Trevor Ng
Wrist action is a key component of a good golf swing. The wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the golf club, and their movement influences clubface control and presentation. There are three distinct wrist movements: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation. The wrists should reach their maximum load during the downswing, and at impact, the lead wrist should be in flexion and supination. Proper wrist mechanics allow for a better swing path, more consistent strikes, and higher clubhead speeds. The correct wrist positions can also lead to extra club head speed and more distance.
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What You'll Learn
Wrist management and the golf swing
Wrist management is key to a good golf swing. The wrists act as a hinge between the arms and the club, helping to move the club faster and achieve longer shots.
There are three distinct wrist movements: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation. At impact, the lead wrist is in flexion (bowed) and supination (palm facing skyward). The trail wrist is in the process of unhinging and will not be fully unhinged until just after impact. This timing delivers optimal force.
The flat wrist position is the most widely accepted by instructors, where the back of the front wrist stays flat at the top of the swing. However, there are several different schools of thought on wrist movement, and it depends on the individual. Some golfers prefer a bowed position, where the front wrist is bowed at the top of the backswing.
To achieve a square clubface, the lead wrist should be flexed before impact. More radial deviation creates a higher clubhead speed, and additional wrist supination will lead to an out-to-in swing path.
Some golfers prefer to manually cock their wrists, while others allow their body and arm movement to do this naturally. It is important to understand the situation of your wrists and the clubface at the top of your swing and how to move towards impact.
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Wrist hinge and wrist action
The wrists are capable of three sets of distinct movements: extension and flexion, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation. During the takeaway, golfers must combine a certain amount of turn and wrist movement to get the club in the correct position at the top of the swing. The top of the swing and impact are the most important positions to check for proper wrist hinge.
To achieve a square clubface at impact, you must be able to manage the wrist hinge in your swing. The amount of hinge in your wrists during the backswing will impact the positioning of the club. Wrist hinge leads to the positioning of the club at the top of the swing, which then impacts the transition to the downswing and where the clubface is at impact.
To get to impact with a square clubface, you need to get your lead wrist to a flexed position before you get to the ball. You can experiment with more flexion in your lead wrist to see if it helps you hit more consistent shots. The right hand position is considered more important to focus on than the left.
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Wrist positions and ball flight
The wrists play a crucial role in achieving a powerful and repeating strike. They are capable of three distinct movements: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation.
The lead wrist is largely in flexion (bowed) and supination (palm facing skyward) at impact. To achieve this position, the right wrist should be cocked back, and the left wrist bowed. This can be practised with the motorcycle drill, which teaches the movement of the lead wrist from the top of the swing to impact.
To achieve a higher ball flight, the wrist position should be more extended through impact. This increases the launch angle and gets the shot up higher. Conversely, a lower ball flight requires more flexion in the lead wrist at impact, with a closed clubface. This can be practised with an impact bag, which helps to lower the ball flight.
The wrist position at the top of the backswing is also important. To avoid a pull shot, where the ball starts left of the target and stays left, the wrist angle and position at the top of the backswing should be monitored. The Inside Out Gate Drill can be used to fix this, with the HackMotion wrist sensor providing feedback and data.
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Wrist mechanics and clubface control
The wrists play a pivotal role in the golf swing and can help golfers hit the ball farther, more solidly, and on-line. 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.
There are three distinct wrist movements in golf: flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation. The flexion and extension movements are also known as unhinging and hinging, respectively. At impact, the lead wrist is in flexion, and the clubface responds by closing. The lead wrist is the left wrist for right-handed players and vice versa for left-handed players. The trail wrist is the opposite wrist.
To get to impact with a square or closed clubface, the lead wrist should be in a flexed position before reaching the ball. This can be achieved by experimenting with more flexion in the lead wrist to hit more consistent shots. Additionally, more radial deviation through impact will increase clubhead speed, and extra wrist supination will lead to an out-to-in swing path.
The wrists should reach their maximum load during the downswing, i.e., fully cocked and hinged. At ball impact, the lead wrist will be fully uncocked, and the trail wrist will be in the process of unhinging. This timing delivers optimal force from the angular momentum created between the arms and the club.
It is important to note that there are different schools of thought regarding wrist action in the golf swing, and the specific techniques employed may vary depending on the individual golfer's height, weight, muscle structure, flexibility, and other factors. Some golfers prefer to manually cock their wrists, while others allow their body and arm movement to do this naturally.
To improve wrist mechanics and clubface control, golfers can focus on grip, alignment, and takeaway. When the club is parallel to the ground, proper grip and alignment make it easier to get the correct wrist mechanics. Additionally, training aids such as the HackMotion wrist sensor can help golfers measure and analyze their wrist action, providing valuable insights into their swing.
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Wrist movement and rotation
The wrists play a pivotal role in a golf swing and can help golfers hit the ball farther, more solidly, and on-line. They 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.
Wrist movement is usually defined by their position at the top of the swing. The three distinct movements of the wrists are flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation.
Flexion refers to bowing the wrist, which causes the clubface to close. Extension, on the other hand, is when the hand is pulled toward the forearm, causing the clubface to open. Supination is when the wrist is rotated so that the palm faces the sky, while pronation is the opposite movement. Radial deviation is cocking, and ulnar deviation is uncocking.
The flat wrist position is the most widely accepted position by most instructors, as it makes it easy to change the ball flight and keep a neutral face throughout the swing. However, the bowed position is also employed by professional golfers like Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. In this position, the front wrist is bowed at the top of the backswing.
The correct wrist hinge and wrist action will lead to a more consistent golf swing and extra club head speed for more distance. The wrists should reach their maximum load as the body turns forward in the downswing, and the lead wrist should be fully uncocked at ball impact.
There are many different ways to use your wrists effectively in a golf swing, and it depends on the individual golfer's height, weight, muscle structure, flexibility, grip style, joint mobility, and strength.
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Frequently asked questions
The three key wrist movements in golf are flexion and extension, supination and pronation, and ulnar and radial deviation.
The best way to measure and analyse wrist action is to use the HackMotion wrist sensor and record data at setup, top of the backswing, and impact.
Your wrists act as a hinge between your arms and the golf club. This hinge helps to move the club faster, which is necessary for longer-distance shots.
The flat wrist position is the most widely accepted position and is considered a neutral position. This means that the back of the front wrist stays flat at the top of the swing.
