LEAD LEFT WRIST

[Bagger Lance]

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

[Martee]

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

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.

[jim_0068]

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.


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

[8cork]

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.

[mgjordan]

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

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.

[6bmike]

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

[Theodan]

Originally Posted by jim_0068

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

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.

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.

[leegee38]

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?

[jim_0068]

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

[EC]

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