When a Collapsed Lead Wrist is Good
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
Most of the time, for both full shots and short pitches/chips, it’s best to prevent your lead wrist from collapsing. The reason is that when you create a cup in the lead wrist, you change the loft of the clubface. The result is that the club flips past you, and the increased loft added by the flip causes the ball to come up short. But there is one situation in which the breakdown of the lead wrist should be encouraged as good technique – when you are near the green and need a very high, soft-landing shot, but you can’t risk a long, lazy backswing. Here’s how it works:
- Place most of your weight on your lead foot.
- Use a very weak grip.
- Take a short but smooth backswing.
- As you go through the shot, stop your lead arm, and allow the lead wrist to buckle without turning over.
Note: It may feel like a flip, but what you want is a special kind of flip called The Forward Flip (FF), where the face stays looking at the target. Incorrectly done, the forearms rotate shutting down both the lift and its direction. This results in a low pull. To produce the FF, there is no forearm roll, but there is a breakdown of the forward wrist (see photo). The result is the low clubhead speed and extra loft needed for a soft shot. This technique is especially useful out of the Bermuda rough around the greens. To add this shot to your arsenal, you have to practice the technique, but when you get it under control, it’s a valuable go-to weapon.
If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.
