Good Wrist Action vs. Bad Wrist Action

Sat, 08/20/2011 - 16:40 -- Don Trahan

We received a really good comment and question from a subscriber named Simply Golf the other day, the answer to which should help a number of you get a clear picture of what is considered proper wrist action when using the Peak Performance Golf Swing. Simply Golf writes that he notices his wrist flexes a bit as his hands go up the tree. He asks if this "passive hinge motion" is within the parameters of the PPGS swing.

Well, the answer is...it depends on how you define "passive hinge motion". If Simply Golf is noticing a small bit of flexion in his wrist that's OK, but if it goes as far as creating a cupped hand or a cocked wrist, then that is going too far.

Remember my Secret #1: "Golf is a game of angles, the fewer the better!". So, if you want to make a proper Surge Swing, then no wrist action is good wrist action. You must maintain a flat wrist during the backswing and the forward upswing but as you'll notice which wrist that is depends on what point in the swing you are looking at. In a right-hander's backswing and first part of the FUS that will be the left, or forward-facing, hand. After impact (where both wrists should be flat) it's the right wrist that must stay flat all the way to the T-Finish.

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

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Comments

dickc@mchsi.com's picture

Submitted by dickc@mchsi.com on

Thanks for the video on wrist action. I was having trouble making good contact until I started getting my left wrist in a straight & uncocked positon at address. Wrist cocking, hinging, etc. affects positioning the ball & alignment.
I have found that if I feel the middle two fingers on my right hand working on the backswing & the middle two fingers on my left working on the downswing, I make better contact. For the first time in years, I'm feeling the club & increasing my control of the club. Would you respond to this action?

joebernard05@yahoo.com's picture

Submitted by joebernard05@ya... on

As I see it there are two ways your wrist can hinge. The first is the way you would cock it back if you were going to throw a baseball (or skip a stone off a pond, per Don's analogy). I believe this is both good and necessary in the PPGS swing. I have found cocking my hand back between a third and a half of its range of motion works best for me. I do it as I bring the club back into the catcher's mitt. The second way to hinge your wrist is the motion you would make when casting a fishing rod. I believe this is both bad and unnecessary when making a PPGS swing. It puts the club in the wrong position at the top of the backswing and there is almost no way to recover during the downswing.

Michael 50's picture

Submitted by Michael 50 on

I avoid slicing by having the right wrist straight at the top of the back swing - ready for release and down swing... it tends too easily to lay back which causes the movement that results in the slice...

I love the simplicity of the Surge Swing... I was 64 years old, irregular golfer, before learning of, and using, the Bump... wow does the ball fly.. and isn't it good to know what you did wrong when a shot did not work - due to the simplicity of the Surge Swing.. cheers from Sydney Aust..

johnwsokolowski@gmail.com's picture

Submitted by johnwsokolowski... on

Could you comment on Dustin Johnson’s left wrist position at the top of his backswing please. Why does he bend his wrist that way?

johnwsokolowski@gmail.com's picture

Submitted by johnwsokolowski... on

Could you comment on Dustin Johnson’s left wrist position at the top of his backswing please. Why does he bend his wrist that way?