How To Incorporate The Early Wrist
Break Into The Swing Itself, Making It
A Single Uninterrupted Motion!

For this we must start with what has come to be known as the forward press, for it is with this that the backswing begins. The forward press is simply a device that gets us from the passive into the active stage smoothly, without a jerk. It is the little move that leads into the big one.

It can be done in several ways, but for the first magic move we want a lateral movement of the hips, no turn. It is a slight pushing of the hips to the left, laterally, about an inch or two. This press is in the opposite direction from the big move. But as the hips come back from their little pushing motion, they keep right on sliding and go into a lateral turning motion to the right - the beginning of the backswing - and we are off. This makes for the smoothest transition of all.

As the hips move to the left in the press, they pull the hands with them, just slightly, only a, fraction of an inch. When the hips come back, the hands come back. Now, as the hips and hands come back from the press, push the heel of the right hand down firmly but not sharply on the left thumb. The back of the left hand starts to turn under - and the all-important backward wrist break has begun

This move should not be a sharp or a violent action. It should be firm and steady. And it feels much quicker than it looks or actually is.

The backward break off the forward press. The "ghost" hands show the position as the press is completed. The backward break begins as the hands move past the player's right leg.

The hands meanwhile are moving to the right as the wrists are cocking, and the hips are sliding into a lateral turn, taking the weight with them.

Before you realize it, your hands will be waist high. And at that joint the wrist break should be completed!

The completed break, with hands approximately waist high. The "left shoulder has turned and not ducked, the club face is square.

Right here is the first check point. Stop the swing and look at your hands. If the wrist break has been performed correctly you will see at this point just the reverse of what you saw at the address.

You should see only one knuckle of the left hand, but two knuckles of the, right hand, those at the bases of the index and middle fingers.

You should not be able to see any of the face of the club, either. The face should be turned away from you and somewhat down, not at the 45-degree angle it was in the stationary test, but still turned away and somewhat down.

You should see a definite inward bend of the left hand, a reflex angle formed by the forearm and the back of the hand. The shaft will be at about a 45-degree angle to the ground and the angle formed by the left arm and the shaft of the club will be somewhat more than a right angle, maybe 100 degrees. You should feel that the wrists cannot be broken any more. They will be, a little, at the top by the weight of the club head, but they should feel now as though the break were absolutely complete.

What you must see when you turn and look at your hands after the backward break is completed - one knuckle of the left hand, two knuckles of the right, and none of the club face.

Heretical, you say? Of course it is. Awkward and uncomfortable? Oh, yes, indeed. But you want to break 80, don't you, or 90, or whatever goal you have set for yourself? Then stick with it. Hit some balls with it, being sure your execution is right, before you condemn it.

Meanwhile, look what it has done for your swing already:

The club head has been started almost straight back from the ball, as it should be.

  

The club face has been kept square, as it must be if you are going to play better golf.

  

The hip slide has moved much of your weight over to the right leg, where it must go, and your hips are now turning somewhat.

  

Your right elbow has been automatically brought in against your side, starting you on a tight, controlled arc.

  

The wrist break at the same time has started the swing in a plane that will prove to be ideal, neither too upright nor too flat.

  

The shoulders have begun to turn and to tilt just a little, with the left going down slightly, and the right coming up.

  

And, perhaps most important of all, your hands and wrists are set early in exactly the position they must be in.

All this adds up to the fact that although the backswing has progressed only about a third of its distance, you already are locked into actions which will bring you to the top in perfect position.

Perfect. You have mastered the first magic move.

The next steps to master are the second, third and fourth magic moves. More of which I will discuss later ...

Next Page