Build Consistency With Your Wrists

One of the most common flaws I see with golfers is that the left arm (for right handed golfers) collapses in close to the body on the backswing trying to get that extra bit of shoulder turn. While it does accomplish the goal of more shoulder turn, the bending of the left arm allows the body to over rotate, which pulls you up and out of your stance leading to inconsistent contact. A better method to get that last couple inches on your backswing is to use hinge your wrists while keeping the left arm straight. The straight left arm provides a natural end point for your backswing that won't pull you out of your posture, while the hinging of the wrists provide the extra "turn" that leads to more distance.

How to do it: Pre-set your wrists

Take your regular stance and address the golf ball. Without moving anything other than your wrists, hinge the wrists until the club is parallel with the ground. Lock your wrists through the entire swing. From this point, move your hands through the normal backswing motion, keeping the left arm straight. Stop your backswing just before your left arm begins to bend. If you have not moved your wrists on the backswing, they will be in a perfect position at the top, with the golf club over the right shoulder pointing at the target.

Happy Practicing!

Brett Prosser
CPGA Associate Professional