Wrist Cocking Question

Hello All:

I was watching a video clip by Hank Haney on the proper takeaway and in it, he describes the actions taking place from set-up until the hands reach about hip high on the backswing. He went on to talk about the importance of cocking the wrists in conjuntion with taking the club back. He demonstrated his view of the proper wrist cock and I realized that I have been doing something different.

His description would be similiar to simple up and down action. I have also read about a drill where from set-up you simply make the wrist cock and lift the clubhead directly up off the ground usually about to where the club shaft is parallel to the ground and then make the swing from there. Also, Ryan Moore on the US tour uses this drill in actual competition at times.

I feel I have been making a side to side cocking action versus the up and down move. Because of this I have always fought a move bringing the club inside too quickly. When I began working on a more vertical cocking motion it felt uncomfortable (wich is usually a good sign) and somewhat restricted due to the fact that this range of motion of the wrist is only 1/2 of the side to side move. Once I was able to blend this up and down move with my full backswing the rest of the swing felt entirely different as well.

Overall this up and down motion makes my turn feel fuller and certainly less armsy and wristy. I expect it will take some time to adjust but initially I have been hitting the ball much more consistenly direction wise but my distance is a little shorter. I think this is due to the fact that I am not flicking at the ball as much as with my previous wrist motion that was predisposing me for a swat. Distance is not a real problem but I am on a mission for straight.

I would be very interested in comments to whether I am on the right track here.

Thanks,
Tim S

I think that you will see more distance after you practise a bit more.

Interesting one.

I agree with the idea that you should not be seeking to 'flick' the ball with the wrists / hands. Other than that, the grip you take will influence the way the hands naturally hinge.

On the general point on wrist angles, if you look at Tiger Woods as an example, his left wrist is not flat at address yet is certainly flat at impact. Therefore, he has some minor lateral movement of the wrist. Of course this is one way (from very slightly cupped to straight) - it doesn't reverse through impact (ie it stays flat).

I think you are most definately on the right track. Keep going.

Learn to get the wrist cocking up and the hands coming in and up in the takeaway.

That horrid early wrist roll can be negated by folding the right elbow as part of the takeaway (I mean folding it backwards as if pulling your right elbow round to the side of your right hand ribs).

Right elbow folds, wrists cock up and at the same time we turn. An inside takeaway but on plane and connected (go to youtube and type in Sam Snead and check out some of the clips down the line).

A word of caution - don't fully cock the wrists in the backswing. If they're fully cocked at the top, you have nowhere to go to create lag on the way down. No more than 90 degree wrist cock going back.

If you can develop it, you can then learn to keep the lag well into the hitting area. Some refer to it as "holding onto the lag". Not quite true. Holding onto the lag is different from not uncocking your wrists early. It's more like delaying the action. Absolutely do not conciously uncock your wrists through the hitting area. It will happen through centripetal force.

Couple it with the right grip for that swing and you'll be knocking it loooooooooooong and straight with very little effort.

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hi
when you look at tiger and where the back of his hand is you really need to see where the face of the club is too. you often see as oldwease said, tiger with his wrist cupped a little but if you also look at the club face you will see its a little closed and the face is still set up with the back of the left hand so when he comes to impact the wrist is now flat or even a little bowed and the face of the club has come back to square at impact.
Tim
if you watch Nancy Lopez you will see she lifts her hands and cocks them down as if putting the club onto its toe, just before she starts her swing, and there a lot of pros that do it the other way, lower there hands and cock there wrists as if the club comes up onto its heel.
i know Leadbetter has a drill where you cock your wrists so the club lifts like you said and you swing away and back like that and then swing back through the ball and it helps the early cocking of the wrists.
bill

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I just read a new instruction book titled, “The Full Golf Swing: Sequence of Power”. I found it on Amazon. It was pretty inexpensive, $16.00.

There are two chapters in the book that address your concerns and in very interesting ways.

One chapter is titled, “Variable Connection”. The author makes the case that connection between the inside upper portion of the left arm and inside part of the chest is essential at the top of the backswing, but that players vary as to the level of connection during the first half of the backswing. Players with a shallow swing plane would achieve full connection throughout the entire backswing, whereas players with more upright swings achieve connection later in the swing.

The chapter, “In-line Cocking of the Club”, identifies the angle established by the left arm and club shaft (vantage point is down-the-line) and shows how this angle must be properly managed during the backswing, for all swing styles, if you’re going to achieve your optimal top-of-swing position and transition. I have often heard instructors identify this angle as a negative aspect of the swing. Advocates of the Natural Golf Swing try to make this case. After reading this book I strongly disagree.

Hope that helps

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