GOLF TIP OF THE MONTH
By: Bob Schade

This month’s tip will describe how to successfully set your wrists in the backswing. This subject usually comes up in most of my lessons. A great number of my students think that more wrist set will result in more distance. If you can set your wrists properly on the backswing you will get more distance. If you set your wrists incorrectly you will achieve the opposite effect. Study this procedure and you will have the information needed to set your wrists properly.

1. Take your normal address position. Remove your right hand from the golf club.
2. Leaving your left hand in its current position, slowly lift the club head straight up in front of your body.
3. The club head should be about belt high directly over or slightly inside the golf ball.
4. You should now feel a slight pinch in the crease between your left thumb and the inside of your left wrist.
5. That is called the set position.

The set position occurs when the shaft reaches hip high on the backswing. If you set your wrists too early; you will pick up the club and slice the golf ball. If you set your wrists too late; you will release them early costing a huge amount of distance loss.

Wrist set is one of the most misunderstood aspects of golf instruction. Most people hinge their wrists instead of setting them. Proper execution of the wrist set will lead to better shots and therefore a lower score. Isn’t that the point? Good luck!