Miles Bennett
Golfers are always looking for ways to improve their game, and one area that has been a hot topic of discussion is the position of the wrists during the swing. A cupped wrist, where the back of the hand arches upward toward the forearm, is one of three common wrist positions in golf, along with bowed and flat. While some golfers prefer a cupped wrist, others consider it a flaw that can negatively impact their swing and cause issues such as slices and loss of distance. The consensus seems to be that a slightly bowed or flat wrist is the preferred position for most golfers, as it promotes a square clubface, which results in straighter and more powerful shots. However, some notable golfers, such as Ben Hogan and Zach Johnson, have been known to play with a cupped wrist. Ultimately, the ideal wrist position depends on the individual golfer's grip, swing, and other factors, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
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What You'll Learn
Cupped wrist vs bowed wrist
Golfers employ three common wrist positions: cupped, bowed, or flat. Each position has its own advantages and disadvantages. A cupped wrist is easy to spot at the top of your backswing as the clubface is open. This can lead to a slice. A bowed wrist, on the other hand, is characterised by the club pointing toward the sky at the top of your backswing. This type of clubface can lead to a hook.
A cupped wrist results from a strong grip, while a bowed wrist is the result of a weak grip. A cupped wrist can lead to a slice, while a bowed wrist can lead to a hook. A slice occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path, causing the ball to curve strongly to the side. A hook happens when the clubface is closed, causing the ball to curve in the opposite direction of a slice.
A cupped wrist can be challenging for amateur golfers as it requires precise grip and path to avoid hitting weak shots. It can also make it difficult to generate power in your swing. However, some professional golfers, such as Ben Hogan and Zach Johnson, have successfully played with a cupped wrist.
A bowed wrist is becoming one of the most talked-about positions in the modern golf swing. It is said to be the key to compressing the ball, hitting a powerful draw, and controlling the clubface. When used correctly, a bowed wrist can square the face, add shaft lean, and provide a more consistent and powerful impact. However, it is important not to overdo the bowing or fail to recognise how your grip, hinge, or movement patterns are affecting it.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether a cupped or bowed wrist is better in golf. The ideal wrist position depends on individual factors such as grip strength and swing mechanics.
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How to fix a cupped wrist
A cupped wrist in golf is when the back of the hand (left hand for a right-handed golfer) arches upward toward the forearm, creating a concave shape. This wrist position at the top of the backswing can negatively impact the entire swing, from the initial downswing path to impact. It can cause inconsistent ball striking and a loss of power.
Identify the issue
The cupped wrist position is easy to spot at the top of the backswing as the clubface is open. However, it is difficult to spot at the address position or midway through the backswing. Therefore, it is important to evaluate your wrist position from the top of the backswing to easily identify the wrist angle and make necessary adjustments.
Adjust your grip
A weak left-hand grip (for right-handed golfers) can often lead to a cupped wrist. To correct this, move your left hand more over the grip so that you can see more of your knuckles. This grip change may feel awkward at first, but it can lead to a better swing. It is important to have a neutral grip and not too strong, as a strong grip can add extension and contribute to cupping.
Practice drills
There are various drills that can help fix a cupped wrist. One simple drill is to place a golf tee, a key card, or a ruler on the back of your glove or wrist while practising. If you cup your wrist, you will feel it poke you, discouraging the cupped position. Another drill is the Static Top Drill, where you swing to the top of the swing and pause to check your wrist position. If your wrist is cupped, adjust your position until it is flat or flexed. Repeat this process until you create muscle memory for the correct position.
Stretch and strengthen
A cupped wrist can be caused by a lack of shoulder turn or mobility issues in the shoulders. Practising stretches and strengthening exercises, such as golf yoga, can help improve your range of motion and reduce the need to compensate with wrist movements.
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Impact on swing
A cupped wrist can have a significant impact on a golfer's swing, and it is a common issue that many golfers face. The position of the wrist at the top of the backswing is crucial, and a cupped wrist can lead to a chain of issues that affect the entire swing.
One of the main consequences of a cupped wrist is the open clubface it creates. This can result in a slice, which is a shot that curves to the right for right-handed golfers. The slice is often a weak shot that loses distance and makes it challenging to hit fairways. By opening the clubface, golfers are forced to make compensations to square the face again, leading to inconsistent ball striking and unpredictable ball flight.
Additionally, a cupped wrist can negatively affect the downswing path and impact. It can hinder the ability to snap the wrists and release the club through the hitting zone, resulting in a loss of power and speed. This can also lead to inconsistent contact with the ball, further affecting the accuracy and distance of shots.
However, it is important to note that some professional golfers, such as Ben Hogan and Zach Johnson, have successfully played with a cupped wrist. They have been able to manage their wrist position during the downswing to achieve effective results. Nonetheless, for most amateur golfers, a cupped wrist can be challenging to compensate for and may lead to inconsistent and weak shots.
To improve their swing, golfers can focus on correcting their wrist position. This can be achieved through various drills and techniques, such as adjusting the grip, using wrist wraps or gloves with objects inside to provide feedback, and practicing with a neutral or slightly bowed wrist position. By addressing the cupped wrist issue, golfers can improve their consistency, power, and accuracy, ultimately enhancing their overall performance.
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Grip and path
The grip is the foundation of your golf swing, so it's important to get it right. A weak left-hand grip (for right-handed golfers) can lead to a cupped wrist at the top of your swing and a weak slice off the tee. To fix this, move your left hand more over the grip so that you can see more of your knuckles. This grip change will likely feel awkward at first, but getting into a neutral (or slightly strong) position can lead to a better swing.
A cupped wrist at the top of your backswing can set you up for a swing path that's outside-in, increasing the likelihood of slicing. This is because a cupped wrist creates an open clubface, which can lead to big misses to the right side of the golf course.
To straighten out your wrist, you can try drills such as the Static Top Drill. You can also use tools like the HackMotion wrist sensor, which is worn on the lead wrist and tracks the position of the wrist throughout the swing.
It's worth noting that a slightly open face at impact (aka a power fade) can be okay. However, too much can negatively impact your ball striking. A bowed or flat wrist position is generally considered the best spot to hit from, as it increases the chances of reaching impact with a square clubface.
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Consistency and power
A cupped wrist can lead to a slice, which results in a loss of total distance, making it difficult to hit fairways, and ultimately producing a weak shot. This inconsistency in ball striking is due to the compensation needed to square the face, which leads to poor contact and unpredictable ball flight.
The cupped wrist position can also cost you power. As one source states, a cupped wrist puts you in an "impossible position to generate any lag with your swing", causing a loss of power.
To improve consistency and power, it is important to focus on achieving a flat or slightly bowed wrist position. A flat lead wrist is considered the most consistent and neutral position to hit from. A slightly bowed wrist can help close the clubface, encouraging a draw and improving compression, which leads to straighter and more powerful shots.
To correct a cupped wrist, golfers can try adjusting their grip to a neutral position and practising drills such as the Static Top Drill to improve their wrist position at the top of the backswing.
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Frequently asked questions
A cupped wrist in golf is when the back of the hand arches upward toward the forearm, creating a concave shape.
A cupped wrist can lead to a slice, which kills your total distance, makes it hard to hit fairways, and ultimately results in a weak shot. It can also cause inconsistent ball striking due to the compensation needed to square the face, leading to poor contact and unpredictable ball flight.
One easy way to check for a cupped wrist is to evaluate your wrist position from the top of your backswing. A cupped wrist will form a concave arch, whereas a flat wrist will have no arch, with the back of the hand in line with the forearm.
There are several strategies to flatten your wrist and improve your swing. One common method is to adjust your left-hand grip (for right-handed golfers) by moving your hand more over the grip to achieve a neutral or slightly strong position. You can also try drills like the Static Top Drill or use tools like HackMotion to get feedback on your wrist position.
