instruction: the final frontier

By Cathy Mant

Maximizing distance with wrist hinge and release.

Are you ready for the final piece in the puzzle to  maximize your distance potential? In two previous articles, I dealt with the role of posture and grip in the proper setup and the swing components of a body coil and weight transfer. The final elements deal with the downswing motion (and correct wrist angle) and the release of the club through impact.

First, I will assume you have correctly cocked your wrists during the backswing motion. At the top of the backswing, the back of your left wrist (for right-handers) should be relatively flat while the right wrist should be hinged so that the right hand can support the club in a balanced position.

To review briefly, you initiate the downswing with your lower body. Your hips and legs make a slight bump or lateral movement to your left side, followed by turning your belly to face the target. While this slight weight shift and body rotation is occurring, your arms are helping to swing the club down into a solid impact position. To maximize your distance, you must retain the angle between your left arm and the shaft of the club as long as possible on the downswing. Note in the “Correct” photo (see “A”), the almost 90-degree angle between my left arm, when it is almost parallel to the ground, and the shaft of the club.

The swing motion that most adversely affects distance — known as casting or unhinging — occurs during this portion of the golf swing. Unhinging the wrists too early on the downswing will diminish distance more than any other movement of the golf swing. In the “Incorrect” photo (see “B”), note how the angle between my left arm and the club shaft is almost nonexistent. When you unhinge your wrists too early, you have no power to unleash at the ball. Instead, you basically push the ball forward. And you feel like you are expending a tremendous amount of energy and getting nothing from this effort.

Have you noticed how some small individuals “hit the ball a mile” while a sizable person hits the ball a substantially shorter distance? Casting or unhinging early diminishes the clubhead speed through impact and affects your distance.

The impact or contact position is truly the most important part of the golf swing. It is the moment of truth. The golfer who can maintain the wrist angle longer on the downswing will be able to arrive at the impact position more consistently with greater clubhead speed, thus maximizing distance.

The “Correct” photo (see “C”) shows the desired impact position. Notice how I have transferred my weight to my left (or forward) foot. My hips are slightly open or turned out to the target; my shoulders are almost parallel to the target line and, most important, my left arm and the shaft of the club form a straight line.

Now observe the “Incorrect” photo (see “D”). Notice how my left arm has buckled and my wrists have collapsed, causing the clubhead to flip past my hands. This produces a variety of shots. One time the ball may be topped; the next time, the ball may be flipped up into the air, causing a higher, yet shorter, shot.

A proper wrist hinge is the product of a sound grip. Learning how and when to hinge the wrists in the golf swing will put you in a position to maximize your distance. Once you reach the proper backswing position, then you must uncoil your body while transferring your weight to your left foot. In conjunction with these movements, you also must unhinge so that everything arrives together at impact.

Review my hints on the grip, posture, body coil, and weight transfer. You will find it easier to work with the wrist hinge and unhinge during the golf swing if you have mastered these skills. Incorporate these points and I know you will notice a substantial increase in distance. If you are in doubt, seek the help of your local LPGA or PGA professional.

Cathy Mant has been involved in the golf industry since turning professional in 1973. After a 10-year career on the LPGA Tour, she turned her energies to a full-time teaching career. She is a past president of the LPGA. Currently, she is director of teaching at Eagle’s Landing Country Club near Atlanta, and is a member of the Titleist/FootJoy Women’s Advisory Board.