Flat Left Wrist Golf Backswing: Golf Lesson by Herman Williams, PGA Pro
For golf lesson info: http://www.hermanwilliamsgolf.com
The flat left wrist golf backswing is the second video of a 3-part online video golf lesson series on grip, wrist position and release from Herman Williams, PGA Professional. This video golf lesson explains the proper wrist hinge at the top of the backswing. A flat wrist, cupped wrist and bowed wrist are defined with a decided preference towards the flat wrist for simplicity. With the proper grip and proper wrist hinge, it is easier to keep the club shaft, clubface and lead arm all in plane for a simple downswing and successful release of the clubhead.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFmTgXS_DHQ
Go to http://www.hermanwilliamsgolf for more golf lessons and coaching tips.
The flat left wrist may help cure:
-Slicing golf shots
-Coming over the top
-Swinging off plane
-Scooping at impact
-Blocking golf shots
-Shanking golf shots
Herman, very helpful video. In terms of the left forearm rotating first
and then both forearms crossing over – are you saying to let your left
forearm rotate freely and both forearms crossover as you swing through
(because of the clubhead’s weight) or actually force your left forearm to
rotate and then force your right arm to crossover? Thanks!
Herman, this is an excellent video lesson. Beautifully communicated with
great visuals. It answered my exact question as to why I can’t seem to
achieve a flat left wrist at the top of my backswing. Of all the lessons
I’ve had, including one where the instructor focused on my left wrist, not
once has anyone commented on my grip. I apparently need to weaken my left
hand somewhat to get rid of the cup at the top. My hope is that this
change will help me slow down my release and quit hitting low hooks. My
divots should be illuminating. Many thanks for a great lesson!
I have been hermonized,II Applied all three lessons over the past week.
Just terrific, I actually know where my club head is now thanks to the
neutral non interlocking grip change, the holding plates like a waiter, the
frickin trigger release with my right hand is the bomb! Slice gone,
distance up, I am all over the second shot brother.
@ 4:30 introducing the new Taylormade ultra rocket head irons.lol
Thanx Herman great to have those reminders.
Now that’s informative my friend! Everyone seems to tell you how to grip a
club but not WHY!!!
Why do you promote a 10 finger grip when no pro but two gloves gainey uses
that grip? Two best players of all time interlock…please explain
The two best golfers of all time Jack Nicklaus & Tiger Woods use interlock,
the best golfer of the next couple of decades in Rory McIlroy uses
interlock, and last but not least I also interlock.. Helpful video aside
from that part..
@leftofseinfeld Interlock is a great grip if you know what you’re doing.
Clearly Jack, Tiger, Rory and you do. But if you spent a few years in the
trenches with me, you would see most amateurs struggle to get it right.
There’s room out there for all styles, but we’re trying to offer a simpler
alternative for those who struggle. Maybe we’ll see your name up there with
those guys someday. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. – Herman
I am a 13 handicap. I switched to the overlap neutral grip after watching
six videos by Herman Williams on grip and basic swing mechanics. The
results have been awesome. I feel like a Pro. Very important to get the
correct sized grips for your fingers and the correct lie angle after making
this change. Best videos and less than $100 I ever spent. Immediate
improvement. Thank You Mr. Williams.
@MBGC14 thanks. There’s a little of this info in my video about Camilo
Villegas’ impact position – it covers one piece takeaway and how to get to
the top. Don’t try to do too much to create the hinge or you will likely
cup your wrist and get floppy at the top.
I’ve explained this in the video and elsewhere in these comments & website.
Most players that aren’t highly skilled or carefully coached will not get
the interlock grip positioned correctly. It’s a great grip when done right,
but too many pitfalls for unsupervised players. Trying to bury the
forefinger & pinky together at the base of the joint leads to weak left
hand, strong right hand and potential knuckle & joint damage. It fits that
average amateurs may do well to copy average Tour players.
Working on this right as we speak and your video really helps!! I have
always been a cupper and I can’t believe the stronger contact this has
given me!! Great video series I appreciate your help!!
Thank you. Glad the video helped. See you on the lesson tee sometime soon.
– Herman
Glad you found it … good luck and you might also check out my video on
how to stop blocking golf shots if lag causes you to slice. – Herman
I think you have a point. However, I cannot use a neutral grip as even with
a flat wrist at the top I slice the ball. With a standard grip the flat
wrist at the top does help me extend my right side through impact. Plus,
you sacrifice distance with a neutral grip (with me it’s 10-15 yards per
club). I need the “V”s both pointed to my right shoulder to square up at
impact. Left wrist flattening during BS does REALLY help though! I added
5-20 yds per club as I was bleeding power with cupped wrist.
You need more lag. Try driving the butt of the club at the target longer to
delay when the back of the hand turns into the ball. You can also try
keeping the crease of the elbow of your trailing arm facing the sky just
prior to impact (right elbow into the body for right-handed golfer). When
the trailing elbow rolls out early, the face will close too soon.
Thanks for the update – kudos for following step by step. That’s where most
people get in trouble. You can’t just start somewhere in the middle of the
swing. Go back thru each stage of grip and setup to be sure the foundation
is good, then start building in the rest of your changes one at a time in a
logical sequence and pretty soon you’ve got a good golf swing. Thanks for
watching and commenting.
Help! Since the left wrist and hand do not start out flat at set up, how
the heck can I have a flat wrist/hand at impact without closing the club?
Every time I try to reach impact with a flat left hand I hook my shots
horribly. Thanks.
Herman, Thanks so much I checked my grip 1st and i noticed i wasnt holding
the club correct in the left hand( cross fingers and under pad) like you
mentioned I went right out in the yard and fixed the grip to (neutral) and
gripped like you said and just thought swing and tried to focus on left
wrist flat ( as i could) and BAMMMM!!! I was hitting SOLID, STRAIGHT,PURE
golf shots! Thanks so much for keeping it simple and going thru the steps
to get it corrected. I cannot wait to take it to course!
Thanks. Very useful…I hope!
@whodat2010 Thanks for checking in and telling us about your success. Glad
the video helped you. It’s not for everyone but for most people they will
find what you did … firmer, more predictable set at the top leads to more
consistency in shots with a better ability to square the face.
he’s right, cupping the wrists is the kiss of death. I have that problem
mostly because of the interlocking grip wit h the way the pinky’s pull at
each other during the back swing. I hit the ball so much further using the
baseball grip but got brainwashed into conforming into the interlocking
because everyone else was doing it. I’ll try the overlap and pointing the
left thumb up 12 o’clock
When I looked at a video of myself I noticed I had a casting problem. I
tried to create some lag and all of the sudden developed a huge slice. That
led me to look up your video on casting which linked to this video on wrist
position. Looking at the video this is exactly what my problem is! Can’t
wait to finally fix my swing. Thanks a bunch.
Great video – I bet you can do mean Bill Clinton.
Herman, I received a 4 lesson package with you for my birthday. I wanted to
find out more about you and found this YouTube page. I must say, this video
inspired me to get out to the driving range and work on the tips in your
videos. What do you know? The zero loft, 100 yd duck hooks were fixed after
10 or so drives at the range. I’ve not even been think about driving it
more than 100 yards in the last 6 months. Today I was hitting about 7 out
of 10 balls into or over the net (~250 yds) Thanks!
Great explanation. Have been struggling with cupping my wrist despite my
neutral grip.Thanks for the video.
@secretogolf Great question. For well coordinated players I think this is
fine … many Tour players are slightly cupped at the top but move into
flat wrist condition on the way down and then actually strike with a
slightly bowed left wrist at impact. Thanks for commenting.