LEAD LEFT WRIST
 

I'm curious to know if others have difficulty with the lead left wrist wanting to bend, or is it just because I did it for so many years? I have to keep LOOKING to check it, because if I don't . . . well, there it goes. I KNOW it must NOT bend, but it sure seems more natural to me. Anyone have any suggestions for eliminating it altogether, or do I just need to establish a new habit, which is what I suspect?

Edit: I am referring to the BACKSTROKE. Sorry I forgot to add this before Bagger's post.

Thanx in advance . . .

Dave

The Bell Curve
 

DES,

My guestimate is that over 95% of all golfers do not maintain a flat left wrist through impact. How's that for a common affliction?
Of the remaining 5%, they are low handicappers, amateurs, and professionals. Of course there are more essentials (imperatives) than a flat left wrist; specifically a straight plane line and lag. Sounds simple but the devil is in the details. Super important that the left wrist stays flat through impact with any and every shot.

In my personal experience, it has been a real battle training that left wrist from breaking down, but over time it is PROVING to be a VERY good friend.

The Golfing Machine and it's messengers; this forum, AI's, and the associated information that Lynn is developing are all the tools you need.
Just sponge it up and apply the basics little by little, and watch your game go to a whole new level.

Bagger

Re: LEAD LEFT WRIST
 

Dave,
If you would- what is your golf handicap or average score, and how long have you been playing the game. And how are you looking to check your left wrist- during the full motion or just practice swings, or some other way? What do you do to keep it straight or what do you notice that bends it? Are we talking about bending during release and impact or some other place in the movement?
Thanks,
Mike O.

MISTATED QUESTION
 

Bagger -

Thanx for your reply. I just realized I misstated the question! I was referring to the BACKSTROKE. My lead left wrist wants to bend as well as cock.

Dave

The Flat Left Wrist
 

I have a few thoughts on this.

First, I believe that there are only two ways to learn how to maintain a flat left wrist. The first way is that you know you need it because you've stumbled upon The Golfing Machine. The second way is that you've accidentally figured it out. The latter column is where the majority of golfers with flat left wrists fall.

Now, I was fortunate enough to have found the correct information almost from the outset of taking up this game. I had only a few years, at most, to develop bad habits. I was lucky enough to learn from those who really knew their stuff way back in fall 2000 when I began with the book.

That said, I've developed an idea regarding the whole 'flat left wrist' concept. After going to St. Augustine and learning from Lynn and Chuck, it really sunk in. It was already firmly in my head before, but after the workshop even more so. Over this past summer, I can probably count on both hands the number of times I made a stroke with a bent left wrist. And that isn't that large of an exaggeration either.

Once you 'get it in your coconut' that you will not hit good shots without having a flat left wrist, things really take off. Read that a few times until it really sinks in. I will not consistently hit good shots without having a flat left wrist. Now go out and practice it, starting with short wedge shots and progressing your way up to the longer clubs.

Once you have it dead set in your mind...your Computer won't let you do otherwise! When you know that you need a flat left wrist, your mind just won't let it bend! That's the way I see it, and my results back it up. When your mind is entirely wrapped around a concept, doing otherwise is 'not allowed' and your Computer knows that. Give it a try.

Shifting gears...
 

DES,

Assuming you are a swinger, then you may very well have bend in your left wrist in your takeaway as you drag the club back. It's a part of 10-19-C drag loading. Certainly not a bad thing and many great players past and present do that. If it is causing problems, I would suggest making sure extensor action is also present in your swing. This helps keep the club on plane and also helps set the wrists (wedges) in the backswing among other things.

Bagger

NOT A SWINGER
 

Sorry, not a swinger.

Start your stroke from the impact fix position.....with hitting or swinging until you get the feel of a flat left wrist and a bent right wrist....then you should be able to both start your swing or hit from standard address or impact fix.

DG

TOP POSITION
 

I guess I didn't present this question too well - I apologize. I do start from the Fix position.

The question has to do with the BACKSTROKE as I'm approaching the TOP. In that process my LEFT LEAD WRIST wants to bend. It seems the "natural" thing. I have to constanctly monitor it, because if not, it starts doing it again. Do others have that issue or is it just because I've done it incorrectly for so many years. "Flat" seems unnatural, although I know it is correct.

In answer to a previous question, I've played 45 years and am a 9HC and just recently introduced to TGM.

Dave

Des,

All that matters is that the Left Wrist is Flat or Arched from Impact to Separation.

Bend at the top
 

DES,

Alrighty then!!! We are getting somewhere!
The internet is certainly not the best method of communication and it's sometimes difficult to write with clarity. Misunderstandings abound so we have to be careful. I am VERY thankful that Yoda is a gifted communicator. There are others here with incredible teaching and writing skills. We are privilaged to have them here to help.

Mizuno is right about "where" the flat left wrist is mandatory.

Your bending at the top may be a function of your grip. A strong grip will naturally "cup" at the top, but geometrically it is flat. The important thing for a hitter is to make sure the palm of your right hand and right forearm are "supporting" the plane at the top of your swing when your hands are shoulder high. Like Hogans plane of glass, your right hand and forearm will be holding that plane in it's fixed position, then you will drive down it and THROUGH it at impact. Keeping your hands frozen throughout.

If the cup at the top is causing problems, I recommend you visit the Hitters emergency room and discuss grip with Ted.

Thanks for clarifying,

Bagger

Re: TOP POSITION
 

I had the opposite problem, a bent wrist at the top. Why, the backstroke plane was being disrupted by the shoulders. I just wasn't tracing with the right arm.

I also discovered that the grip can influence the alignment at the top when you are correct on plane. Too strong. For the bent wrist it was Too weak.

Now you stated you are a hitter, Hitters don't normally take the club back as high or far as a swinger. If you are pushing the top to get to parallel, this could require you to cup your wrist.

One thing I have learned, if maintaining the alignment require me to have a lesser or different position than what others have with their traditional positional golf instruction, I accept it will be different. Alignment over positions.

The other question, is really cupped, at the top do the wrinkles on the hand appear by the thumb or the little finger. By the thumb, good, by the little finger then cupped.

This is easy...surprised no one caught it

STOP FOCUSING ON YOUR LEFT WRIST.

Remember the flat left wrist is the EFFECT, NOT THE CAUSE.

But the effect of what you say?

A BENT RIGHT WRIST.


-------------------------

Focus more on keeping your right wrist bent and your left wrist won't bend, it will stay flat :)

Agreed with Jim, being a hitter I was trying to concentrate on keeping the left wrist flat though contact and separation, through trial and error and alot of video it occured to me that as long as I maintained a frozen bent right wrist starting from impact fix through contact my left wrist was always flat.

For me personally, focusing on my left wrist staying flat works better than focusing on my right wrist staying bent. The flat left wrist is the imperative, not the bent right.

It has been said that the bending right wrist is why the left wrist remains flat. Either way the wedges are intact.

I give the focus to the left wrist, too. It also helps me check my grip by seeing what positions the wrists are in at Top. My only concern is that I Hit. On the downstroke my focus goes to PP1 and 3 of my right hand and the forearm. I might be diluting the focus. Or i could be ripe for a bout with paralysis by analysis. ;)

Count me as another left wrist guy. I suppose I'm just wired funny, but the more I concentrate on my right wrist the harder it is for me to keep it bent. Yeah, I know that's what I'm concentrating on ... It still makes it flatten for some reason. I can focus on keeping my left wrist flat (feels cupped or arched) and then things are OK. This is kind of a strange game, you know? :wink:

I knew there would be posts that say you are more focused on the left wrist and that is your option.

HOWEVER

I used to be the same way and i tell you what it really was a lot harder to learn how to keep the left wrist flat. If you give it some time and just learn the relationship to keep the right wrist bent back you'll be better off in the future.

Now do i focus on keeping my bent right wrist frozen through impact? HELL NO, thats too hard for me. Its easier for me to focus and feel for that solid left wrist through impact like many of you.

BUT

It certainly is easier to get that left wrist flat in the takeawawy and top/end position by just bending your right wrist rather than flattening your left. I've been there and done that and i truly believe more people would learn the flat left wrist imperative better this way because it has been my experience with myself and those i help that when you try and keep the left flat you at times sneak in a cocked right wrist action..

Just my humble opinion

Full lever extension to keep it flat
 

Two key issues for maintaining a flat left wrist;

Full lever extension; in the words of the sage "Green Guy", "OBLITERATE" the plane line! The left wrist goes from level at impact into a fully uncocked attitude. Also, RHYTHM is most important. Mr. Kelley so significant that he contemplated giving it imperative status. Remember, each hinge action has its own unique rhythm and travel distance.


EC

Jim pointed it out.

Right Wrist bent.

Yoda had explained to me that once the right wrist is bent (if you don't start off from Impact Fix) it is FROZEN, I believe those were his exact words.

Once bent, it remains the same amount till after Impact.

You can't have a bent right wrist and bent left wrist.

Maybe that is why for most of my golfing life, not knowing it, I always had a forward press, almost Impact Fix till I learned about Impact Fix.

Once bent, the right wrist, freeze it till Impact.

Re: Full lever extension to keep it flat
 

EC demonstrated this to me yesterday. If you do not go to Full Extension (Level to Uncocked), he showed me how you will end up off-plane. I do not have a problem with Flat but with full extension - Level to Uncocked. If you don't fully uncock, you don't get the full Downard dimension, you lose your paddlewheel and your swing is off-plane.

EC prescription - hit little shots from Fix finishing at follow-through both arms straight left wrist fully uncocked and club pointing at the plane line. Check your alignments holding the Follow-through. Did you get to full extension (uncocked)? Did you keep your left Flat right Bent? Are you pointing the club at the plane line?

The sound is TOTALLY different. No uncock = click. Full Extension = OBLITERATION = a very loud THUMP.

The feeling of impact is much different. The ball will feel MASHED like it was just FLATTENED by your 3 dimensional downstroke.

How to achieve a flat left wrist?
 

Drawing upon my very limited knowledge of TGM, I suggest the following: (consider all as questions!)
1. No mater how you place your right (bottom) hand on the handle, you will have a #3 PP. May not be the preferred place but will have one.
2. Concentrating on PP #1, getting extension on the backstroke and using a right forearm take-a -way will help you stay on plane.
3. Concentrating on PP #1 through impact will help you achieve a flat left wrist at and beyond impact. Also a bent right wrist.
Too much concentration on PP #3 can/will cause throwaway.
Of course all goes out the window if the right wrist cocks!
W/O knowing what I was doing, in the past, I often practiced with the right thumb and forefinger removed from the handle. Stopped throwaway for me. Also played that way on numerous occasions-if only I could have taken less than 34 putts!