impact/left wrist

[alexpfc]

Okay. I am basically a beginner, just took up the game seriously last summer. But I am getting so frustrated. I just cannot seem to hit the ball correctly using a full swing. I am taking lessons, and my instructor has me using an impact drill that is very good. My problem is my left wrist is breaking down on impact (I'm right handed). So he has me with my feet closed, then just bring back the club about 1/4 to a half swing, maintaining the triangle, then hitting down and through the ball, and going about a 1/4 swing on the forward side. So I stand there with a 7 iron, and hit a small bucket of balls this way, and my shots go 50-60 yds, straight, just with those little half swings with my feet close together. Perfect contact.

Now, when I open up, i.e., stance and full swing, everything goes haywire. Bad contact, slicing, no distance. I hit the ball better in the impact drill than the full swing. I just cannot reproduce that correct impact feeling.

My short game, I must say, is good. Approach, pitching, etc. But anything using a full swing is worthless. I have done the right hand drill from this site, and other impact drills, and it works when I do the drill. My instructor says I just need more practice, to get that feeling, and he is working with me on some other things. My grip, posture, and alignment seem to be correct.

Just wondering if anyone here has experienced this, and was able to correct it. Thanks!

[Andy_cap]

Re: impact/left wrist

Probably 90% of new players can relate to this topic.

In order to correct the problem it could take a whole page and 1000 words to explain what to do and also what not to do.

I will try and give a little input since I am still fresh from just correcting my swing.

Your instructor has got you drilling with your feet closed for a very good reason,he is probably attempting to get you into a full proper shoulder turn without swaying..

What I am a little puzzled by is he has you practicing a quarter swing and your playing a full swing on the course.

If you try what you think is roughly a half swing and play from this for a whole round I think you might improve.


What feels like a half swing to you is probably a 3 quarter swing in reality and can actually be a more powerfull position for new players to be in.

The reason I personally think this is new players swing far to fast from the top and by the time the club head reaches the ball it is either out of position or travelling slower than it was at some other stage on the downswing.

What I did to correct many of my own issues was to take a wider stance than normal atleast shoulder width on almost every club apart from pitcher,take your back swing at a good even tempo(remember HALF swing) then come down fast and kind of punchy onto the ball.

Make sure you are not initially turning by the hips which causes lots of problems,the club should be taken the the parralel position by the left hand/arm/shoulder>>at this point the hips have mostly resisted this move but as you go a little higher with hands this will force them into there move,now just uncoil correctly with good tempo and it hopefully all will click.



The best place to practice this is at the driving range if you are hitting down on the ball correctly you will get good feed back,try not to think that your left wrist is breaking down if your grips correct its very unlikely this is occuring.


It is very important that you really exagerate your follow through,I used to think i looked silly doing a pro like follow through where the right foot gets right up on the toe and right knee is along side the left etc,but if you ever film yourself it looks more stupid looking like some kind of stiff stoping on the follow through,you must really get through the shot in order to get the feel correct,a good drill on grass is to plant a tea about 2-3 inches in front of the ball,then do your usuall swing if you are not pulling the tea out the ground with your follow through then you are not hitting down and through but most probably scooping.

Use a 7 iron for the above drill but before you try it make sure your taking divots,dont worry if its not a large or deep divot but get over the fear of coming down onto the grass,before every single game and just as I am about to hit my first ball off the turf at any course I always remind myself to not show any respect to the turf.

Never at any point try and muscle the club to the ball,my son who is 7 next month hit balls to 100yds, I actually play the ball better when I picture myself hitting the ball the way he does.

So imagine to yourself how a junior or senior would hit the ball and play for tempo.

Hope this helps I can only advice what I learned by my own experiances good luck and happy golfing.

[tnsekhar]

Re: impact/left wrist

Hi There,
Just about everything I wanted to say is already covered. I have also come out of this problem recently and could easily relate to what is happening. I still lose momentum, hit the ball fat, thin, slice occasionally etc. But no longer apprehensive about making these mistakes everytime I swing the club.

What made the difference. First, I try to play within my limitations. Whenever I got into trouble I realised that I was trying to imitate someone I was playing with or compete with him. Second, is a conscious attempt to focus on each stroke. Even if I have muffed a shot, the next shot starts with a clean memory.

I do consciously remember not to break the left wrist; although people may say it comes naturally if you grip correctly, I feel that in the initial stages you do need to make an effort. One of the best tips I received from this site is the position of the right hand, an exaggerated break for grip and maintaining that through the swing. That has helped me a lot.

I am sure that you will be able to pick these things very quickly. I was 49 yrs when I first took my golf club and I am now 51yrs and learnt that it is never too late to learn!

Best of luck and cheers