Everyone I teach is locked up and tight yet everyone I talk to has hit the one shot that felt effortless and went a mile. If people would just loosen up and keep the arms turned off they can hit these effortless shots regularly.
Paul…what do you think of a little ärm or wrist turn” at address to start the process? I have been trying and seems ok and makes me more aware of the hinging and rehinging? I feel guilty about having the clubface slightly open,after setting up, but it does not seem to affect the flight, and I can feel the hinging better.
Not sure exactly what you mean. I don’t like band aids. If you are doing it as a drill that’s fine but I wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary forever.
I think that I have been understanding your loose wrists concept incorrectly for the past few years. (I’m a Swing Machine Golf customer and watched you on Revolution Golf previously.) I have been allowing my right wrist to cup backwards in the backswing, then allowing my left wrist to cup into the follow through. I think that is a big mistake. As I’ve gone back through your tips, videos, and books, I almost have to interpret your loose wrists concept as a loose forearms meaning to me. I feel I get closest to your method when I take all tension out of my forearms and allow the right forearm to roll over the left forearm on my way to a solid finish position.
There will be some cupping in the right and left wrists as you swing the club bu this should be occurring due to the wrists being loose unless of course you are trying to work on a specific position. If so, you would be manually setting the position.
Loose forearms is huge. If they are tight and locked up how can you keep your wrists loose? Glad you see it and will be working on loosening up.
Paul ,Could you refresh us on the position of the left wrist at the top of the backswing:Flat ?
Bowed?
Cupped ?
You see all three positions with the best golf pro’s.
BEN HOGAN had a cupped left wrist,while the “purists “say it should be flat (ARNOLD PALMER had a flat left wrist ).Yet they were both top Golf Champions
I want it cupped due to a 2 knuckle left hand grip position. Anyone who is holding the club in this 2 knuckle position and is flat at the top is manipulating the club.
Arnold fought a huge hook all his career. I would think the flat wrist and hitting too hard were part of the problem.
This issue about the cupped left wrist is a tough dilemma, because the open face will develop and can then lead to the slice without further “manipulating the club” back on the downward swing. If one does have a slice problem would not the cupped wrist be a key cause? How would you avoid this possible outcome while still having the loose wrists?
Just because the wrist is cupped at the top doesn’t mean the face is open. The left wrist should be cupped due to the 2 knuckle grip position at address.
To me your biggest strength in your distance tips is the lag angle you create and also the looseness of your wrist. Can’t tell you how jealous am I with those two golf assets that you have…….
Working hard to get those super loose wrist and the lag angle.
Love this tip and has really helped me with my driver and fairway woods. Only miss fairways when I get overly aggressive and over swing with arms but they are very few. I am having problems with mid-irons where I hit way too many on the toe. Have worked on the chicken wing drills but still hit out on the toe. Maybe just a setup problem and too far from the ball but afraid to get too close for hitting on the hosel. Little issues with wedges and those pretty well dialed in thanks to your pitch drills. Any suggestions…I am missing too many easy greens and this is killing my game.
Hi Paul , I got the book a couple of days ago( thanks for the great offer to members) and I went to the driving range today with my new set up and really loose wrists and my 7 iron was going 150 with old cold New York City range balls. As a point of reference my 5 iron is my normal 150 with a nice box fresh ball on a July afternoon with a helping wind (and my clubs are cut long) This is unbelievable. The comparison to the swing machine really resonated. Thank so much!
Glad you got loose wrists. All you have to do it try it a few times. Once you see that it works you will never want to go back to your old swing. Keep at it.
I am using my orange whip to practice this drill. I am back to playing now as my rotator cuff surgery recovery is finally over! My scores are about 10 shots a round better than before the surgery because I practiced my putting, then chipping and then pitching for 2 months because I was recovering from the surgery and could not hit full shots yet. I used your videos to make lots of progress with these short game shots. Now I am working on my full swing using the notes I took from our lessons back on December 9 and 10, plus your videos, such as this one. Thank you so much!
Hi Paul,
I love this drill but Ive just noticed that I’ve been doing it wrong. As this drill is only shown from the front your doing this on the swing path,( the club goes from shoulder to shoulder) but i was doing it a little more vertical from head to head, which you don’t get that nice even flow as your arms end up to close to your body,
I’ve been working on your method since January and am seeing some nice results, my play partners constantly give me a hard time about hitting my four iron as long as they hit driver while commenting on my youth as the factor, but I know the real reason. One point of difficulty for me is keeping the arms off in the downswing, I’m initiating the downswing with left hip turn, but I can feel my arms sometimes trying to regain control, any pointers to speed the transition or will it just take quite a while to fully break away from arms.
Back in 1999, I got it in 3 practice swings. I just told myself not to hit or help the shot with the arms. Done. My arms aren’t going to stay up there forever so if I moved my body the arms will come down. So you need to start with that thought.
Then you need to be thinking about and making sure your body is coiling and uncoiling the best it can. This is the other power source in your swing. Without the spring you have to hit. So you focus on the spring. Turn on the spring to turn off the arms.
I would also have some great habits that you always do to loosen the wrists.
Hi Paul—–I’ve been with you for over ten years now and my game has improved tremendously . I originally bought your book and you have been my only coach. What has helped me to develop a powerless swing is the concept that the shoulders passively PULL the arms (and the club) back in coiling and then the lower body passively PULLS the arms (and the club) down in the follow-through. This removes the urge to PUSH the club back with the shoulders and then PUSH the club down with the lower body to hit the ball in the follow-through. The momentum of this passive pulling swing leads naturally to a touch the head position. It seems to work well for me.
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23 Responses to “Distance Series – Wrists”
December 12, 2014
JamesChapleauGreat instructional advice. Especially your demonstration. I’m just learning this after 30 years of playing
December 12, 2014
Paul WilsonJames,
Glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback.
Everyone I teach is locked up and tight yet everyone I talk to has hit the one shot that felt effortless and went a mile. If people would just loosen up and keep the arms turned off they can hit these effortless shots regularly.
Keep at it and you will see.
May 16, 2019
RickBanfieldPaul…what do you think of a little ärm or wrist turn” at address to start the process? I have been trying and seems ok and makes me more aware of the hinging and rehinging? I feel guilty about having the clubface slightly open,after setting up, but it does not seem to affect the flight, and I can feel the hinging better.
May 20, 2019
Paul WilsonRick,
Not sure exactly what you mean. I don’t like band aids. If you are doing it as a drill that’s fine but I wouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary forever.
December 12, 2014
MatthewVintonPaul,
I think that I have been understanding your loose wrists concept incorrectly for the past few years. (I’m a Swing Machine Golf customer and watched you on Revolution Golf previously.) I have been allowing my right wrist to cup backwards in the backswing, then allowing my left wrist to cup into the follow through. I think that is a big mistake. As I’ve gone back through your tips, videos, and books, I almost have to interpret your loose wrists concept as a loose forearms meaning to me. I feel I get closest to your method when I take all tension out of my forearms and allow the right forearm to roll over the left forearm on my way to a solid finish position.
-Matt
December 12, 2014
Paul WilsonMatthew,
There will be some cupping in the right and left wrists as you swing the club bu this should be occurring due to the wrists being loose unless of course you are trying to work on a specific position. If so, you would be manually setting the position.
Loose forearms is huge. If they are tight and locked up how can you keep your wrists loose? Glad you see it and will be working on loosening up.
Watch:
Secure Grip Loose Wrists: https://ignitiongolf.com/secure-grip-loose-wrists/
This takes a while to master but may give you the a better idea of the hinge.
December 12, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,Could you refresh us on the position of the left wrist at the top of the backswing:Flat ?
Bowed?
Cupped ?
You see all three positions with the best golf pro’s.
BEN HOGAN had a cupped left wrist,while the “purists “say it should be flat (ARNOLD PALMER had a flat left wrist ).Yet they were both top Golf Champions
December 12, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
Here you go:
Cupped or Flat: https://ignitiongolf.com/top-backswing-cupped-flat
I want it cupped due to a 2 knuckle left hand grip position. Anyone who is holding the club in this 2 knuckle position and is flat at the top is manipulating the club.
Arnold fought a huge hook all his career. I would think the flat wrist and hitting too hard were part of the problem.
December 13, 2014
CraigMinnerHi Paul,
This issue about the cupped left wrist is a tough dilemma, because the open face will develop and can then lead to the slice without further “manipulating the club” back on the downward swing. If one does have a slice problem would not the cupped wrist be a key cause? How would you avoid this possible outcome while still having the loose wrists?
December 13, 2014
Paul WilsonCraig,
Just because the wrist is cupped at the top doesn’t mean the face is open. The left wrist should be cupped due to the 2 knuckle grip position at address.
Cupped or Flat: https://ignitiongolf.com/top-backswing-cupped-flat/
Excess cupping would come from a 3 knuckle grip, holding the club too parallel to the knuckles of the left hand or purposely fanning it open.
So your question should be how do you avoid over-cupping at the top?
Here’s how you fix it:
1. You do a one-piece takeaway to stop the rolling open of the face.
2. You hold the club across the palm of the left hand not parallel to the knuckles.
3. You learn a 2 knuckle position instead of 3 to 4 knuckles showing.
You do the right grip:
How To Stop Over-Cupping At The Top of the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/stop-over-cupping-at-top/
Top of Backswing Square: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-square-at-top/
January 26, 2015
HermanKohHi Paul,
To me your biggest strength in your distance tips is the lag angle you create and also the looseness of your wrist. Can’t tell you how jealous am I with those two golf assets that you have…….
Working hard to get those super loose wrist and the lag angle.
Herman
January 27, 2015
Paul WilsonHerman,
It did take a while to get lag. Just keep working on it every day.
The looseness came when I told myself to stop hitting the ball. This was a huge breakthrough.
June 27, 2015
GeorgeSpinelliHi Paul,
Love this tip and has really helped me with my driver and fairway woods. Only miss fairways when I get overly aggressive and over swing with arms but they are very few. I am having problems with mid-irons where I hit way too many on the toe. Have worked on the chicken wing drills but still hit out on the toe. Maybe just a setup problem and too far from the ball but afraid to get too close for hitting on the hosel. Little issues with wedges and those pretty well dialed in thanks to your pitch drills. Any suggestions…I am missing too many easy greens and this is killing my game.
Thanks…George
June 28, 2015
Paul WilsonGeorge,
Toed shots are you looking to see a miraculous shot. When you look you pull back and hit the toe.
You can find these shots in the CURES section of the DASHBOARD as well as all other cures.
How To Cure Toeing: https://ignitiongolf.com/cure-toeing/
This may hep too:
Spine Angle Follow Through: https://ignitiongolf.com/follow-through-eyes-tilted
December 6, 2015
BenjaminBerryHi Paul , I got the book a couple of days ago( thanks for the great offer to members) and I went to the driving range today with my new set up and really loose wrists and my 7 iron was going 150 with old cold New York City range balls. As a point of reference my 5 iron is my normal 150 with a nice box fresh ball on a July afternoon with a helping wind (and my clubs are cut long) This is unbelievable. The comparison to the swing machine really resonated. Thank so much!
December 6, 2015
Paul WilsonBen,
Glad you picked up the book. Thanks.
Glad you got loose wrists. All you have to do it try it a few times. Once you see that it works you will never want to go back to your old swing. Keep at it.
May 17, 2019
KimberlyHagenbachI am using my orange whip to practice this drill. I am back to playing now as my rotator cuff surgery recovery is finally over! My scores are about 10 shots a round better than before the surgery because I practiced my putting, then chipping and then pitching for 2 months because I was recovering from the surgery and could not hit full shots yet. I used your videos to make lots of progress with these short game shots. Now I am working on my full swing using the notes I took from our lessons back on December 9 and 10, plus your videos, such as this one. Thank you so much!
May 20, 2019
Paul WilsonKimberly,
So glad you are back. Now you know how important the short game is. Once you can swing again also keep practicing the short game so you don’t lose it.
May 18, 2019
malcolmparkerHi Paul,
I love this drill but Ive just noticed that I’ve been doing it wrong. As this drill is only shown from the front your doing this on the swing path,( the club goes from shoulder to shoulder) but i was doing it a little more vertical from head to head, which you don’t get that nice even flow as your arms end up to close to your body,
kind regards Malcolm parker AUS
May 20, 2019
Paul WilsonMalcolm,
You can do either but shoulders to should will allow you to see it better. Now you see it do it tens of thousands of times.
May 19, 2019
DERRICKSMARTHi Paul,
I’ve been working on your method since January and am seeing some nice results, my play partners constantly give me a hard time about hitting my four iron as long as they hit driver while commenting on my youth as the factor, but I know the real reason. One point of difficulty for me is keeping the arms off in the downswing, I’m initiating the downswing with left hip turn, but I can feel my arms sometimes trying to regain control, any pointers to speed the transition or will it just take quite a while to fully break away from arms.
Derrick
May 20, 2019
Paul WilsonDerrick,
Back in 1999, I got it in 3 practice swings. I just told myself not to hit or help the shot with the arms. Done. My arms aren’t going to stay up there forever so if I moved my body the arms will come down. So you need to start with that thought.
Do Not Disturb The Mass: https://ignitiongolf.com/do-not-disturb-the-mass/
Then you need to be thinking about and making sure your body is coiling and uncoiling the best it can. This is the other power source in your swing. Without the spring you have to hit. So you focus on the spring. Turn on the spring to turn off the arms.
I would also have some great habits that you always do to loosen the wrists.
DRILL: Smooth Wrist Release: https://ignitiongolf.com/smooth-wrist-release/
Also, do the swings in the air:
Up In The Air Drills – Speed: https://ignitiongolf.com/air-drills-speed/
Up In The Air Drills – Separation: https://ignitiongolf.com/air-drills-separation/
Up In The Air Drills – Clubhead Release: https://ignitiongolf.com/air-drills-release/
And you have to be content with what you’ve got. We all want more so we try to hit harder. If you know your limits you can then be thinking “repeat.”
Greed Is NOT Good: https://ignitiongolf.com/greed-is-not-good/
Finally:
The Ultimate Goal: https://ignitiongolf.com/the-ultimate-goal/
April 30, 2024
IanBernadtHi Paul—–I’ve been with you for over ten years now and my game has improved tremendously . I originally bought your book and you have been my only coach. What has helped me to develop a powerless swing is the concept that the shoulders passively PULL the arms (and the club) back in coiling and then the lower body passively PULLS the arms (and the club) down in the follow-through. This removes the urge to PUSH the club back with the shoulders and then PUSH the club down with the lower body to hit the ball in the follow-through. The momentum of this passive pulling swing leads naturally to a touch the head position. It seems to work well for me.
Ian.