Harper Lin
Wrist motion is an important aspect of playing golf. The wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club, and understanding the wrist motion can help golfers achieve greater consistency, power, and accuracy. The wrist position in the golf swing can make or break how good of a shot a golfer can make. The grip is one of the most important things to focus on at setup, and the wrist angle and position can be measured using the HackMotion wrist sensor.
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What You'll Learn
Wrist motion and grip
The wrists play a vital role in a golfer's swing and have the largest influence on clubface control and presentation. The wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club, providing an advantage for moving the club faster, which is necessary for longer-distance shots.
The grip is one of the most important things to focus on at setup. If the hands are not on the club properly from the start, the chance of getting your wrists into the right position throughout the swing is significantly reduced. The club should be gripped in the fingers of the hand, rather than the palm, as this will make wrist action challenging to feel and will keep you from getting the wrist angles that could generate the most power.
There are three distinct movements the wrists can make: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation. The flexion and extension of the wrists are also referred to as unhinging and hinging, respectively. 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). As you begin your downswing, gradually add wrist flexion so that by the time the club is parallel to the ground, you’ve achieved your desired wrist bend.
The trail wrist is the dominant wrist and plays a crucial role in the swing. It is important 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. A flat wrist position at the top of the swing is the most widely accepted position. This means that the back of the front wrist stays flat at the top of the swing, with a sideways movement towards the target.
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Wrist angles and positions
There are four terms used to describe the range of motion in the wrist joint: flexion (unhinging), extension (hinging), radial deviation (cocking), and ulnar deviation (uncocking). The wrist can be positioned in different ways at the top of the swing, including flat, bowed, and cupped. The flat wrist position is the most widely accepted, where the back of the front wrist stays flat at the top of the swing, with a sideways movement towards the target. This is a neutral position and is common in a good golf swing. The bowed position is achieved by pulling your hand towards your forearm, which opens the clubface. The cupped position is more "extended", with the lead wrist extended at the top of the swing.
The lead wrist is the focus of many guides and drills, as it is often easier for golfers to see, understand, and feel. However, the trail wrist is also important, and can sometimes be the dominant wrist for the player. The trail wrist usually works in opposition to the lead wrist, for example, trail wrist extension in the downswing is accompanied by lead wrist flexion.
The wrist position can be difficult to get right, as you cannot see your wrists for most of the swing. One way to check your wrist position is to shoot a video of your swing and pause at the top to check the angle of your front wrist and clubface. These two lines should be relatively parallel to allow for straighter shots.
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Forearm rotation and clubface orientation
Forearm rotation is a crucial aspect of a powerful and precise golf swing. Proper forearm rotation increases swing power and leads to accurate shots. It is important at every stage of the golf swing, from the backswing to post-impact.
During the backswing, the lead forearm should rotate in pronation (palms down) while the trail forearm rotates in supination (palms up). This balanced movement sets the foundation for proper rotation throughout the swing.
After impact, proper forearm rotation ensures a smooth follow-through and balanced finish. The trail forearm should move over the lead forearm, continuing the earlier rotational pattern. This movement promotes better ball flight and helps maintain control and power through the shot.
The golfer should initiate the downswing with the lower body, allowing the upper body to follow, and then release the golf club through proper forearm rotation. It is important to avoid forcing the rotation solely through the arms or the wrists. A smooth and natural rotation enables the clubface to strike the ball with optimum power and control.
The wrists play a vital role in the golf swing and have the largest influence on clubface control and presentation. 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). The wrists are capable of three sets of distinct movements: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation.
Understanding the mechanics and anatomy of forearm rotation and wrist action is essential for improvement. Mastering these movements requires drills, advanced techniques, and regular practice. Training aids, such as the HackMotion wrist sensor, can help measure wrist angles and positions throughout the swing, providing valuable feedback for improvement.
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Trail wrist extension
Wrist action is an important aspect of playing golf, and understanding the mechanics behind it can help improve your game. The wrists move in three ways: extension/flexion, radial deviation/ulnar deviation, and pronation/supination.
The trail wrist in the golf swing will somewhat mirror the lead wrist. On the backswing, the trail wrist will have considerably more extension than the lead wrist. On the downswing, that extension will increase slightly before decreasing right before impact. Golfers will have more extension at impact in their trail wrist than at the address.
The key movement is increasing trail wrist extension in the downswing and maintaining it at impact. When we look at lead wrist extension, it decreases on the downswing, making the trail and lead wrist work opposite of each other to promote consistent impact positions. At impact, the trail wrist position should ideally be 10 to 15 degrees more extended than at the address.
The extension in the trail wrist allows for flexion in the lead wrist. The best players in the world do everything they can to square the clubface at the top of their swing so that they can rotate through with all the power they have. However, if the trail wrist is not in the right position and it is more flat or flexed than extended, you won’t be able to rotate through the golf ball with the same speed or power. The downswing will instead be spent squaring the clubface. If your trail wrist is extended at the top of the swing and the clubface is square, the body can fire through toward the target. Your trail wrist must stay extended as your golf club moves through the impact position. A trail wrist extended through impact lets you get more power and keep the clubface square.
To get a general idea of what this looks like, grip a golf club and notice how your trail wrist may be slightly extended or flat. As you swing back in slow motion, does that position get more extended, or does it stay flat? You’ll want to see a little extra extension and then even more as you swing down through the golf ball.
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Impact and follow-through
The impact and follow-through are critical moments in a golf swing, and wrist motion plays a significant role in their effectiveness.
Impact
At impact, the lead wrist is primarily in flexion, with the wrist bone slightly raised, and in supination, meaning the palm is facing upwards. This position is crucial for achieving powerful and accurate shots. The trail wrist, which is usually the dominant wrist, also plays a vital role in the impact position. As the body turns forward in the downswing, the wrists should reach their maximum load, with both wrists working in harmony to promote a consistent impact position.
To achieve a powerful impact, it is essential to maintain the angle in your wrists as long as possible during the downswing. This allows you to create clubhead speed, resulting in longer shots. Amateur golfers often make the mistake of releasing the wrists too early, which leads to a slower swing speed and inconsistent shots.
Follow-through
The follow-through is the continuation of the motion after impact, and it is influenced by the wrist position at impact. A proper follow-through ensures a smooth and controlled finish to the swing. The trail wrist, in particular, plays a crucial role in the follow-through. Increasing trail wrist extension in the downswing and maintaining it through impact promotes a consistent follow-through.
To improve your wrist motion during the follow-through, drills and exercises can be extremely beneficial. One such drill involves focusing on the motion of pushing your palm down as you move through impact. This can be practised in slow motion, helping you to feel and understand the correct wrist movement.
In conclusion, the impact and follow-through are critical moments in a golf swing, and proper wrist motion during these phases is essential for achieving powerful and accurate shots. By understanding the role of the lead and trail wrists, golfers can improve their ball-striking and overall performance.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, wrist motion is important for golf. A golfer’s wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club, providing an advantage for moving the club faster, which is necessary for longer-distance shots.
One common mistake is releasing the wrists too early. On the downswing, you want to maintain your wrist angle as long as possible to get the most clubhead speed. Another mistake is holding the wrists in the hinged position for too long, which will create side spin on the ball and lead to a slice.
One way to improve your wrist motion is to focus on the trail wrist, which is usually the dominant wrist. You can also try the release drill, which is great for golfers who struggle with their wrist position at impact.
