Lead wrist at impact

[Yeri]

So I've been working hard on my swing for a while now (#HiMvmac!) and seen fantastic improvement, but have been struggling with the dreaded slice. No matter what I seem to do it's there waiting for me... If it's not the slice then it's a straight push.

Figured out in my last round that if I really flatten my backswing I can hit it straight, but it's still a push (to the order of 10-15 yards right @ 110 yards distance -- 7I shot). Went back to the basics, all the drills I've been working on and noticed that even on the basic weight-forward drill I still hit it right or slice.

Now at that point I know that my weight is forward, club handle is forward, everything -- still goes right. So I started wondering and thinking (which usually gets me in trouble....) and I wondered if I'm just aiming my lead wrist to the right naturally. My left thumb points to about 1:45 - 2:00 when standing in a relaxed position.

So on a whim I tried hitting some balls just thinking about turning that wrist a little more toward the target (supination of the wrist, NOT that active rollover release thing) and all of a sudden I'm hitting it great. The rest of my swing falls apart when I do that, but hey that's what practice is for.

So the question I've got is am I on the right path, or is this something that's normally fixed via better swing dynamics? I would normally think that the left wrist should kinda be fixed automatically by the mechanics of the swing, but seeing how I can screw up the weight-forward drill has me wondering.

[Tiger90]

I think for a 36 handicap that you are thinking about way to many things during your swing. You should probably just think about, grip, posture, some tempo and try to hit down on the ball.  Just try to make solid contact and you will start hitting the ball straighter.

But if you are trying to get rid of a slice, and want just one simple swing thought, i would suggest trying to close your clubface at impact.  If you do that, you will not hit the ball right.

Having a flatter backswing can definetly help block out the right side if you dont come over the top on the way down, and close your clubface to your swing plane (a draw).

A lot of people slice the ball because they start off inside, and try to compensate, end up coming over the top on the way down and slicing the ball.  So if you are gonna have a flat backswing, make sure to stay flat and dont come over the top. And if you stay flat, but have a square clubface to your swing plane (out to the right), you will just push the ball right....So if you close your clubface to the swing plane (more towards the target), you will draw the ball.

But that is a lot of stuff to think about, and unless your striking the ball solidly while hitting a straight shot, i would not try to learn how to hit a draw....

[rustyredcab]

Yeri,

You say, "Now at that point I know that my weight is forward, club handle is forward..." How do you know? Is it what you feel or what you have seen on video?

Be careful about feeling things that may not be happening.

A slice (curving the ball to the right) is often a very different swing from a straight push (ball flies straight but right). Both indicate path issues but not the same same issue.

You may be able to really help yourself if you simply watch your swing on video. Start fixing one thing at a time. It may be your take away. It may the top of your backswing. It may be that first move down.

If you were my buddy, I'd set the goal of having every swing be close to the same (even if that is a straight push) and then we'd work on fixing it.

[Yeri]

Yea I often record my practice sessions, that's why I said I know I was forward -- I was specifically referring to the weight-forward drill there, and had a mirror to verify things.

This is mostly a speculation-type question, as I am normally focused on the drills & stuff that my instructor tells me to do. I am just one of those people that have an analytic mindset, I am always trying to learn new things. That and I love troubleshooting things, so I usually get ahead of myself in various endeavors...

So with my regular practice & playing sessions, I'm not worried about getting my wrist turned as my original question, I'm focused on making a smooth clean swing with good contact, and hopefully get the ball somewhere near the fairway.

What I'm just trying to get an understanding of is the role of that lead wrist at impact, to better understand the mechanics of the swing & such. The more I know, the easier it is me to figure out what I'm doing wrong when it all goes south during a game.

[tshapiro]

Try this, using lead by your left hand and the right foot as a resistance point on the back swing... try and hit an enrtire bucket of balls as hard as you can. When doing this, you won't be able to make all the contrived moves you think you should be making. Your swing will be much more natural and dynamically closer to where you need to be mentally.

[rw21217]

i seem to struggling with the same problem as you, especially with the driver.  When I hit a slice, in the face on video my impact position looks spot on.  Hands forward, shaft lean, good turn, etc..

the problem is I'm looking at the back of my left hand.  I can see a big difference between myself and almost all the pro videos I use as comparison.  I end up with big pushes with my irons and a HUGE slice that starts right and keeps on going.  Pretty impressive.  I try 2 thoughts to help with this.  One, I try to point the back of my hand at the target at impact.  Sometimes I think of pointing my left hand knuckles at the ground at impact.  Both seem to work for me.  Try them out, maybe they'll help you.

[deason]

This a good drill i've found has helped to make things better for me with hitting inside.

PS I wish my coach was as good looking

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by deason

This a good drill i've found has helped to make things better for me with hitting inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR8k1WO7BnM

PS I wish my coach was as good looking

You don't want "the lower body to remain quiet throughout the swing," like she says to practice with that feet together drill. A narrow stance makes it harder to push the hips forward.

Putting your feet closer together and just practicing simple chips is a good way to train your hands and wrists for impact though.

Originally Posted by Tiger90

I think for a 36 handicap that you are thinking about way to many things during your swing. You should probably just think about, grip, posture, some tempo and try to hit down on the ball.  Just try to make solid contact and you will start hitting the ball straighter.

But if you are trying to get rid of a slice, and want just one simple swing thought, i would suggest trying to close your clubface at impact.  If you do that, you will not hit the ball right.

Having a flatter backswing can definetly help block out the right side if you dont come over the top on the way down, and close your clubface to your swing plane (a draw).

A lot of people slice the ball because they start off inside, and try to compensate, end up coming over the top on the way down and slicing the ball.  So if you are gonna have a flat backswing, make sure to stay flat and dont come over the top. And if you stay flat, but have a square clubface to your swing plane (out to the right), you will just push the ball right....So if you close your clubface to the swing plane (more towards the target), you will draw the ball.

But that is a lot of stuff to think about, and unless your striking the ball solidly while hitting a straight shot, i would not try to learn how to hit a draw....

Hank, is that you?

I realize you've probably learned and believed this stuff for years now, but you should consider yourself lucky you've gotten as low as you've gotten in spite of this stuff. Keep learning because you could be a + something index with better information and instruction.

Originally Posted by tshapiro

Try this, using lead by your left hand and the right foot as a resistance point on the back swing... try and hit an enrtire bucket of balls as hard as you can. When doing this, you won't be able to make all the contrived moves you think you should be making. Your swing will be much more natural and dynamically closer to where you need to be mentally.

Hmmm, hit a whole bucket of balls as hard as you can.... right. No one's ever tried that one before The vast majority of golfers need to feel nothing close to what feels "natural," because what feels natural them is a terrible way to swing the club.

Just because someone is talking in depth about what they are working on, doesn't mean they think about all this stuff when they're playing golf.

Originally Posted by Yeri

So on a whim I tried hitting some balls just thinking about turning that wrist a little more toward the target (supination of the wrist, NOT that active rollover release thing) and all of a sudden I'm hitting it great. The rest of my swing falls apart when I do that, but hey that's what practice is for.

So the question I've got is am I on the right path, or is this something that's normally fixed via better swing dynamics? I would normally think that the left wrist should kinda be fixed automatically by the mechanics of the swing, but seeing how I can screw up the weight-forward drill has me wondering.

You mean "palmar flexing" not "supinating." Just trying to get the language right here. I'm assuming you mean "knuckles down" and the wrist bowing, right?

If so, then yes, keep doing that, and if you start hitting hooks, contact Mike again for the solution. Keep working with him.