Leading Wrist At Impact

[1iron]

Any swing thoughts or drills to assist with a firm leading wrist at impact to prevent scooping? I'm not getting the boring trajectory with my irons that I would like. They're going straight okay but appear to be falling rapidly after they reach their height (and too often short). Thanks much!

[LowPost42]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Try and purposefully hold the clubface open - this will produce shots that slice and leak to the push side, but you can't scoop by doing it!

[oldwease]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Assuming you're releasing the club properly, check your ball position. I'm not a great fan of doing anything which prevents the correct release of the club through impact.

Remember that a correct release itslef helps to promote the correct flight. Holding the club open is a good way to produce a high fade (or weak slice), not really what you're after.

[oldwease]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Sorry, 1Iron, if you're really scooping the ball, then your problem is likely linked to your wrist action through the ball with your left wrist collapsing/folding. This often results from a lack of proper rotation through the ball.

A good way to understand this is to take a swing but don't let the body rotate on the downswing. Note what happens to your arms and wrists as you travel through the ball. Now, take another swing, using an easy tempo, and concentrate on rotating / unwinding all the way through the ball. You should see and feel very differently. Particularly notice the arm and hand action through the ball.

Remember that the club face should move from open just before impact to closed shortly after impact. This is accomplished by the natural rotation of the body, arms and wrist action, none of which should be forced.

[BrianW]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Scooping is normally a symptom of incorrect weight shift, it is prevalent in golfers with a reverse pivot. An aggressive hip and leg drive at the beginning of the downswing will force the spine and shoulders backwards resulting in the weight being left on the back foot through the impact position, this makes you flip the wrists in an attempt to get the ball airborne. Work on the correct weight shift and hip rotation.

[1iron]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Thanks everyone for your information. I'm going to focus on a good release coupled with good body rotation. I don't do this all the time, it just pops up when I least expect it. I don't get the solid sound, the right distance or the good looking divot. I'm pretty sure my lead wrist is breaking down at impact (towards the target instead of straight and firm). I'm going with lead knuckles down, handle forward and finish with belly looking at target. I'll also test your suggestions. Thanks again, all.

[pgmetcalf]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Think of returning your hands to the ball instead of the clubhead. I think a lot of people concentrate on what the clubhead is doing rather than thinking of returning the hands first.

[Timothy Slaught]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

Hey 1 Iron:

Try the Swing Glove but don't put it on and expect to hit 300 yard drives right away. Instead, use it to learn the proper firm lead wrist position hitting wedges which will in turn lead you to correct forearm rotation.
When you get the sensation that you use body rotation and forearm rotation to square the club and not the flicking (swatting, breaking) of the wrists you will be on your way to solid ball striking..... especially with a name like 1 iron.

Also, if you purchase the swing glove make sure it fits snugly. If it is too loose, the hinge will move about and it will not help. Maybe go one size smaller than your normal golf glove size. Several golf shops and sports retailers now sell these so maybe you can try one on before you buy.

[GoNavy]

Re: Leading Wrist At Impact

There is a hundred things that can cause the left wrist to brakedown, but in my experience it is usually the right hand over powering the left. They say golf is a game of opposites, and for the most part it is a true statement, if you do the opposite of what you think, you usually come close to fixing a problem, so in the case of the left hand work on the right, try to maintain the angle established at address, this forces the lead hand to control the action, sound counter productive, but usually works.