Trevor Ng
Cupped wrist is a common problem in golf, especially for right-handed golfers, where the left wrist arches upward toward the forearm, creating a concave shape. This can negatively impact a golfer's swing, causing issues such as inconsistent ball striking, loss of distance, and a weak slice. While some golfers have found success with workarounds, such as adjusting their grip or using strong forearms, these are not ideal long-term solutions as they can cause stress on the bicep tendons. To fix a cupped wrist, golfers can use tools like HackMotion or a golf tee in their glove to practice the correct wrist position and develop muscle memory. Additionally, ensuring a neutral grip and improving shoulder mobility through stretching can help prevent cupping and lead to more powerful and consistent shots.
How to stop cupping wrist in golf
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Impact of cupped wrist | Leads to a slice, inconsistent ball striking, and loss of distance |
| Cause of cupped wrist | Weak left-hand grip, lack of shoulder turn, weak forearms |
| Solutions | Slide a credit card or golf tee between the glove and hand, practice drills, stretch, strengthen forearms, adjust grip |
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What You'll Learn
Understand the impact of a cupped wrist on your golf swing
A cupped wrist at the top of the backswing can negatively impact your entire swing. The position of the left wrist is of "signal importance", as Ben Hogan, one of the greatest ball strikers of all time, asserted in his book, Five Lessons.
When the back of the left hand (for right-handed golfers) arches upward toward the forearm, creating a concave shape, it can set off a chain reaction that impacts the initial downswing path to the moment of impact. This can cause a weak slice, inconsistent ball striking, and loss of distance.
A cupped wrist can prevent the clubface from closing properly, causing shots to leak right or slice. The compensation needed to square the face leads to poor contact and unpredictable ball flight. Essentially, you are putting yourself in an impossible position to generate any lag with your swing, and you will lose a lot of power.
However, some golfers disagree that a cupped wrist is always a bad thing. Some sources state that most good golfers are slightly cupped or flat at the top of their swing, and then they increase the lead wrist bow during the first part of the downswing. This allows them to cock the club more fully in the upward direction, and then the shallowing move allows them to increase the lag angle in the backward direction.
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Try the HackMotion sensor
Cupping the wrist in golf can negatively impact your swing, causing slices and pushes. To fix this, you can try the HackMotion sensor, a golf swing analyser and wrist angle training aid. Here's how it can help:
Accurate Wrist Angle Measurements
The HackMotion sensor provides precise wrist angle measurements on multiple planes, including full swings and putting. This data is essential for understanding your swing and identifying any issues caused by a cupped wrist. By tracking your wrist angles, you can make informed adjustments to improve your swing accuracy.
Muscle Memory and Practice Drills
HackMotion offers drills and practice routines to help you correct your cupped wrist. By repeating the correct wrist positions, you can develop muscle memory and consistently achieve a flat or slightly bowed wrist at the top of your swing, leading to more power and straighter shots. The drills provide a structured approach to improving your wrist action and overall swing consistency.
Neutral Grip Promotion
HackMotion emphasises the importance of a neutral grip to prevent cupping. By ensuring your grip is not too strong, you can avoid excessive wrist extension. This awareness of grip strength and its impact on wrist position encourages a neutral grip, which is crucial for improving your swing and avoiding cupping.
Instant Feedback and Comparison
The HackMotion sensor provides instant feedback on your swing, helping you understand your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the platform may offer swing models for comparison, allowing you to visualise ideal swings and identify areas for improvement. This real-time feedback loop accelerates your learning curve and helps you make adjustments on the go.
Compatibility and Accessibility
HackMotion sensors are compatible with iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android devices, making them widely accessible. The user-friendly interface enhances your experience, allowing you to easily tag shots, review data, and analyse good and bad shots. This accessibility ensures that anyone can benefit from HackMotion's technology and improve their golf game.
In conclusion, the HackMotion sensor is a valuable tool for golfers looking to correct a cupped wrist and improve their swing. Its combination of accurate data, drills, and instant feedback creates a comprehensive training system that accelerates your progress and helps you achieve consistent, powerful shots.
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Adjust your grip
Adjusting your grip is a crucial step in preventing wrist cupping during your golf swing. Here are some detailed tips to help you achieve a more effective grip:
For right-handed golfers, focus on your left-hand grip. Move your left hand more over the grip so that you can see more of your knuckles. This grip change will help you achieve a neutral or slightly stronger position, which can lead to a better swing. It may feel awkward at first, but with practice, it will become more comfortable and natural.
Another tip is to ensure that your grip is not too strong. A strong grip can cause an extension that may contribute to wrist cupping. Aim for a neutral grip, which will provide a better foundation for your swing and help prevent overcompensation during the downswing.
Additionally, pay attention to the position of your forearms. Bring your forearms closer together during your backswing. This technique can help prevent wrist cupping and improve the overall fluidity and control of your swing.
To further enhance your grip, consider using tools like a golf tee or a credit card. Place a tee inside your golf glove, and practice swinging so that you can feel the tee pointing toward the sky at the top of your swing. Alternatively, slide a credit card between your glove and the back of your hand. If you cup your wrist, the card will move or fall out, providing immediate feedback.
By making these adjustments to your grip, you will be well on your way to reducing wrist cupping and improving your golf swing.
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Try the tee-in-glove technique
The tee-in-glove technique is a simple yet effective way to fix your cupping wrist problem and improve your golf game. Here's how to do it:
First, take a golf tee and insert it into the butt-end of your golf glove or between your trail hand and thumb. This will create a stabilising point on your club as you swing. As you bring the club back, angle it as if it were a flashlight, pointing outside the ball. This will help you visualise the correct swing path and ensure your clubface is square at impact, reducing inconsistent slices, hooks, or shanks.
During your swing, the tee should point toward the sky at the top. On the downswing, the tee should point at the ball when your hands are at hip height. After impact, the tee should again point toward the ball as your hands swing through to hip height. This technique will help you develop a more consistent and powerful swing by improving your wrist action and clubface angle.
If you're struggling with a cupped wrist, the tee-in-glove technique is a great way to train your muscle memory and develop a more consistent and powerful swing. It's important to note that this technique may feel awkward at first, but with practice, you'll improve your wrist position and hit the ball with more accuracy and strength.
While this technique can be beneficial, it's always a good idea to combine it with other drills and exercises to improve your overall golf swing and technique. Additionally, make sure your grip is neutral and not too strong, as a strong grip can add extension and impact your swing.
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Stretch and strengthen your shoulders
Stretching and strengthening your shoulders are important to prevent injuries and improve your overall fitness. Here are some exercises and tips to help you achieve that:
Shoulder Mobility Exercises
Mobility exercises can help improve your range of motion and build strength in your shoulders. Here are some examples:
- Start in a quadruped position with your knees under your hips and your palms under your shoulders. Twist your torso to the right and thread your left arm under your right arm, with your left palm facing up. Continue to reach your left arm out to the side. Place your left shoulder and head on the ground for support. For a deeper stretch, place a foam roller vertically under your left arm. Repeat on the opposite side.
- Stand up straight and reach your right arm across your body. Use your left hand to grab your right arm just above the elbow and gently pull it a bit further across your body. Hold this position. Repeat on the opposite side.
- Hold a broomstick, PVC pipe, or taut resistance band above your head with straight arms.
Shoulder Stretches
Stretching your shoulders can help relieve tension and prevent tightness. Here are some stretches to try:
- Shoulder shrugs: This is an easy exercise to strengthen your shoulders and other muscles.
- Cross-arm stretch: This stretch can help improve mobility in your shoulders.
- Arm circles, arm swings, and spinal rotations: These dynamic stretches are great for increasing blood flow to the shoulder joint and improving mobility.
Tips for Healthy Shoulders
- If you're new to shoulder exercises, start slowly and gradually increase the number of exercises and stretches as you build strength.
- Before starting any exercise, spend 5-10 minutes warming up with dynamic stretches to increase blood flow and improve performance.
- If you have had shoulder surgery, an injury, or experience shoulder pain, consult your doctor or physical therapist before beginning any shoulder exercises.
- Create an ergonomic setup at your desk to avoid repetitive motions that can damage your joints and lead to muscle tightness.
- Take breaks from your devices to prevent slouching, which can contribute to muscle tightness and imbalance.
- Maintain proper form during your workouts to prevent injuries.
By incorporating these exercises and stretches into your routine, you can effectively improve the strength and flexibility of your shoulders.
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Frequently asked questions
A cupped wrist is when the back of the hand arches upward toward the forearm, creating a concave shape. This position can negatively impact your entire swing, from the initial downswing to impact.
A cupped wrist can lead to inconsistent ball striking, loss of distance, and an increased risk of injury. It can also make it difficult to square the clubface at impact, resulting in a slice or weak shot.
You can try adjusting your grip and hand positioning. For right-handed golfers, move your left hand more over the grip so you can see your knuckles. This will help you achieve a neutral wrist position. You can also try using a training aid like the WristAlarm to help you maintain a flat wrist during your swing.
Yes, you can try inserting a tee or a sharpie into your golf glove and practice swinging. This will give you tactile feedback to help you feel when your wrist is cupping. You can also try the drills from Alistair Davies Golf to develop a forward shaft lean and learn how to compress the golf ball.
