A good teacher hopes to keep a student from making the same mistakes that he or she made in the past. We certainly don't have time to talk about all of my past mistakes, so here's just one of them. I was taught to have a flat left wrist at the top, which was, seemingly, good information. After all, it is a Basic Imperative. So, for years, I went to the top and checked my left wrist to make sure it was flat. The grip was never mentioned. And as a result, I had my left hand considerably turned on the grip (so called, "strong" - seeing at least two or three knuckles).
So, the question is: Which wrist is "flat"?
And, here's the source of major confusion: Both are "flat".
When we speak of "flat" in TGM, we're referring to the wrist being geometrically flat. In other words, the left arm flying wedge must operate in it's own vertical plane of motion by cocking and uncocking the left wrist. However, for every degree of turn in the left hand on the grip, the same amount of bend should occur at the top.
Here's the way to see it:
Take a dowel in the left hand and hold the left hand vertical to the ground. Cock and uncock the left wrist and the dowel will move vertically. Now, grab the dowel with a turned left hand (palm facing the ground). Move the dowel in the same vertical plane of motion and you'll see the left wrist bending.
Therefore, don't ever tell Fred Couples that his left wrist has to be flat at the top, unless you want him to hit a boomerang to the left. He's a great example of a "flat" but bent left wrist. (Ripley's) Believe it, or not.
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