For you teaching pros...Active hands or keep em quiet?

Question

I've been struggling with getting to handsy at impact, trying to turn my wrists over at impact to generate power.. My pro saw me doing this and told me to stop it and to work on more of a compact, one piece swing, without the hands action. I know that you have to have excellent timing for this move, but is this something the pro's usually incorporate. Should I be doing it? I'm a 7 handicap and am always trying to be a better ball striker, I'm just confused about what I should be working on? Thanks.

no offense...but I would appreciate answers from professional golfers and low handicap players only!

Answer 1

This is amazing. I'm 6 handicap and just went on a round with a pro last Saturday. I've always wonder the same thing you do, seeing Tiger hitting his three wood from the fairway twisting he wrists furiously and the ball flew very low over 270 yards, I want to do that myself. The pro told me the same thing yours told you. Everyone answering above me were right in a way, as when I try to force my wrists to cross over at impact, I get a kind of hook depending on how hard I twist my wrist.
Well, I didn't get any answers from anyone about this as well. The pro I played with said for me to pull the shaft of the club instead (hence may be promoting a one piece swing.)
I've alway wonder why there's a pro equipment and amateur equipment; pro swing and amateur swing. If we're gonna play well, why don't strive for perfection and go for pro equipments and swing.
I think to answer your question, the hands should play its part as a major component in the swing, but of course they must be doing their part on the correct swing plain at the right timing. Golf is about body syncronisation; meaning every bits of your body playing a role as much and at the time they should.
Also, it depends on the type of shot you are manufacturing. I remember reading Jack's book. He separate the short chip shots from the normal full swing shots, and Jack's advices would be for the chip shots, you'll need to be handsy. I find more accuracy coming from the handsy approach than distance, and probably that's why it's for short chip shots, where as for the drive or long approach you may need to use more of your upper parts, like shoulders and leg actions.
I think golf swings has no definite answer to your question. You'll need to experience more with yourself, and perhaps talk to Tiger's pro. Your question is a very high level swing question.

Answer 2

no offense taken...I'm no pro.
your pro probably is, though, and probably shoots to less than a 7, so you're probably getting good advise.
Most of the pros I've seen with really handsy full swings were around in the fifties and sixties with those really stiff steel shafts.
the only time you should need more power is with the driver , maybe a fairway wood...all of the other clubs are for accuracy. Not just left or right accuracy, but yardage. I don't think you should care if your buddies five iron goes 12 yards further than yours, as long as a controlled swing with no wind always goes whatever yardage. (I'd like to think 165yds for a five iron in my case, but I spend a couple of swings on the range first to see what's accurate for the day before I go to the first tee).
When I try to put more hands in my swing I find that I can start to duck hook in a hurry, I can't count on as accurate a range for yardage, and I may start hitting thin, or worse, fat.
I am not a long hitter. I can hit to the fence on the range, when I am pounding ball after ball and in the groove, but on the course I'm happy driving 250-260 and hitting fairways.
My longest drives on the course or the range come with no hand or arm action at all, but all lower body, medium tempo and hitting against a very firm left side. On the downswing I just kinda let my arms drop, or almost float down with no concious effort, and my legs and hips kinda whip them through the swing.
Keep your head behind the ball and your hands ahead of the ball at impact is my advise...anything else is done with grip or stance before the backswing.

Answer 3

I think that with a seven hand-cap you really can play golf and that lately you have read or listened to some bad advice.... Listen when you strike the ball and follow through your wrists automatically will follow the swing and turn exactly as they are supposed to. Starting to turn them your self at impact is surely the wrong thing.. I think to you need a different instructor. Look take the club you are having the trouble with out to the driving range or a field or even the golf course. Tee it up or put it on the grass line up with regular stance now sweep away from the ball going up into your back swing keeping your lower arm stiff till you feel a restriction. Now pull back down towards the ball and think about nothing but striking the ball. Nothing about the wrists or the hands and strike the ball with same sweeping motion as you started with going back. When you follow through keep swinging till you come to a slight restriction and sure enough or believe it or not you will find out you will do pretty well.. I wish you well... Oh yes... Practice, practice, practice..... Grant in Pennsylvania

Answer 4

So much of it depends on your swing. This is a difficult question to answer over the internet, but we'll give it a shot! Many instructors have different views, this is the most prominent. If you get the golf club in the proper position on the downswing with your body, your hands do very little through impact. (This is the hard part to explain) On your down swing there a few key point you need to hit. The one I personally believe is the most important is the "slot" position. This is where the golf club is aimed at your target (from the instructors "down the line" position, or behind you) and is parallel to the ground. Once you're in this position if you simply turn your shoulders you will see the golf club squares itself up, with no need for your hands to "release". It is your BODY that is releasing, not your hands. If you continue to turn your body, you will see that your right hand gets "ahead" of your left (your right hand is closer to your target than your left) and the club is in a released position. This swing is what you see many of the tour pro's making, however, most people make this move with their hands, and not with their body. Ask your pro how to release the club with your body and not "flip" it with your hands. A little visual advice will more than likely go a long way. Many times people "flip" at the ball because they do not transfer there weight correctly on the way back... ugh.. this is a bad answer, but the best I can do with only text. For now, be sure to use your body to release the club. Email me at [e-mail] if you need more info to clear anything up.

Answer 5

What the Pro is telling you is to not force your hands over....It should be a natural part of your release. If you get too " Handsy" You can develop a nasty hook....or worse yet...you skull. Neither are good obviously. His concept of a 1 pc swing and something on the more compact side would tell me you may be flying open from the top. By compacting you remove this tendancy. Pros do incorporate a bit of the hands action depending on the situation. But its only a slight exageration of their natural release. Hard to describe....much easier to show.

Answer 6

I've always been a big fan of a more "compact" swing. It eliminates alot of the nasty habits that people get stuck in. A good tip to follow is this: When you take the club away your hands naturally form themselves into position...by forming the typical "L" shape. A good sign that your hands have released properly is to focus on the "L" on the other side of the swing after impact. Both "L's" should be equal...a good example of this would be to look Luke Donald's swing up. He has worked really hard on making sure that every aspect of his swing..."take-away" and "follow-through" match....even the hands which form that "L." Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Answer 7

Well I know how you feel and as a 4 handicap myself. The tempo of your swing determines your natural distance and unless you are to trying to impress others then your focus is in the wrong place... Remember the basics,,it takes a solid drive and a short iron or wedge for your second shot the green and then it takes a great read on the green for a solid put for birdie...concentrate on your putting and short game that's were the pro's are good....Try just keeping your drive in the middle to ensure a good look at the green for a second shot ...

Hit'em straight

Answer 8

it really depends on your shot type. i like quiet hands personally. less chance of errors. i also prefer them so i don't get too much action on my wedges. i like the ball stopping where it hits rather than spinning the suckers back too much. ive found that quieter hands are easy to replicate and there's less side spin on mis-hits.

for myself, its all about keeping my left wrist flat with my forearm on my backswing, downswing and impact. this restricts me from having more than 90 degrees of angle between my left arm and club shaft.

for impact, practice the feeling of imact using an impact bag or even a golf cart tire. it all comes down to practice and timing.

it helps when your pro is watching your progress because what you feel may not necessarily be what you're doing.

Answer 9

The only way you can generate power is by the whole body, it sometimes different when people hit the ball coz my pro said the hand moves differently

Answer 10

u should keep your hands steady.... if not the club will twist and turn givin u terrible aim. if u keep steady wrists then u have a more accurate and better shot, make sense?