Wrist Hinging
At the top of your back swing your wrists need to be hinged
– that’s a given, but the question is when do you hinge them? Do
you hinge them right away or do you wait until you have taken the
club back a certain distance from the ball? The answer can be yes
to both. So how do you decide which is best for you. I know as an
instructor my job is to find out wh
ich is best for each of my students.
Wrist Hinging
At the top of your back swing your wrists need to be hinged – that’s a given, but the question is when do you hinge them? Do you hinge them right away or do you wait until you have taken the club back a certain distance from the ball? The answer can be yes to both. So how do you decide which is best for you. I know as an instructor my job is to find out which is best for each of my students.
Here is a test: take a 5-iron, stand at address and swing the club back so that it is at waist level and points straight back along your target line and hold it for a count of 20. Next, take address again and swing the club back to the same position but have the club point straight up and count to 20 again. Which was easier – when the club was extended straight back along your target line and it is the heaviest, or when it was at the same position but pointed up and it is the lightest?
Weaker golfers who have a late hinge tend to have the club go past parallel at the top – sometimes pointed at the ground. The stronger golfers with an early hinge tend to lift the club back. If you go back lifting, you come down chopping.
This is how my students and I decide. The ones with the weaker forearms and wrists I teach an early wrist hinge and the stronger ones a later hinge. But do keep in mind: this is not an absolute but a way you can experiment with what works best for you. Remember it doesn’t matter how you get the club in the right position at the top, just that you do.
Just a reminder – any police officer, firefighter or active military personnel can play Eagle Ridge GC Monday through Thursday for half price, so please come see us. Eagle Ridge’s Kids Course is open every Sunday at 2 p.m. for kids 12 and under. Cost is $5 for all the holes you want to play. We provide clubs, balls and tees. Have any golf related questions? From rules to club fitting you can call me at 408-846-4531 or e-mail me at
sk*****@ea**********.com
. If you would like to read some of my past tips, you can do so at www.pinnaclenews.com. And don’t forget, if you’re not having fun playing golf call your local PGA or LPGA instructor, we will help. Golf is more fun when you’re improving. Don’t be afraid to be good.
