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what is a bowed left wrist in golf

by Mr. Damon O'Hara MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years 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

If your left hand is weaker than your right hand the left wrist will appear bowed when your right wrist is bent at the top of the swing. For the majority of golfers who struggle to get shaft lean and slice the ball the left hand grip is weaker than the right hand.

Full Answer

What is the importance of a bowed left wrist in golf?

 · A bowed left wrist closes the clubface during the golf swing, but also promotes greater shaft lean. While bowing your left wrist can hold the clubface more stable and generate better compression, it can also cause hooks and pulls if …

Is your left wrist bowed at the top of the backswing?

 · As path is going left & in both cases the face angle is looking left. It's a case of working to the flat left wrist at the top, you don't want it cupped you'll get big fade/slices, not ideal to have it bowed a lot as if you don't clear your hips first it will start left & continue to move left.

Is the bowed left wrist the best direction to hit a ball?

 · 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...

Why does my left wrist bend when I hit a golf ball?

 · Flexing, or bowing, the left wrist invariably invites a slice for most players. Christian Hafer DO THIS! Keeping a ruler flat against your left forearm in practice gives you the best chance of...

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What does a bowed left wrist do?

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.

Is a bowed wrist in golf good?

Is a bowed left wrist good in golf? A bowed left wrist in golf can help promote a more stable clubface and increased shaft lean, which can be beneficial for players who 'flip' their hands at the ball.

What does a bowed wrist look like in golf?

These swing errors are easiest to spot at the top of the swing; bowed wrists look like the club is too heavy to hold in your hands and is visible through your hands falling to the ground a little. Cupped wrists look like the opposite and are instead visible through your hands arcing up towards the sky.

How do you keep your left wrist bowed in golf?

5:2910:31This BOWED left wrist will CHANGE YOUR GAME! You will stop SLICING!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGot kind of the more neutral classic area where we've got the nice flat lead wrist now remember thisMoreGot kind of the more neutral classic area where we've got the nice flat lead wrist now remember this is all kind of associated around grip as well.

How do you swing with a bowed wrist?

1:569:15Bowed Left Wrist Golf Shallow The Club Easily - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaking it much easier to get the club. Into the slot where it should pass through that right forearmMoreMaking it much easier to get the club. Into the slot where it should pass through that right forearm. And into that better impact position shallowing is really important for making solid.

Why does Dustin Johnson bowed his wrist?

“I'm taking less, less movement out in the face,” he says. “I feel like it's a little easier for me to control where the ball's going.” The bowed wrist combines with the posture, foot lift, and leading with the grip to produce DJ's bombshell drive.

Should you cup your wrist in the golf swing?

Should a golfer have a cupped, bowed, or flat left wrist position at the top of swing? The answer is it doesn't matter.

How can I keep my left wrist flat?

1:583:38GOLF: How To Get A Flat Left Wrist In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe lead wrist will still be in a slight cup or extension during the takeaway gradually from theMoreThe lead wrist will still be in a slight cup or extension during the takeaway gradually from the takeaway. Into about left arm parallel is where you'll start to get that lead wrist closer to flat.

Should the left wrist be cupped at address?

The answer is, you shouldn't! Yet this is exactly what recreational golfers do as they swing to the top. The bad news is that once your left wrist cups and the face opens, it's difficult to return the face to square.

How do you get a flat wrist in golf?

10:0413:09Drills to Flatten The Left Wrist - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs. I come through. Contact. I want my right hand facing down. And then from there I want to releaseMoreAs. I come through. Contact. 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.

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 ...

Why do golfers bend their wrists?

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. The natural movement of a golf swing mirrors the natural movement of a baseball bat swing. 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 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.

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 .

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.

What did Lee Trevino say about swinging?

When he gave clinics, Trevino would talk about the importance of feeling "like you are hitting the ball with the back of your left hand.". That's a fine description of how it feels to have a bowed left hand at impact.

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 difference between flexion and extension?

EXTENSION (TOP) Your wrist is in extension mode when you pull your hand toward your forearm. The clubface responds by opening. FLEXION (BOTTOM) Your wrist is in flexion mode when you bow it like Dustin Johnson and most elite players . The clubface responds by closing.

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 .

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.

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What is Mark's job on CBS?

Mark’s additional broadcast duties include being a guest analyst on the CBS Sports “First Cut Podcast”. CBS Sports also uses Mark’s unique voice for audio and promotional PGA TOUR advertisements and promotional reads.

How to set left wrist on backswing?

There are three ways to set your left wrist at the top of your backswing. You can 1) keep it flat, 2) flex, or “bow,” it or 3) extend, or “cup,” it.

How to line up your left wrist for hitting?

There are three ways to set your left wrist at the top of your backswing. You can 1) keep it flat, 2) flex, or “bow,” it or 3) extend, or “cup,” it.

What wrist is used for slice?

DON’T DO THIS! Flexing, or bowing, the left wrist invariably invites a slice for most players.

How to take a divot after the ball?

When we get into wrist conditions at the top of the swing, we can keep it simple by looking at the right wrist. In order to have a forward leaning shaft at impact and take a divot after the ball the right wrist must be bent backwards. If you want the right wrist bent backwards at impact, common sense would tell you that you want to create this backward bend in the right wrist in the backswing. If your right wrist is not bent at the top of the backswing it will be much harder to create this bend on the downswing, and even harder to do it consistently. Let’s look at a couple tour players at the top of the swing at see where they differ and where they are similar.

Why is the right wrist bend good?

This is to be expected and is a good thing, because if the clubface is too open on the downswing you will never have forward shaft lean.

Why does my left wrist bowed?

If your left hand is weaker than your right hand the left wrist will appear bowed when your right wrist is bent at the top of the swing. For the majority of golfers who struggle to get shaft lean and slice the ball the left hand grip is weaker than the right hand. So when this right wrist bend is created, it makes the left wrist bowed which feels ...

Why do you bend your wrist when you swing?

The secondary benefit of right wrist bend is it helps shallow out angle of attack and helps shallow out the plane angle making it easier to get path inside out for the average golfer. So in summary, the correct left wrist position at the top of the swing is whichever one that results from having your right wrist bent at the top of the swing. This will vary based on how you grip the club and for many will make the club feel more closed during the backswing.

Is chipping a good short game?

I think that’s because both chipping and putting are primarily “feel” shots. Yes, technique is important, but I’ve seen good chippers with all kinds of form and fundamentals.

Can recreational golfers improve their scoring?

I’m totally convinced the majority of recreational golfers can make the quickest and biggest improvement in our scoring if we will just dedicate the time to learn good chipping technique and to practicing that technique with a purpose.

Can golfers chip the ball well?

I’ve always admired golfers who can really chip the ball well. Through my years in golf, I have seen players of all handicaps who are excellent chippers, and all tour professionals are masters of chipping it close. But for such a simple little stroke and challenge, chipping seems to be a part of the game that eludes many of us.

How does the lead wrist work?

One of the key learnings of my and other instructors’ research on the lead wrist is that it works, to borrow a phrase, hand in hand with the clubface. Simply, whatever the lead wrist does, the club-face follows. So when elite players flex their lead wrist as they transition from backswing to downswing (and most do), the clubface rotates with it, closing slightly. It’s proof that the lead wrist’s role is fairly significant. Flexing it early in the downswing requires less work on the player’s part to make sure the clubface is properly closed later in the swing. In my opinion, it’s the move weekend players need to add power and put that nasty slice to bed once and for all. The trick? Doing it correctly and consistently.

Why does Matt Wolff have a lead wrist?

Because of this he has to flex his lead wrist like crazy in the transition. His beautiful timing results in a square face at impact. Not every golfer has it.

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.

When is your wrist in extension mode?

Your wrist is in extension mode when you pull your hand toward your forearm. The clubface responds by opening.

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.

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