Jump to content
IGNORED

Cupped Wrist at Address


Recommended Posts

I cup my left wrist at address. At a lesson that I had the instructor told me to set up with it straighter. I tried to do this for a couple months. I found that I didn't make near as good of contact. Has anyone ever heard of doing this with their grip?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Hard to say. I am assuming you are right handed. It is my belief that the left wrist should not be cupped at the top of the swing. I am right handed, and I try to maintain a some what straight left wrist at the top of my swing. That is because I want my club face in a correct position (for me) at the top. If I have it in the correct position at the top, it should still be in the correct position at impact with the ball.

Now if I cupped my left wrist at address, I would have to compensate some where on the up swing to the top ffor a straighter left wrist. If I did not compensate on the way up, I would have to compensate on the down swing since I am pretty sure the force of the down swing would straighten my wrist out, which would change the face angle  of the club from where it was at address. Compensations in the golf swing are just extra things that need to be done. I don't like extra things in my golf swing.

My guess is since you start out with a cupped left wrist at address, you are adding an extra move to your swing to get into a good impact position. 10 handicappers have a decent impact position.

In My Bag:
A whole bunch of Tour Edge golf stuff...... :beer:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

From what I've read and seen...

You can have a little cupping if you have a strong grip.

Flat wrist with neutral grip.

A little bowed wrist with a weak grip.

I try to bow my wrists at the top because I don't have great wrist flexibility.  I have a strong grip and can barely get a flat left wrist at the top while trying to bow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


First off I'm a huge Hawks fan HawkNBalls. Love the picture I need some golf balls like that pronto.

I don't bow my left wrist at the top of my swing. I do have a bit more a strong grip. The bow at address is more to reduce shaft lean. I get the leading edge to dig to much if I don't reduce shaft lean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


If you wear a wrist watch on your left wrist, try this. Slip a credit card, or the like under your watch so one end touches the top of your hand. Make a slowish swing, if the card presses into your hand, you know it's cupped, if you feel no pressure from the card, your wrist is straight, or slightly bowed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

The problem I have isn't that my wrist is cupped at the top of my swing. It's that I cup it at address. I feel like I strike the ball better when it is cupped. Even tiger cups his wrist so I don't see the problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


The problem I have isn't that my wrist is cupped at the top of my swing. It's that I cup it at address. I feel like I strike the ball better when it is cupped. Even tiger cups his wrist so I don't see the problem.

So, I misunderstood you. Impact is where it counts. I use to have a strong grip, but my wrist was flat, I had to weaken my grip to stop from hitting bad hooks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

If it works, go for it. Sounds to me like an exaggerated forward press. It's all about the strike zone. Ask Jim Furyk.

Driver.......Ping K15 9.5* stiff 3 wood.....Ping K15 16* stiff 5 wood.....Ping K15 19* stiff 4 Hybrid...Cleveland Gliderail 23* stiff 5 - PW......Pinhawk SL GW...........Tommy Armour 52* SW...........Tommy Armour 56* LW...........Tommy Armour 60* FW...........Diamond Tour 68* Putter.......Golfsmith Dyna Mite Ball..........Volvik Vista iV Green Bag..........Bennington Quiet Organizer Shoes.... ..Crocs

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

I cup my left wrist at address. At a lesson that I had the instructor told me to set up with it straighter. I tried to do this for a couple months. I found that I didn't make near as good of contact. Has anyone ever heard of doing this with their grip?

You should have some cup in the wrist. You might have had too much. IMO if you grip it properly, the wrist flexion takes care of itself (for the most part).

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I just finished reading a book by Hank Haney and he says at address the left wrist should be slightly cupped. At the top of the backswing it should be flat.

That's the way I always do it and it works for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Now that hammer makes a ton of sense. I have been fighting a pull lately. I think cupping my wrist at address helps me on my downswing. The leading edge doesn't dig into the ground as much and I get a better strike on the ball. I have found that I need to strengthen my grip the longer the club. I think that may be a different thread though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I cup my left wrist at address. At a lesson that I had the instructor told me to set up with it straighter. I tried to do this for a couple months. I found that I didn't make near as good of contact. Has anyone ever heard of doing this with their grip?

You should have some cup in the wrist. You might have had too much. IMO if you grip it properly, the wrist flexion takes care of itself (for the most part).

The pics that you posted on this were exactly what I have been trying to do. I.E. the pic on the left.  I did have more of a forward press with the weaker grip and flatish wrist. Like the pic on the right. I wouldn't hit the ball as crisply as I would have liked. Sometimes even hitting the dreaded S word. I would lose a lot of distance as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Yeah, nothing wrong with cupping at address in my view. What to do with your hands is going to depend on the rest of your swing, but by all means do whatever gives you the best contact. You know who else cupped quite a bit at address? This guy:

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 8 years later...

Anyone here still using strong grip/cupped at address? Went to the range a few days ago and was slicing every single ball with my neautral grip. I implemented the strong grip where I can almost see 4 knuckles on my left hand on top of the grip (right handed golfer) and immediatley saw a difference. Either draw or straight with a miss being an over draw. Want to contiue working on this but want to make sure I am on the right path so looking to chat with other folks that experienced the same. Thx

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • iacas changed the title to Cupped Wrist at Address
  • Administrator
1 hour ago, Jaygolf said:

Anyone here still using strong grip/cupped at address? Went to the range a few days ago and was slicing every single ball with my neautral grip. I implemented the strong grip where I can almost see 4 knuckles on my left hand on top of the grip (right handed golfer) and immediatley saw a difference. Either draw or straight with a miss being an over draw. Want to contiue working on this but want to make sure I am on the right path so looking to chat with other folks that experienced the same. Thx

Yes, but that's probably more strong than you want.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

Yes, but that's probably more strong than you want.

I figured but I am going to mess around with it for the next few weeks. I recently watched a bunch of videos from Mike Malaska and he is a big proponent with the strong grip/4 knuckles showing. Just always continuing to learn how the wrist and hands work in the swing

Link to comment
Share on other sites


2 hours ago, Jaygolf said:

I figured but I am going to mess around with it for the next few weeks. I recently watched a bunch of videos from Mike Malaska and he is a big proponent with the strong grip/4 knuckles showing. Just always continuing to learn how the wrist and hands work in the swing

Tread lightly. 🙂

:ping: G25 Driver Stiff :ping: G20 3W, 5W :ping: S55 4-W (aerotech steel fiber 110g shafts) :ping: Tour Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* :nike: Method Putter Floating clubs: :edel: 54* trapper wedge

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Day 76 - Pretty sore today, so I opted for putting over my Stack session. Primary focus was on starting line, as my putting has been pretty poor this year. 
    • Been a bit of delay in updates but I needed to come back east as my mom's health has taken a serious turn for the worse. In a 3 day span we learned she had a tumor to she has stage 4 cancer and stopped eating and drinking for the most part. She has had a rough 3 months but certainly didn't think we'd be at the point of setting up hospice for her. My mom was never into any sports really other than following the Red Sox because my dad was a big fan. She always cared about what we were involved in including asking about how golf went.  I have kept up with my 5 minutes of daily practice and will go to the gym here in NH tomorrow morning. Despite the somber nature of this trip my family has commented more than a few times about my weight loss so it's important to me to keep it up. I know my mom always wanted us happy in whatever we did so I'll continue with my fitness journey keeping that in mind. 
    • Day 109- Putting drills on a putting green for 20 minutes. 
    • Day 252: did a stack session. Did some slow rehearsal swings during breaks. 
    • Day 82: 3/18/24 Tried a Stack session but could not certify my warmup. Finished with indoor chips and putting. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...