How Much Wrist Hinge in Golf Swing You Need

Since the wrist’s motion plays a massive role in golf, how much wrist hinge in a golf swing do you exactly need? Without proper knowledge of this element, you will more likely struggle with your swing.

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But don’t worry because, in this article, we will uncover the answer on how much wrist hinge in a golf swing.

Knowing the precise motion on how much wrist in golf swing you need is vital in delivering long and accurate shots.

On the other hand, improper wrist action while performing your swing often leads to an inaccurate shot. Why is this so?

Note that how much wrist action in golf swing you determine if your clubface will remain square on your swing path.

The proper motion would enable you to better control your swing angle, resulting in a controlled and precise shot.

However, even with how vital how much wrist in a golf swing is, many golfers tend to overlook this in their practice.

Hence, let’s dive deeper into the essentials when it comes to how much wrist action in golf swing you need.

Your wrists must automatically start to hinge when your club and hands reach your waist during your swing.

Otherwise, you’ll go off your swing plane and fail to produce power for your swing.
You must be able to naturally produce how much wrist action in golf swing you need.

It will only happen if you’re able to relax your arms and shoulders, execute a proper grip, and coordinate your body’s movement.
If your toes’ direction is straight up when you place your clubhead at waist height, you’re correctly executing how much wrist in golf swing.
Take note of the two steps that will determine your wrist hinge: the backswing set and the impact release.
However, note that excessiveness of how much wrist in a golf swing can also lead to lost power.

It is because you will be unhinging the wrists at the backswing’s peak instead of before the downswing.

3 Wrist Hinge Positions

Typically, the proper address position would require your wrist to remain flat at the start of your swing.

Then, as you execute your swing, the back of your wrist would begin to cock slightly while the front remains flat.

Only when your hands reach your waist would the front of your wrist begin to cock towards the target’s side.

Upon reaching your backswing peak, you would need to take note of the three wrist hinge positions.

Here are the three types of positions that would identify how much wrist hinge in golf swing you need:

Cupping Position

From its name, the cupping position is when your wrist forms a “cup” shape with your forearm and hand’s back.

The groove of your wrist would serve as the rear of the “cup”. This wrist hinge position requires coordination between your eyes and hands to get the distance you need.

Bowed Position

On the other hand, the bowed wrist position occurs when the palm creases towards your forearm to create a bow.

While you may find some challenges in executing this position, it’s an effective way to add distance to your shot.

Side-to-Side Position

Finally, the side-to-side wrist hinge position involves a flat back wrist and side-to-side movement from your hands.

It is the most popularly known position of how much wrist hinge in a golf swing.

Common Mistakes: Wrist Hinge in a Golf Swing

Again, how much wrist hinge in a golf swing is an often-overlooked element by many golfers.

Hence, it’s critical to be able to identify what are the most common mistakes when it comes to this matter.

Setting Too Early

Setting your wrist too early in your swing would result in bending your wrist too soon, right at the start of your swing.

What this means is that you can go excessively far at the peak of your swing, leading to timing and balance impacts. In the worst-case scenario, your shout can go off the line.

Hence, it’s helpful to remember that you can take your time to position your wrist at the swing’s peak.

Too Much Wrist Hinge

Putting too much hinge on your wrist during your swing can result in dragging your club behind your body too soon.

In the end, you will go off your intended swing plane right at the start of your swing.

Furthermore, this mistake’s outcome can be shut or closed clubface, which you would struggle to correct.

Then, by the time you reach the downswing, you will notice a build-up of tension in your wrist.

Once you release this tension, you’ll find that you’re more consistent with the timing and power you generate.

Releasing Too Early

The common mistake of many beginners is straightening out and releasing their wrists too soon after the downswing.

However, note that you must preserve the angle of your wrist to maximize your clubhead’s speed.

The outcome of releasing your wrist too early is lagging swing speed and shorter distance.

Releasing Too Late

To create adequate speed for your clubhead, it’s crucial to ensure a lag in your hands during the swing. Releasing too late causes just as much loss as releasing your wrist too early.

Failing to release your wrist at the right time can either create an unwanted side spin or a slice that goes off your target.

When releasing your wrist, ensure that you straighten out your wrist at impact as not to go off the line.

The Wrist Release

Upon completing your backswing, it’s also crucial to note your wrist’s angle upon the release at impact.

To execute a solid swing, you must be able to maintain this angle as long as you can.

This position would determine the speed of your clubhead, which would consequently lead to more distance.

Here are some tips on the wrist release on how much wrist hinge in a golf swing:

At the peak of your swing, you must drop your hands direct at the ball’s placement.
Then, make sure to straighten the angle of your wrists when it reaches your waist.
Upon impact, you have to continue with the wrist release.
At the finish position, that’s when your back wrist would bow, and the front would cup until it ends up on the shoulder.

How Do the Wrists Work in the Golf Swing

The final question that we will answer in this article is, how do the wrists work in the golf swing?

If you’re struggling with your intended swing plane or your swing doesn’t feel right, the often cause is an improper wrist hinge.

Understanding the mechanisms behind the wrist hinging and learning how to execute is highly beneficial to your performance.

The best way to understand how do the wrists work in the golf swing is that you must set it accordingly upon the completion of your backswing.

Hence, if you’re halfway your backswing, your wrists must also be halfway hinging.

This is when your non-dominating arm’s position would be at chest-level and parallel to the ground. Consequently, if you have completed your backswing, your wrist must also be hinged all the way.

You also have to take note that how do the wrists work in the golf swing must be facing upwards.

Learning how do the wrists work in the golf swing is an excellent guide that you must keep in mind. It will help you remember the proper steps when performing your backswing from the start to the peak.

Tips for the Proper Wrist Hinge

Here are the final notes that you must keep in mind on how do the wrists work in the golf swing:

Make sure that there is no tension in your wrists, hands, arms, and shoulders.
Try to practice the weight transition from your front to back leg.
Remember to rotate your body once your shoulders reach a 45-degree angle.
Note that your wrist must hinge upward while relaxing your wrists.
Your club must be facing parallel towards the ground at the finish position of takeaway.
Maintaining a slight wrist tension would allow you to entirely hinge by the time you reach the downswing.