward. But a bowed left wrist will occur naturally if you don't try to force the swing.
What is a bowed left wrist in golf?
0:189:15Bowed Left Wrist Golf Shallow The Club Easily - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo when we're talking about bowing in the golf swing. We're talking about this would be a straightMoreSo when we're talking about bowing in the golf swing. We're talking about this would be a straight left wrist this would be bowed. And this would be cupped. Now when i'm talking about bowing i'm
Is a bowed left wrist good?
0:0210:31This BOWED left wrist will CHANGE YOUR GAME! You will stop SLICING!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReally strong grips by a lot of golfers.MoreReally strong grips by a lot of golfers.
Is a bowed wrist good in golf?
6 days agoBowing 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.
How does Dustin Johnson hit a fade with a bowed wrist?
1:5210:22Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa Talking Fades | TaylorMade GolfYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYeah all right let's see but yeah set up a little left kind of for me the simplest way to explain isMoreYeah all right let's see but yeah set up a little left kind of for me the simplest way to explain is i try to take it back on my feet line and then release it down the target.
Why do pros bow their wrist?
1:366:48Should You Play Golf With A Bowed Left Wrist - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey're really athletic and strong. So when we're talking about this bowed wrist what they're doingMoreThey're really athletic and strong. So when we're talking about this bowed wrist what they're doing is at the top the wrist is in this position here and the clubface is a little bit more closed.
How important is a flat left wrist?
Flexing, or bowing, the left wrist invariably invites a slice for most players. DO THIS! Keeping a ruler flat against your left forearm in practice gives you the best chance of solid contact when you swing for real.
Does Tiger bow his wrist?
Just like Els and Scott, Tiger swings with the same moves: His wrist bows a bit to help close the club face… And he dropped his swing plane in the downswing.
Should left wrist be cupped at address?
Likewise, good players who start with a flat left wrist at address have a flat left wrist at the top. Starting with your left wrist cupped and flattening it going back, or starting with it flat and cupping it, is unnecessary manipulation, which can lead to inconsistency.
What happens if you hit a golf ball with your left wrist bowed?
If you are in a cupped left wrist position at impact, it is going to be very difficult to hit down properly. With a bowed left wrist, your hands will be leading the club through the shot and the club head should be following a downward trajectory through the ball.
What wrist is left handed in golf?
If you play golf left handed, it would be your right wrist that would be in question. The bowed left wrist is one of the various positions that you can use in the golf swing if you so choose. While the wrist can be bowed at any point during the swing, it is most-easily observed at the top of the backswing.
What is Ben Hogan's left wrist position?
The Ben Hogan supination left wrist position is well-known around golf, but plenty of other players have managed to play the game well from other positions. Watch the professional tour sometime and you will see a variety of swing positions even among the top players in the world. What It Can Do for You.
What happens when your wrist is bowed?
When your wrist is bowed at the top of the swing, you may lose a little bit of freedom and flexibility in your wrists , which can make it harder to lag the club sufficiently in the downswing. As a result, you may lose a few miles per hour off of your club head speed and a few yards off your shots as well.
What is the best way to improve your ball striking?
This was mentioned above but it bears repeating because it is so important. Hitting down through your shots – specifically, your iron shot s – is one of the best things you can do to improve your ball striking. If you are in a cupped left wrist position at impact, it is going to be very difficult to hit down properly.
How to swing a golf ball if you lack flexibility?
As a rule of thumb, make sure you can at least get your left shoulder pointed toward the position of the ball at the top of your backswing.
How to trap a ball on the range?
To help create a trapping action, try this drill on the range: Using a short iron, assume your normal setup, with your hands ahead of the ball. Lift your right heel so that only your toes are touching the ground. Swing normally. This drill tilts your body in an exaggerated fashion to facilitate a downward blow.
Why do I have a bowed left wrist in golf?
But a bowed left wrist will occur naturally if you don't try to force the swing. The natural movement of a golf swing mirrors the natural movement of a baseball bat swing.
Why is it important to have your left wrist bowed?
Hogan stressed that the left wrist must be bowed at the moment of impact in order for the club to be traveling on the target line and in order to achieve the maximum amount of accuracy and distance .
How to swing a golf club with your left hand?
Take a partial practice swing with just your left hand on the club. At the point where the toe of the club is pointing straight up, commence the downswing, using the hips, arms and shoulders. Don't try to manipulate the wrists, just let them uncoil on their own. When you get to the point of would-be impact, your left wrist should be as bowed as ...
What wrist should you be bowed to hit a ball?
When you get to the point of would-be impact, your left wrist should be as bowed as Hogan's left wrist, with your knuckles pointing at the ground and the back of your left hand in position to "hit" the ball at the target.
What is the key to hitting long and straight irons?
Top golf instructor Jim McLean writes that maintaining a hinge in your wrist at impact -- another way to describe a bowed left wrist -- is the key to hitting long and straight irons.
Do golfers have a bowed left wrist?
Let the big muscles do the heavy work and the wrists will naturally follow. At impact, major league baseball players will have the same bowed left wrist -- if they swing right handed -- as a professional golfer.
What is the position of Johnson's left wrist?
When you watch Johnson make his powerful swing, one thing stands out right away – the unique position of his left wrist at the top of the backswing.
Why doesn't Dustin Johnson flip the ball left?
The only reason Johnson doesn't flip the ball left time after time is the fact that he clears his hips so well on the way down.
How does Johnson get away with it?
How Johnson gets away with it: Like great athletes in other sports, Johnson compensates for a technical flaw with raw ability. His enormous lower body rotation on the downswing, driven by his right side, creates space for the wrists to unwind. By impact, his hands are ahead of the ball and the clubface square.
What causes a closed clubface?
A grip that's too weak (hands turned to the left as you look down) or too strong (hands turned right) can cause a closed clubface. Adjust yours accordingly. Player Profile. Dustin Johnson's Bowed Left Wrist. By any measure, Dustin Johnson is one of the very best golfers in the world.
How to get Dustin Johnson to get over the ball?
Dustin Johnson uses a beautifully athletic stance when he gets over the ball at address, and you should aim for the same kind of position in your own game. Keep your back straight, place some flex in your knees, and make sure your chin is up away from your chest.
What direction does Dustin Johnson swing?
When you see Dustin Johnson make a swing, you naturally expect the ball to quickly hook to the left. After all, swinging with a shut club face at the top frequently leads to a hook, at least it does in the amateur world. However, you will rarely see Johnson hit a quick hook.
Who is the longest hitter in golf?
One of the longest hitters in the game, Johnson is a fan favorite thanks to his impressive power and laidback demeanor. There are some people who don't feel like professional golfers really belong in the category of 'athletes' – but those people probably haven't taken a good look at Dustin Johnson on the course.
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.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The last of the "plane-changing" Secret Move methods was another Ben Hogan invention. Originally intended to work in conjunction with his two-plane tilt move, the bowed wrist has become somewhat popular all on its own. While many teachers call it a flaw, it's also obvious that many good ballstrikers use it.
Ruthless Golf World Rankings (RGWR)
Hideki's win caused some changes but I had trouble deciding the order of the 5-7 spots. Collin (1 major, the DP Tour Championship and the Workday Charity Open, plus the Race to Dubai) remained in 5th but Hideki moved up to 6th alone (1 major and 2 wins) while Billy ended up alone in 7th (1 WGC and the BMW PGA).
About Me
Author of several golf books including Ruthless Putting and Stop Coming Over-the-Top, and editor of Classic Adventure Stories: Swashbucklers, a collection of classic sword-fighting novels. I've run the Ruthless Golf blog since mid-2009. And I've also done some writing for Golfsmith.com .
What happens if your grip is too weak?
If your grip is too weak (lead hand more on the side of the handle), it’s more likely your lead wrist will move into extension, forming a cup (see definitions below). An extended lead wrist forces the clubface to open, requiring you to drag, flip or roll the club to square it for impact.
How to get better at swinging?
Start by adopting a stronger hold. Get your hands more on top of the handle (rotated to the right for a right-handed player) so that when you look down at address , you can see at least two knuckles on your glove hand. This effectively “presets” flexion in your lead wrist even before you start your swing.
Can a lead wrist stall?
As you practice these moves, keep in mind an important analogy: Your lead wrist is your swing’s steering wheel, but your body remains the engine. The engine can never stall. By taking the correct grip and maintaining lead-wrist flexion deep into your downswing, all that’s left to do on your part is to rotate your body.
