Greg Norman's, "The Secret"

Hello:

I believe the "secret" to the right hand action in the golf swing is found in the brilliant description by Greg in the RHD clip. It is not so much the cocking action described, however. I think people get too fixated on the up and down motion and neglect the theory of the torsion produced by the proper hip and shoulder motions in the swing in which the key component is sequencing. Feet, legs, hips, shoulders, arms, wrists and finally clubhead. As Greg iterates, the shoulders are rotating 180 degrees from backswing into impact not 90. If you are just thinking 90 degrees from top of back swing to impact with the shoulders and basically bringing them back in line with the hips at impact then you may as well swat, because this is the only motion that will provide any power or direction (not recommended)

By completing the correct downswing motion with the proper tension maintained between the hips and shoulders, you can allow the right arm and wrist to remain bent until the explosion through impact. If you simply focus on the up and down cocking motion at the expense of the other keys, you will merely slap at the ball weakly but with the correct wrist action. This is not sufficient, so make sure you apply the impact drill, build a solid transition and the maintain the differential (tension) between the hips and shoulders in the downswing until the full release. This makes the the right hand drill a revelation.

Pure Poetry! Prefect explaination!

I agree with how the downswing should happen, and in the order described. However, the proper downswing action is allowed to happen because of a proper back swing, one that loads and puts things into place. Things happen in reverse order in the golf swing. we start back with the hands and the feet are the last thing to move. We start down with the lower boday and the hands are the last thing to move. So, we must first cup the right hand and then let it cock so that the reverse on the downswing will be uncock and then un cup. If we cock before we cup, then we will uncock on the down swing before we un cup.

WHile I know there are many types of back swings on tour, they also have many similarities, most tend to have a flat left wrist at the top, they have maintained spine angle, and have built up tension. People who dont do that have to make compensations, and some tour players do.

Great thread! Some of you who have seen my swing know that I've always been struggling with this issue. Hyper I can definitely identify with what you were going through. Anyway for me, it was a matter of over-doing the wrist COCK. And worst of all, I interpret the cock to happen mainly with the right wrist rather than the left wrist. As a result, too much of a right wrist cock resulted in a gross left wrist cup

Anyway, glad to say, I think I have finally sorted that out, and I'm now able to have a decent flat left wrist at the top. Basic swing thought is to remember to cup the right wrist and keep it cupped, and from there complete the backswing with the shoulders (and arms) and less hands/wrists.

good job simon, understanding the difference between right wrist cock and cup is HHHHHHHHUUUUUUUGGGGGGGEEEEEEEE and is a big revelation for you. Now remember in order to get this right wrist cup you REALLY need to focus on a goot set up ESPECIALLY in relation to the angle between the arm and club shaft. CONGRATS simon!!!!

Erm I think I need to qualify, it wasn't understand the difference between cup and cock that was the problem (that was pretty easy to differentiate), but it was the execution (and muscle memory) that was the problem. :P

But you are very right shoot, believe it or not, last night at the range I had exactly the same 'revelation' as you just pointed out - whether I manage to do a good backswing with the cup depended largely on how I set up each shot!

A couple of questions in mind now...

1) Understanding the concept, it's just a matter of practice. Does one really need to buy a gadget to enforce the right wrist cup, or is it mainly to help one develop how it's supposed teo feel?

2) At some point in time (where exactly?) you'll have to release and uncup the right wrist. How does the gadget allow you to do so at this point while preventing you from doing so on the backswing/downswing? I'm curious as I've never seen it in action.

I bought one and honestly never liked it. But once I set up right I no longer felt the need to use any type of training aid for this. I think you have been on this forum enough to notice that I STRESS set up, because that is where it is at and if it is wrong you will already need to make compesations, and the swing has not even started.. The uncup will happen after impact because centrifigul force will straighten both arms after impact and with the secret on you cannot do this.

Scary. So I'm guessing with this gadget you are advised not to do full speed swings? I wonder if there's a risk that it might ingrain bad habits post-impact... Personally I agree that the spatula strapped onto the right hand is a much more effective and cheaper alternative

Shooting

Can you show me a picture of a player setup with this cup in their wrist? Im curious to see what it looks like and what the 'right amount' should be. I dont conciously do this at address and would like to maybe experiment with it. I assume such a position puts your hands well ahead of the ball at address (even with the longer clubs)

I get my right wrist to cup by having a very soft right arm/wrist at address and then leading the backswing with my left shoulder, left arm turning the triangle. This left side push automatically cups the right wrist half way back and gives me the flat left wrist at the top. Then a chest/sternum turn hard through the ball and it releases

Is there any big advantage to cupping it at address? Or is the key just making sure it cups at some point in your backswing

You can do full swings. You can keep the gadget on throughout the swing. Your cupped position can be maintained throughout the swing. The gadgets and RDH forces you in an optimum position.

But, can you sneek it out of this optimum position a little? Sure.
Does this still make a good shot? Sure.
Is this acceptable? May not be. How much sneeking did you do? Too much and you hook. Not enough turn in the hips and shoulders? Slice.
Most pro's right hand's impact positions are not at the extreem that the gadgets force you in, but they are definatly on the side of the gadget's and RHD's ideal position (still in a cupped angle). This is where I see most amature's problems stem...having this angle broken at impact. Setup (like shoot says, is also a hugh key. The gadget starts to fight you before you even hit a ball by forcing a new feeling setup. I spend 1/2 of an initial lesson on this simple idea of a proper setup.

So, the idea with the drill is to let you expierence this porition and get perfectly struck shots. Getting past that you can do whatever you want. However, choosing to ignoring this optimum position and attempting to master the right wrist slap/swat action is, in my optinion, just pisin' in the wind. Your only going to be as good as your timming that day. Take the timming factor out, and scores will drop.

__________________
I'm a golfaholic, no question about that. Counseling wouldn't help me. They'd have to put me in prison, and then I'd talk the warden into building a hole or two and teach him how to play. ~Lee Trevino

I am running out the door, but quickly
You do not need to be cupped at address, the right wrist can be in between cupped and un cupped the key for the right hand at address is making sure there is no cock in it
If your left wrist EVEN STARTS to cock before the right wrist cups you are cupping too late, Right wrist cups BEFORE left wrist cocks.
some people forward press right before their swing and this will cup the right wrist a little

Hi Greg,

When you say optimum position, you are referring to impact position right? I'm curious how you can maintain the cupped wrist throughout the swing, more specifically after impact and to the follow through. I'm a faithfully follower of the RHD but my wrist will uncup shortly after impact.

I've set my videocam to sports mode, but I still couldn't film the impact instant. (Attached pic shows two consecutive frames). Is that normal?

Anyway this was before I fixed the flat left wrist at the top, so I'm really curious to see if fixing that would have any inherent effect on my impact position.

Guess I could do with more cup of the wrist (looking at the pic). Will try to work on that before deciding that I really need to get a gadget to do it :P

Any other comments appreciated Thanks!

Attached Images

Simon impact.jpg (63.8 KB, 41 views)

If you cup your wrist more you will need to turn your hips more.
Right now your hips are back at setup position, so if you did keep a cup in your right hand lord knows where the ball would go
Try to combine the RHD with the impact drill.

I agree with Gree

Look at say Stuart Appleby at impact and just beyond

http://content-golf.live.advance.net...lebypanel2.jpg

If only !

But you can see at impact how he has the same lag in his right wrist but his hips and chest are well through the ball. Thats the trick, keep turning your body hard left so at impact you are more open to the target. Note also how his left arm is gun barrel straight, you have just a little chicken wing maybe becuase you are pushing on the club rather than letting your turning body pull it through (although someone more erudite may pull me up on this)

keep going tho Simon, youre well on the way !