A few questions about left and right wrists

[noobie]

I tried searching the forum but couldn't find definitive answers to my specific questions so here goes:

1) I know we should have a flat left wrist at impact which means that our right wrist must be bent at impact. But does the right wrist start to straighten out at all on the downswing? If I start to straighten out a bit then I can't seem to stop at the point my left wrist is flat. If I don't straighten out at all, my full swings feel like long chip shots and I have an awkward followthrough.

2) When the right wrist does start to straighten (whenever that may be), should this be coupled with a left forearm rotation?

Thanks!

 

[dbl]

Brian has some videos which point out that even though at the top of the swing and at the beginning of the downswing the right wrist will usually be as bent as it can get (exceptions for people like Els, Hogan etc using a cupped left wrist at the top), that by the time one gets to impact, the right wrist will indeed be less bent.

Can it be said that if there is an absolute in golf, it's that there are no absolutes? Have good impact numbers, in basically any manner which lets you control that swing from shot to shot, and you're good.

 

[noobie]

Just to clarify my 2nd question- Is it correct to say that there three distinct motions in a typical backswing: 1) right hand horizontal hinging; 2) left wrist vertical hinging or cocking; and 3) left forearm rotation?

My question is when the right hand straightens fully, is that motion coupled with either unhinging of 2) or counter-rotation of 3), both, or neither.

On second thought, it seems as if 3) is negated by a tumble. But is there additional left forearm rotation before, at or shortly after impact?

 

[Virtuoso]

The combination of those movements depends on how strong (and how much in the fingers) your left hand grip is. But, the best way for you to decode your own combination is just to imagine holding on to a giant ping-pong paddle. Pretend it has a golf grip on it and then imagine standing in a doorway facing the door jam side without the hinges. Position the door jam such that it is across from your left heel and imagine how you would go about hitting the wall past the door jam as hard as you could AND have the paddle smack flat against the wall.

This exercise will tell you a lot about sequencing, downswing pivot, and arm/wrist movements for good impact alignments. The wrong movements will seem blatantly obvious as the paddle approaches the wall "un-flat" at impact.

 

[BrendanC]

One of the great things about Brian's videos (Soft Draw 2.0 especially) is that they teach realistic, 'real life' motions. To me these ideas about flat left wrist etc etc on forums are really damaging for actual golf swings. The golf swing is a fast athletic motion: 'Flat Left Wrist' and (my pet hate) 'Frozen Right Wrist' are not helpful ideas - they cost me about 2 or 3 years of wasted practice etc.