Left wrist breakdown

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First post and very happy to be here. What is is the leading cause of the left wrist breaking down and starting to flip at impact? Is it clubhead throwaway? I have a follow up question to come later. Thanks.

[Trig]

First post and very happy to be here. What is is the leading cause of the left wrist breaking down and starting to flip at impact? Is it clubhead throwaway? I have a follow up question to come later. Thanks.

Not sure I know the "leading cause" but.....

Left wrist breakdown = clubhead throwaway

Bent right wrist = Flat left wrist

Concentrate on keeping the right wrist bent during your stroke all the way through impact to low point.

Work on some drills. Start by doing some chips and really focus on impact with your flat left wrist/bent right wrist. Finish with both arms straight in front of you. Your left wrist should still be flat at finish with these short shots. Progress to some pitch shots. Then eventually work your way up to full shots.

Working with an impact bag will also help. Check out the video we have of Yoda demonstrating with the impact bag. Take note of the impact position. The bag will help train you to do this.

Do all of these things as often as possible!

"Yoda and Impact Bag" video http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/Gallery.htm

Welcome aboard! You will find lots of help here....

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Thanks Trigolt. I've started to work hard on the FLW. I'm a decent player, 3.4 HC but if anyone's seen my swing on Brains site, i am bordering on flipping. As Brian calls it on his latest vid, i'm timing the flip to some extent. I can still play great this way but it's not as consistent as it needs to be. Put it under some pressure like a big tournement and i can shoot a horrendous score. I know if i want to be more consistent i need that FLW.

For me, on a full swing, even with a FLW at impact i feel the weight of the club wanting to straight the bend in my right wrist anywhere past low point. Is it lack of roll or do i need to feel like i'm keeping the left wrist locked? I've always felt my wrist are pretty loose. I've recently also pushed the ball forward in my stance and this is helping.

[Trig]

Thanks Trigolt. I've started to work hard on the FLW. I'm a decent player, 3.4 HC but if anyone's seen my swing on Brains site, i am bordering on flipping. As Brian calls it on his latest vid, i'm timing the flip to some extent. I can still play great this way but it's not as consistent as it needs to be. Put it under some pressure like a big tournement and i can shoot a horrendous score. I know if i want to be more consistent i need that FLW.

For me, on a full swing, even with a FLW at impact i feel the weight of the club wanting to straight the bend in my right wrist anywhere past low point. Is it lack of roll or do i need to feel like i'm keeping the left wrist locked? I've always felt my wrist are pretty loose. I've recently also pushed the ball forward in my stance and this is helping.

Are you a swinger? My buddy Bagger Lance is a very good player and a swinger and fights this same issue. He'll probably chime in here - but he was just telling me at lunch today that he needs to keep his body moving forward or he has the tendency to flip at the bottom.

I'm sure an instructor will pipe in at any moment and rescue me attempting to help you with your 3 HC!

[Bagger Lance]

Are you a swinger? My buddy Bagger Lance is a very good player and a swinger and fights this same issue. He'll probably chime in here - but he was just telling me at lunch today that he needs to keep his body moving forward or he has the tendency to flip at the bottom.

I'm sure an instructor will pipe in at any moment and rescue me attempting to help you with your 3 HC!

Well, I'm a former flipper and although it can creep back in, I'm so conscious of it now that I've managed to tame the beast. How to do it? It's not an overnight fix if you have unconciously trained your left wrist this way.

Recognize that it's the False Feel Wrist Action of 6-D-3 that produces clubhead throwaway and is usually a result of Quitting 3-F-7-B. It can also be a result of Steering 3-F-7-A. I have experienced both.

"Quitting slows or stops the Hands during Release" and is the "Mistaken assumption that this is the purpose of "Wrist Roll" (2G) and/or "Wrist Bend". The inherent power loss causes the player to swing even faster, aggravating the whole situtation."

The solution is on-plane Rhythm!

And I wish I had more of it!!!

Bagger

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Thanks for the replies guys. Trigolt, you have been a help and it's appreciated. I'm just starting out on the TGM road. I don't have the book in my hands yet, it's ordered, just waiting on it being delivered.

Bagger, thanks. Certainly that unconciously trained left wrist of mine gives me a false sense of power doubled up with inconsistency....yikes. That's why i'm determined to get this right. Even though i haven't read the book yet, i'm convinced the FLW will help me tremendously. I understand the quitting part and the hands slowing down or stopping. The solution, on plane rhythm, is a little foggy to me. Any chance someone could expand on that?

As to the question of whether i'm a swinger or hitter, with my so far limited knowledge of TGM, i think a swinger with a few hitter elements thrown in for bad measure sounds close. Looking forward to the journey.

Thanks again for all the help. Really enjoying being part of this site already.

[Bagger Lance]

Revert,

Glad to hear you are getting the book. I referenced a few of the sections that relate to left wrist breakdown for others that want all the nitty gritty.

I'll give you the Bagger version and hopefully Yoda will step in and correct any of my misleading assumptions.

There are three things that cause clubhead throwaway in 6-D.
1.) The urge to throw the clubhead from the top with the wrist(s)
2.) Over acceleration
3.) The feel that you must uncock the wrist(s) to align the clubface for impact.

There are four "Snares" (3-F) that we must avoid:
1.) Steering is trying to keep the clubface square to the target line, or clubhead on the target line, or the Clubhead on a level or upward path through impact. This is due to emphasizing the flight line over the plane line.
2.) Quitting (substituting clubhead control for clubface control). This forfeits the swingers sequenced release of uncocking on plane, then rolling the left wrist into impact.
3.) Bobbing - raising or lowering the head during the swing
4.) Swaying - Incorrect weight shift.

Rhythm is the steady, consistent RPM of the left arm and clubshaft as the clubhead begins to accelerate at the release point and the clubface rotates into and through impact (2-G). The clubshaft is seeking it's inline relationship with the left arm as the left wrist uncocks and the left hand rotates. This causes the clubhead to accelerate geometrically and it requires a flat left wrist for the clubface to align properly (6-B-3-0) .
On the downswing, the left arm and clubshaft are in-line even though there is wristcock. We call this the "left arm flying wedge" (6-B-3-0-1). This basic in-line relationship alignment doesn't change as the left wrist uncocks, however the clubhead picks up speed as the clubshaft seeks a straight, inline relationship to the left arm.
The left wrist roll into impact is called "Hinge Action" and is clubface control. It's an imperative in The Golfing Machine that the left wrist stays flat during the release and followthrough sequence in order for the uncocking and hinge action to be geometrically correct. This is the only way to impart maximum compression into the ball and straightaway ball flight.
All of the above requires that the clubshaft, clubhead, and clubface are coming down, out, and forward on a straight plane line, and RPM is constant. Acceleration is handled by the release sequence and the golfers ability to sustain RPM as the clubhead begins it's acceleration, (overtaking) phase.

Whew...

No wonder we like to reference chapters in the book...

Bagger

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Thanks for the great reply bagger, i'm going over it very slowly and methodically.

Of the three things that cause clubhead throwaway, i feel i can rule out number 3. I don't feel that at all, it happens naturally i think as i'm throwing away much earlier and the clubhead momentum just overpowers my wrists. The best way i can explain how it feels.

Both numbers 1 and 2 are a possibility. I think, as i viewed in the Tomasello videos i need to get my right elbow reconnected, i feel as though my right elbow doesn't move down to connect but out and away from me slightly, by the time it reconnects, throwaway has started and my elbow gets a little trapped behind my right hips as well. I think if i can get my right elbow reconnected before acceleration starts i'll be in a better position rhythm wise.

Off the snares, i'm positive i don't steer. Quitting, yeah. Looking at my swing on video i definately see a pause in my hip rotation coming into impact. I also have a little of both 3 and 4


Watching the video of yoda's driver in the gallery, i was impressed by how solid his lower body was. Even if it was a shaky cam.

All great stuff. Really looking forward to learning TGM inside out. I have a few ideas on how to accelerate my learning. It'll be a long road but totally worthwhile. Thanks again.

[Yoda]

Watching the video of yoda's driver in the gallery, i was impressed by how solid his lower body was. Even if it was a shaky cam.

All great stuff.

[Bold by Yoda.]

Trig,

Did we ever officially decide how cold it was? Forty degrees? Forty-five? Plus some wind chill?

Of course, I was prepared and was wearing:

1. A sleeveless, all-weather jacket.
2. A fleece outergarment.
3. A Monterey vest pullover.
4. A sweater vest.
5. A Turtle Neck shirt.
6. A Performance Mock Turtle Shirt.
7. An undershirt.
8. Long johns.

You, as I recall, had on a shirt and light-weight windbreaker. And, I think, socks...you only go barefoot come Spring.

Bottom Line:

'Shaky cam' is understandable. All is forgiven!

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I couldn't move wearing all that!!! Wasn't criticizing the shaky cam Just impressed how solid your lower body looked on the shaky cam.

PS If you get the opportunity, reply to my email please. Thanks again.