Importance of a flat left wrist

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golfman5900

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Ok so I've analyzed my own swing video and have made it through all of the Brian Manzella shows. I found that I actually have quite a few good things going on in my swing (the way my shoulders move down to impact etc.) but I also noticed that I have a fairly big bend in my left wrist at the top of my swing. I searched the forums looking for tips and info on this and here's my general understanding. Its very important to have a flat left wrist, but if you don't (and your talented) you can still hit the ball ok without one. Well, I'm not the most talented golfer so I want to figure out how to get my left wrist nice and flat. I've been performing Brian's drill that he put on youtube but I don't think I've been doing it long enough to see any changes yet. I do lift weights and I'm fairly strong so I think there is a good chance that the muscles/tendons etc could be tight. I've also tried the feeling of having my right wrist cocked at the top of my swing (thereby bringing the left wrist into a flat position) and that seems to help a little. However, this makes me feel very uncomfortable and I feel like it really flattens out my swing.

Just so you know, I would say my left wrist is at about 20 degrees on a good day (if a perfectly flat wrist would be 0 degrees).

So are there any other tips or stretches out there that would help me with this?

Thanks a lot
 
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Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
2 things, and they are just my opinion. First, if a flatter left wrist and a bend in your right wrist makes you feel flat at the top, there might be another issue. You may be cupping the left wrist to acheive height in your swing because your arms are over rotated and flat. I'd check that. Also, my wrist is as flat as it's ever gonna get because i don't go full tilt Manzella neutral grip. Ther's a slight cup at address and a slight one at the top (bent right wrist,tho). But it's flat at impact. Hopefully,that helps.
 
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dodger

New
I just watched never slice again for the umpteenth time and pick up something new everytime. I had been so focused on downswing pivot and throwout action that I neglected the hands. After playing earlier this week, I noticed a red mark where my watch post hits my left wrist when it bends. Clear sign major flipping is going on. Watching the hands and keeping the wrist away from the watch post results in classic wedding ring up roll with a flat wrist. It is so easy to forget the hands and their alignment, which is exactly what never slice again covers so well.
 
speedracer68

speedracer68

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I watch brians video's while i'm surfing and i always find something new all the time..=)..I took brian a while to weed out all the great info..it should take some time to absorb it..=)
 
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golfman5900

New
Hi everyone, thanks for the replies. I'll definitely take into consideration your suggestions! As for NSA, well I'm saving up for it. I know its not much, but I'm a university student and I'm pretty broke. In fact the only way I reason I can even afford golf is because I work at a course:D ...which just shut down:( . Judging by how people talk about NSA, however, it sounds great and I'm looking forward to watching it.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
No sir. You CAN (are able to) do anything.

It differs for different people and also for what you are TRYING to do (i.e. "I am going to really try to Bend my left wrist at the top.") and of course for what works best for you.
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

New
I've seen some pretty good strikers with a cupped or double cocked position, but it is another timing factor that brings on problems for most.

Most of the people I try to help get the club cupped or wide open on the backswing.

Going from a cupped position to flat will really toss your timing as it is now.. Once you decide to allow your wrist to be flat, your swing will shorten a bit. Good luck!
 
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golfman5900

New
Thanks for the replies guys. I'll definitely be working on flattening out my left wrist, unfortunately it'll be at an indoor range...it's been snowing for the past two days now! Oh well, only 6 months till next golf season!
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
Ah snow!!

Where do you live? I'm itchin for hockey but thinking of winter still scares me a bit. (accck acccccckkkk eeeeeeek)
 
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ak7776

New
clarification on flat left wrist

hi guys, hope that my question is posted not too late. Been searching around the forum but can't seem to get a direct or obvious answer about the position of the left wrist at impact to the ball. I know the importance of having a flat left wrist at the top of the backswing (so has thus changed) but coming down at impact, should the flat left wrist continue or revert to the slightly bent/cup at address position. I've been fighting this confusion for a while. The common sense thing is to return to your address position, which is gripping the club with a slightly bent left wrist. But if having a flat wrist at impact, wouldn't that be altering the address position? I think this would either close your clubface or position it to the left (thus a hook). Hope you guys could give me some valuable advice. thanks.
 
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Brian Manzella

Administrator
Ah...no.

Welcome.

At address, classically (Jones, Nelson, Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Woods) the LEFT WRIST is bent, and the right wrist is flat.

At IMPACT the left is flat and the right wrist is bent.

Usually, the clubface is "square-ish" at address and ALWAYS slightly open at impact.
 
self-mastery

self-mastery

New
ADDRESS IS NOT IMPACT!!!! (repeat this to yourself 1000 times)

Your left wrist should be flat at impact and your right wrist should be bent.
 
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ak7776

New
OMG! Thanks guys for clearing this up. Been thought by some "old timers" at the range that we should always strive to return to address position with the hands! After watching your instruction videos on youtube Brian, i get a clearer picture now. Especially when you say that the clubface is a tiny bit open at impact, (as the clubface will close naturally after contact) in order to get a straight ball path. Also, is it a little harder to get used to a flat wrist for one with a strong grip (3 left knuckles or more are visible)? The clubface is pointing at a funny angle during the backswing and on top. I notice good players could get the perfect angle of the clubhead. Is it due to the grip? Thanks.
 
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Toolish

New
dodger said:
I just watched never slice again for the umpteenth time and pick up something new everytime. I had been so focused on downswing pivot and throwout action that I neglected the hands. After playing earlier this week, I noticed a red mark where my watch post hits my left wrist when it bends. Clear sign major flipping is going on. Watching the hands and keeping the wrist away from the watch post results in classic wedding ring up roll with a flat wrist. It is so easy to forget the hands and their alignment, which is exactly what never slice again covers so well.
Click to expand...

I used to get that one...the watch mark.

Would also get a mark inside my right forearm where it would flick the top of the glove on my left hand...never realised what it was all about until I discovered TGM.
 
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