About the wrists

[TeddyIrons]

I'm going to sound like a real golf newbie but here goes

I've been playing seriously for about 9 months and oddly I've only just recently understood the importance of the wrists after happening upon this forum, Brian's videos, and reading discussions about The Golf Machine.

So I understand that you should have a flat left wrist through impact, and it's better to prepare this already in the backswing. At the same time the right wrist is hinged. I suppose that you can achieve the flat left wrist by using either the left or the right wrist (or both?) to hold the position?

But my main question is this. I've often read that the left wrist cocks but doesn't hinge. This I understand and it's what stops us flipping, together with forearm rotation. However, I've also heard that the right wrist only hinges, and must not cock? This I don't get. Did I hear wrong? I don't seem able to cock my left wrist, without some cocking of the right wrist too.

Also, is the driver treated the same way as the irons as far as these wrist cocks/hinges go? Or am I pushing my luck with this question?

 

[pecky987]

firstly, lets get the terminology right, cos then at least we're all speaking the same language. "hinge" when used regarding the wrists, infuriates me. its now used generically when talking about cocking and bending of the wrist. i presume from what you are talking about, you are using "hinge" instead of "bending".

just for reference - if you hold out your left arm straight infront of you with your hand flat and vertical, then move your wrist so that your hand moves upwards and downwards, that is the left wrist COCKING and UNCOCKING. if you move your wrist so your hand moves left and right you are BENDING and ARCHING your left wrist.

now...

the question as to whether the right wrist should cock or not. well the feeling that the right wrist doesnt cock helps a large number of golfers notget the face too open, too soon. however, in reality, it will cock some degree. those who have flat/arched left wrists at the top have cocked their right wrist less than someone who has the left wrist bent, but its still cocked none the less

 

[TeddyIrons]

Yes, by hinge I mean arch and bend, and your description of cocking/uncocking is as I intended. Thanks.

 

[pecky987]

sorry teddy if it seemed like that was targeted at you in anyway. it just really grates me how hinge is used to mean the wrists doin ANYTHING lol

 

[HowardK]

water break/bend

just for fun...

take a glass of water.....in your left hand..take a drink.."thats cocking"

take a glass of water in you right hand throw it on someone standing to your right...."thats bending"

as Brian always says.....there will be SOME cocking of the right hand

but pecky gave you a good answer.....

also try to remember to keep the right wrist bent going into impact

but once again as BRIAN saying it wont stay perfect bent.....

good luck..glad you found this site

h

 

[TeddyIrons]

sorry teddy if it seemed like that was targeted at you in anyway. it just really grates me how hinge is used to mean the wrists doin ANYTHING lol

No probs. Thanks to you and jack for the responses.

Do people tend to vary the left wrist position between longer and shorter clubs? For example, more arched for a wedge and more flat or even cupped for a driver?

 

[fronesis]

Do people tend to vary the left wrist position between longer and shorter clubs? For example, more arched for a wedge and more flat or even cupped for a driver?

Really good players can vary anything they want to. And really good players can also get into great impact positions, whether they have flat, arched, or bent left wrists at the top.

However, I can't think of ANY situation in which you would EVER want a bent left wrist at impact. That's the very definition of flipping, and while it's certainly possible to play good golf with a flip, there's no reason to LEARN or WANT to flip it.

You want a flat left wrist at impact. For most high handicappers and new golfers, you'll find it a LOT easier to get to that impact position with a relatively flat left wrist at the top.

The scientific truth of the matter is that the right wrist has to cock and uncock at least a little bit during the swing.

But for MANY people (including myself) it is so much simpler to think of the swing this way: the right wrist bends and unbends, but never cocks (certainly not on purpose); the left wrist cocks and uncocks, but never bends.

Therefore, while I know that my right wrist cocks/uncocks a bit in my swing, I pretend that it does not cock/uncock and I never try to intentionally cock/uncock my right wrist.