There is plenty of information on wrist action in the golf swing, including information here on this blog, but most of it deals with the movement of the left wrist or left side in the golf swing. However, this online golf lesson article and accompanying video are dedicated completely to the movement of the right side throughout the swing, specifically the right wrist action for the perfect golf swing with details on 5 key positions to check. Watch the video then check the article below for more detail and photos of some of these 5 key positions.
Step 1: Right Hand Golf Grip – Accent the Trigger Finger
For the right-handed golfer who desires to strike iron shots with a piercing flight and get a divot after the ball, it is imperative to create the right grip positions and consequent wrist positions. Start with a relatively strong left hand grip in which the “V” of the left hand points to the right shoulder, but place the right hand so it covers the left thumb in a more neutral overall position.
Right Hand Golf Grip w Trigger Finger
The right hand “V” will point straight up toward the chin, and the secret is accenting the forefinger position so it looks like a “trigger finger.” Going further, be sure the first joint segment of the finger is pressing into the side of the club in a manner that slightly puts the first knuckle on top of the handle as pictured here. The trigger finger will maintain side pressure on the handle from start all the way to impact.
Step 2: Backswing Takeaway – Dorsiflexion Past Right Thigh
The takeaway actually starts with no wrist action at all. It should be a one piece move that is best performed by letting the right shoulder blade begin moving back.
Dorsiflexion of Right Wrist
This starts a pulling of the right arm and hand as the club is delivered in a “one-piece” move like handing off a football.
Once the hands move beyond the right thigh, the right wrist will start bending back which is classified as “dorsiflexion.” This bending back of the right wrist creates the corresponding “flat left wrist” that is so well known in golf instruction.
Step 3: Right Arm Folds – Tray of Dishes at Top of Backswing
As the backswing continues to progress beyond the right thigh area and the wrist bends back, the right elbow will start to fold. The right elbow actually does not travel very far in a good backswing. It simply folds and points toward the ground as the right palm faces the sky in the classic “waiters’ tray” position at the top.
Tray of dishes at top of swing
A couple of key points must be noted in this top position. The weight of the shaft should be resting on the trigger finger, not the thumb. Also the right palm will slightly face away from the player to the right. If the opposite is true, club resting on the thumb and palm facing the player, then the clubface will be too open and casting is inevitable on the downswing.
Step 4: Downswing Drops in the Slot with Right Palm Down
As the downswing starts, the right arm and shoulder simply drop straight down as the feet press firmly into the ground and the knees make a slight lateral shift. There is no body turn at this stage – the right arm can’t drop straight down if the chest starts turning.
Pre-Impact Position - Right Palm Down
This straight down drop is what stores the lag angle at right elbow and right wrist as the club drops on plane into the slot half way down. The secret at this stage of the swing is to feel the pressure against the right hand trigger finger as the right palm faces down at waist-high. From the top of the backswing it feels like hitting your right thigh with the heel of your right hand while your right wrist stays bent all the way back.
At this waist-high downswing position of the hands, the butt of the club should point at the golf ball, toe of club points upward (but not quite straight up) and right palm is facing the ground, or more technically faces the ball on the ground.
Step 5: Impact and Release in the Golf Swing
Prior to this last step, all efforts have been made to store as much lag and backside pressure on the shaft as possible while keeping the shaft on plane and keeping the clubface square to the swing path. We’re basically at pre-impact just off the right hip with full wrist hinge, right palm down with the shaft hooked by the trigger finger.
Now it’s time to explode. As the hips start to clear and left leg straightens, the right arm will literally unhinge and straighten in a manner similar to driving a nail. Both the right elbow and right wrist straighten. This restores both arms to their full length through the impact zone. If you think about the right arm motion now at its completion, you’ll see the similarity to the nail driving example – grip the hammer squarely for good contact, hinge the wrist and elbow which is our backswing fold, then extend to make solid contact which is our release point.
Overhanded Release Position - Right Over Left
This proper release action requires the right arm to overtake the left arm as it races past and rolls over the left. Hence we describe this as an “overhanded” release in which the right palm continues to face down as it goes past the golf ball. A good image is to try to point the toe of the club at the target as the club exits the impact zone. This sounds like it would hook the ball, but it really works perfectly if you had the proper grip and lag all along.
The result should be a swing which bottoms out beyond the ball with irons to create the proper divot and simply rips the cover off the tee shots with the driver. Watch the video and see if you can get the right wrist action for the perfect golf swing.
Then let me know what you think in the comments section below. Did you pick up more distance, start taking a better divot, kill your slice? Let me know.
{ 109 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Herman,
Love the video came across it while researching right elbow positioning in backswing. Would you agree that by having the neutral right handed grip and keeping the right elbow pointed down at the top that this automatically gets the right wrist into waiters tray position without having to think about it? I notice when I try to really dorsiflex the wrist at the top that the results can be very good with more lag and greater distance. Or is to much to think about?
Thanks Darren
Thanks Darren. I’ll jokingly tell you after watching golfers do this stuff for over 25 years, there is almost nothing natural about any of it. I would say most people would have the elbow down and might still have to concentrate on making the wrist bend back into the waiters position. Take nothing for granted until it’s been trained long enough to be an automatic habit, and don’t worry that you have to consciously do something that might seem really natural for others. Tour Players have a hard time communicating what they do for this reason. They’ve done it so long they overlook some parts and other parts are so automatic they have forgotten what they feel like.
G’day Herman,
I’m finding your instruction videos simply awsome .. you’re a champion!!!
Can I get your take on this scenario, Herman .. .. I’m a lefty, but right hand dominant .. I slice. I fear that my dominant hand is too powerful for my left hand to release upon?? Do you know of others with a similar problem?
Regards – Pete (Melbourne)
Absolutely. When the dominant hand is the lead hand such as yours you will need to train that arm in isolation for a few seconds before each shot to help it feel the proper rotation to create the release move. Simply hold the club in your right hand with the clubhead on the ground in a setup position. Make a very small backswing of only 2 or 3 feet, then bring the club forward at about the speed of a greenside chip. As you near impact, make sure to scuff the turf as you turn the forearm and clubface a full 90 degrees so the toe of club points to target within just a foot or two past the ball location. You are basically trying to retrain the urge to dominate the swing with that arm using a pulling force and instead teach it how to apply an equal amount of rotation force. To fix a big slice I would try to get the back of the hand turning quick enough to face the right thigh before swinging on to the target. Try it for 10 seconds or so and then step up to play the shot. It will usually hook after doing the drill. Once you have a good feel for it you can gradually back off on the exaggeration. Good luck. – Herman
I found yours website looking for answers for the wrist and hands in the swing. I studied your left wrist video and went out and practiced. In one session I know I picked up yards and good ball flight. Just looked at the right wrist video and will go and practice that. Made change on grip from strong to weak and did not interlock fingers. Like that change. Now if I can just get off the right side everytime things may get right. If I can now get the feel of keeping my wrist cocked and then releasing them that would be awsome,
I use to be a 3 in college but I don’t know if I ever really new what my wrist was suppose to be doing in the swing. I am 64 now and look forward to continuing to learn.
THANKS!
Hi Herman,
I am a 51 year old female that started the game of golf a year ago. My brothers all told me I was crazy to attempt to learn to play golf at 50. I ignored them and took lessons all last summer. As you can imagine I struggled mightily all last season but have been bitten by the golf bug. I live in Northern Michigan so haven’t been on a course in months. I do however have a net in the garage and have been working on my swing over the winter. Just last week my husband suggested I should work on hitting down on the ball. After much reserach on the internet I discovered I needed to get lag into my swing which would result in ball compression. This is when I found your incredible videos. After reviewing several I discovered I wasn’t doing anything close to what you were describing. I have been in the garage working like a crazy person trying to incorporate the movements you describe in this video into my swing and am starting to see results. Of course I don’t get it right too often yet but when I do it is such a beautiful thing. As you indicated, attempting this is not for the timid but I refuse to be beaten by the little white ball and hopefully will prevail to some extent one day. I never could have begun the process without your help. Thanks so much for such a detailed, easy to understand explanation for such a complicated maneuver. I have definitely been Hermanized and will hopefully one day make you proud.
Shelly, that’s awesome. Your story is one reason i love doing this stuff. Hang in there and keep us all posted on how you’re doing. Glad to have you in the “Hermanized” flock. Can’t wait for your brothers to start shelling out when they’re losing bets to you on the course. – Herman
Hi Herman, This “right wrist action” lesson is the best explanation of grip and wrist action I have ever seen (and I’m 62!) I had been struggling with my right hand grip being to strong, and becoming disconnected at the top etc. – never knowing for sure what to do. By making my right hand grip weaker, it fits perfectly, feels comfortable, I know it’s correct now so that give me confidence and allows better hinging for more lag. So thank you!
I also really liked your explanation of the transition. I think Ben Hogans actual “secret” is that I think he said his backswing was not finished until he made the transition to the left side. His club is still going backwards another inch as after he transitions his weight – right?
Ron, you are exactly right. Good luck as you continue perfecting these moves. – Herman
When does the right elbow straighten, Herman? Just before or after impact? Thanks!
After impact.
Hi Heman,
I love your videos. I think your the best YouTube coach. Great work
I really have put in a LOT of work. I’m getting frustrated as I can not get the first move in the transition of holding back my chest as weight goes forward. I continually turn my upper body with my hips at the same time or I fall forward with my shoulders.
I have a rotary style of swing and very connected with upper arms to my body. I’m a 9 handicap but inconsistent.
I also can’t get my right elbow anywhere near my right hip. Could you kindly do a video that covers more of this
Should my arms fall passively on the start of downswing or do I help them. Is there another feel that may help.
You may want to look a little closer at the rotary style and make sure all the elemnets you’re working on fit together. I’ll definitely try to do a video on it. Until then you may be more successful by getting the armswing deeper behind you in the backswing. Then on the downswing you want the right elbow to drop behind your right hip and just ride the rotation of your body to impact. That arm drop probably needs to be active and intentional. Arms will still be pinned to your chest as you turn, but at the same time you are forcing the arms to drop as they ride your chest down.
Hey Herman, great stuff! However, I still need some help. Sometimes I get a bit confused about the Right wrist hinge. Should the heel of the right hand be facing down and pushing down towards ground at beginning of wrist hinge (with forearm facing skyward) or heel facing away from body forearm facing parallel. I tend to close the club face off at impact and take a substantial divot at times.
Thanks for the clarification.
If we’re talking about downswing, I’d say the heel faces out from body and slightly downward too. It’s at a bout a 45-degree angle … not quite facing completely down at the ground.
Herman: Thanks For All Your Help With Our Golf Swings! I Was Working On My Swing, Today, & Realized My Hands Were Coming Apart & My Right Elbow Was Flying Outward At The Beginning Of My Backswing. I Tried To Fold My Right Elbow Inward, Immediately, On The Backswing & This Seemed To Put Me On The Correct Plane On The Backswing & Kept My Right Elbow In Tight To My Body On The Downswing. Started Hitting The Ball Very Crisply. Is This OK For Me To Immediately Fold My Right Elbow? I Know My Swing May Not Be As Wide This Way, But It Seems A Lot More Consistent. Thanks!
I think that should be fine based on the results you are seeing. If it repeats and creates good ball flight, go with it.
Hi Herman,
Very interested to see your video. This ties in with a book I have been reading by Joe Dante, which you may have heard about (4 magic moves in golf). Joe also advocates a backward bend of the right wrist, the waiter position at the top with straight left wrist, a lateral move left on the downswing and a late hit.
You are the only other person I have come across who teaches this way. This makes a lot of sense to me because the position of the club at the top is square and you dont have to think about squaring the clubface on the downswing. Also when you make a first lateral move to the left on the downswing the club automatically drops down into a late hit position and you can then swing as hard as you like through the ball. Thanks.
Steve Betts, Cambridge UK
Thanks Steve. You gave an excellent description of what’s going on.
Hey Herman!
BUT, since applying several of your techniques…man, I am MUCH better! I feel like I owe you money!!!
I subscribe to your channel and love your video’s! You, sir, are AWESOME! Such a great teacher! Thank you for the time you spend on this!
As for me, I thought I had a decent game with some unique amateur issues…that is until I started watching your instruction! Now I realize I had a crappy game with common issues! lol
I used to crush the driver, but couldnt tell you where it was going to land. Now, I annialate it with pretty decent accuracy! And my long irons…the only good shots I hit came when I had to go 90 degrees left! Serious hooker! But Now, since listening and watching you, I smoked my 3 iron 225 down the pipe twice yesterday to be on in 2 (par 5′s)!!! I’m hitting my 5 200ish. I didnt change much on my short irons or wedges because they were (eh) ok, but I know where to go if that ever changes!!
If I could figure out this putter, I would be a force to be reckoned with! Any chance you can fix that for me too? Again, Thank You! Keep up the great work!
CK, glad you’ve seen the light. I loved your description of your game; it’s funny how many people find out their good shots were mostly luck all those years.
Glad you’re getting on the right track and thanks for the compliments.
Herman
Herman,
You da man!
Any chance you have some instruction on reading greens? I have pretty decent speed and feel, but I know I am not reading the breaks well. Any useful tip would be great!
Thanks again for all the swing instruction. You have definitely helped me, and now my wife is watching and practicing too! I’m pretty sure I owe you $$….she wants me to take her golfing more and more… Like I needed another excuse! Ha
CK
Herman,
I am signing in as anonymous just in case my betting partners do a search on my name and find my game changing tip that I got from your video. . We just played C Cat at Orange County National, a tough track to say the least. I hit 16 fairways and 16 greens and won a bunch of cash. The tip of you explaining of keeping the hand facing away on the downswing has changed everything for me. I had gotten into the bad habit of turning my right hand and wrist underneath to start the downswing and the results were either blocked shots or flipped hooks. This has been going on for years and countless lessons and turmoil. I saw your video right before I went out at Orange County National and the hit the range 2 hours before tee time and I just crushed the ball on the range working on the hand facing away as I started the downswing. I took the swing on the course and the confidence in the swing just got stronger and stronger. I have been out 6 times on the range after the round and validated my swing every time. I am just ripping the ball, feeling more on top of the ball and there are no more blocks and flip hooks. I am sorry I cannot give you kudos to my buddies as they are dog eat dog bunch and I need every advantage I can get. Thanks again. Anonymous and back enjoying the game.
I love it. You keep taking their cash; we’ll keep it our secret.
Herman
Hi Herman,
Just wanted to say I think your video golf lessons are great I have definitely been Hermanized.
thanks
Brian UK
Thanks, Brian … glad to have you on board. Good luck in the New Year.
Herman
Herman I real like your video tip. I have problem coming over the top think this might help me.
Hi Herman,
Excellent article.
Can you advise how close the right hand should be to the thigh when club parallel to ground? Also, how straight should the right arm be at the same position in downswing?
Thanks!
Right hand is probably 4-6″ or so from right leg, but the right forearm/elbow will be completely against the body in the downswing. Right arm will still have a lot of flex left at the elbow, sometimes almost 90 degrees. This is possible only by lowering the right shoulder as if dropping into a sidearm throwing position similar to skipping a rock across a pond. Good luck. Hope this helps. Herman
Thanks Herman,
Is the idea with the heel of right hand hitting thigh on downswing to get the hands back to the same position they were at address when looking DTL. That is, the same distance from the body that they were at address. Is such a hand position a good one to strive for at impact? Cheers, Andrew
Andrew, that’s a great way to look at it, but it is meant to be an exaggeration to prevent other problems from occurring. Centrifugal force tends to drive the hands outward away from the body and we instinctively pull back and uncock the wrists as well. Definitely try to do what you described with the heel of the hand, but in the real world the hands will actually arrive at impact a little higher than where they started out and probably a little farther from your body. Thanks for stopping by. – Herman
Work on the grip and setup along with this tip……. pleasantly surprised with the ease and comfort of the grip and the setup is easy to work in. This right hand tip…..all I can say is Wow !!! Big difference…. Crisp iron shots and hit about 5 drives….flew a couple almost past where my normal drives finish.
Good stuff, Herman…..
Thanks,
The Hermanator
Hi Herman,
This is Erik all the way from the Netherlands. I want to compliment you with your online lessons. I have seen many pro’s on the net with quick fixed video lessons telling us how it should be done, but not one is getting close to you. Your detailed lessons are helping me getting better but also enjoying the game more and more. Your lesson on over the top is an eye opener for me and helps me understand (finally) to fix this problem.
Thanks and keep on going bringing those great tips and lessons.
Erik (The Netherlands)
Thanks Erik. I’ll be working on some new videos now that we are finally entering the winter off-season and I get a little more time to devote to the online instruction.
I have been working on your lesson now for about two weeks and just couldn’t get comfortable with what my right side was doing on the downswing and through impact. The comment to another on your link about imagining painting a line on a wall behind yourself with your right hand on the down swing did the trick. thanks Herman
Glad you found that tip. It has worked for many others in my private lessons.
At the range yesterday, tried your neutral grip, keeping left wrist flat and making sure right forearm rotates through impact. I used all my wedges, 7 iron and driver. It was a windy day so direction was difficult but the contact of the face on the wall was different from anything I have felt before – and more distance !
Excellent videos, clearly explained, – this could have changed my game forever !
(17 handicap – Lancaster UK)
Many thanks
Glad to hear it. Sounds like you’ve been Hermanized.
Hi Mike,
If I have a stronger left hand grip is there a proper place for that knuckle on the grip or does it still go on top? Also if you have a strong grip and a slightly cupped position on the top will the knuckles down help or hurt to square the face at impact?
Thanks,
JP
Strong left hand is ok, but unlikely to require anything different with the right hand. Go as described in video with right trigger finger exposed and knuckle in view. (I assume that is what you meant.)
At impact you probably can’t afford to turn the knuckles down without hooking. Simply try to keep the hands pressed forward at impact out in front of the clubhead.
First class instruction. I have an offending right hand just like all baseball players. This video taught me what a well-behaved right hand does.
Thanks, Steve. Glad to help. – Herman
Thank you, been playing for a year thinking about ebaying the clubs. I took your advice and just hit 50 of the most sweet shots i have ever hit, looks like e bay will have to wait. Thanks dude, Matt, Suffolk, UK.
Glad you found us and avoided losing your game to Ebay. Keep it going. – Herman
Thank you – for your clear description and honesty! Superb advice – you are a knowledgeable golfer and a great teacher!
Herman………good stuff! Watching your video’s has me Hermanized….. or call me a Hermanator. I have been around golf for a very long time and have seen or heard a lot of different instructors and instruction….. you have the gift of maybe the clearest instruction I have seen. Thanks!
Mark E from Tennessee
Thanks, Mark. I try to call it as I see it and give you guys the plainest possible way to understand and fix or build a golf swing. I’m glad you’ve found it helpful. Keep in touch. – Hermanator
Hi Hermann,
might be your very german first name …..;-)
….but after 4.786.312 Golf videos, 286,145 books and 3.788 DVDs (at least it feels like that) and more than 2.000 $ in Pro Lessons (this is really true) YOU MADE IT and I now -for the first time ever- I know how the trailing wrist works, -and I am already a 18 hcp. after I started golf 2011 in April.
I always knew that my body was doing right but there was a missing link in my release, that stopped me from being more consistant and better.
I was so focused on the front wrist, because everybody is talking about, and here you tell anything thats important.
Had 120 balls on the range to get use to this “new” wrist motion, went out on our 9 hole course, shot a 4 over par and was so excited that I also played our 18 hole course with 11 over par (38 putts*argh*).
I just gained 1 club length and my drives are about 30 mtrs (40 yds) longer in total.
THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!
I guess Germany is a little too far for lessons, right….;-)?!
Thx so much!!!
Markus, I loved your story. Thanks so much for the honest compliments and testimonial. – Herman
Great video. I am trying to get back into golf after 20 years at age 62. Your three part video describes all of the problems I had 20 years ago. Thanks to you, I understand the mechanics of the swing a lot better. My challenge now is to execute, especially when I have a ball in front of me.
This video seems like a “part four” of the series. I can feel myself rushing my swing at the point of contact and flipping my wrists as I hit the ball throwing my weight onto my back leg often coming out of my stance and lifting my head just after contact. Video three’s recommendations on the left hand made a lot of sense to me, but this video will help me to control the longer clubs at the top where a lot of my problems begin.
Thank you. Your videos are by far the most clear and concise. I wish you would do some on chipping and pitching.
Thanks, Ron. Welcome back to the game after 20 years. I hope it keeps getting better.
Nicely done! Hand position is so important and the way you completely convey how the hands should feel throughout the swing is an overlooked approach to teaching… your perspective reminds me of a great teacher I had as a kid who actually learned to teach from the great Tommy Armour (I). I had lost my way in terms of what my hands should be doing and where they should be but you’ve put my back on track. Thanks so much! One of these days I will have to take a trip to NC (live in Carlsbad, CA) and get a lesson from you.
Keep up the great work.
Ned
Thanks, Ned. I appreciate the compliment. I actually learned the swing as a 12-year old kid by reading Tommy Armour’s book, “How to Play the Best Golf of Your Life.” I would read a little bit and then run down the hill to beat balls for a few hours in the corner of our property trying to figure it all out. Funny how things come full circle. Thanks for reminding me. – Herman
I very much enjoy your training, but I have some issues. I wish I could get you a swing video. The only way I can get my left wrist flat is to allow that separation of the right hand from the palm you warned against. It’s basically for a brief moment only in my fingers with my right hand and my right hand is yanking on the club to bring it back with a flat left wrist. Or as soon as I start my backswing I bow my left wrist horribly so that my watch is facing straight down. Does that make sense? Can you provide thoughts on this. That flat left wrist just feels so unnatural to me, it even hurts to get it In that position, as if it’s forced, well it is, lol. Shots are good and straight and it even feels as if I can create a bit of lag by allowing this separation from the palm. However I just feel confused on the takeaway altogether, I can’t seem to find any videos from top down of the hands during take away, is it a roll or a bow or a hing
I welcome your thoughts
I have to admit i don’t feel comfortable making a recommendation without seeing what is going on. But remember the “flat left wrist” is not the main fundamental in this whole conversation. A square clubface with the leading edge aligned with the left forearm is the primary objective. It just so happens that for most people this works out best when the wrist is flat. So i would go back and double-check clubface position in a mirror at top of swing and also double-check grip to determine if you need to fight so hard to get a flat wrist.
Generally, separation of the hands leads to inconsistency in clubface position in transition and downswing resulting in wild shots. If you are not having a problem, it may be wise to avoid fixing “what ain’t broke” unless you see a big upside payoff to the change. Good luck. – Herman
I’ve noticed that turning my right palm down almost facing the ground on the start of the downswing allows me to hit down on the ball especially with my short irons. Also it seems to allow me create a square clubface early in the downswing. Although turning the right palm down seems counter intuitive it feels like im going to hit a big hook amazingly the clubface
gets squared up. I was having problems slicing prior to this. My right palm was more facing up previously. So my question is i dont feel like i have to rotate my forearms much from my early downswing into impact. And i do feel like the right hand is pushing down.
My question is does it sound like i am overdoing the palm down feel? It feels like a strange new move however it seems to have greatly reduced my slice issues.
I think the golf ball is telling you everything you need to know here. Feels weird ’cause you’ve never done it, but it has to be getting clubface into position better than your old move. If you do finally begin to hook it, then start trying to create more lag and delay the feeling of the “turn down.”
Thanks so much for the video. It confirmed much of what I thought and had been trying, but was unable to find any supporting information. Your explanation clearly cleaned up some of the choices in hand positions which I was not 100% certain of.
Also, I start feeling like I am compressing the ball fully. But, is it also good for driver because u r not compressing ball but hitting in upswing? Please let me know if this works for driver too.
Thanks.
Yes, it works for drivers too. Ball position is obviously different, so you are not hitting down. And hands will not stay in front of club but more likely will be even with the shaft at impact.
I have got all what u have explained so nicely in your video as far as right palm and hand in concerned. It works well. However, I think u have to agree with me that in downswing u have to lift your right heel and push right knee toward target before dropping right hand or palm towards right thigh. Rest will follow byitself. I hope I am right. Otherwise, u will be hanging on back foot and there will not be any weight shift. Rest is as good as u said. Let me know your opinion please.
Thanks a million. U r the best.
Vimal, the move you describe pushing off right instep is fine. Try to do it simultaneously with the drop of the arms. Thanks for commenting and following my articles and videos. – Herman
Great video. Very detailed and informative. I think I am overdoing the drop down and club lag as I end up with a severe slice being unable to square the club head. Im thinking that you have overemphasized the drop down/lag to make the point for the video? Concentrating on swinging inside out and not overdoing the lag helps a lot.
We’re definitely “overemphasizing” lag in this video expecting the audience for this information to be short-hitting casters with no lag. It is certainly possible to have more lag than you can live with and fail to square up the club or create a lot of work for yourself trying to do it. Pick your battles carefully in this sport. But if your right hand grip is good and right palm is facing somewhat downward prior to impact you should not have too much trouble hitting the ball squarely. Good luck and thanks for commenting.
As i stated with the new grip and flat wrist at top of swing i’m hitting my driver the furthest i have hit it in 20 years of playing. It just feels like it allows you to ready smack it hard and square
Ken
I’m off to the range to put it all together, and I’m changing my grip from interlocking to overlapping. Interlocking grip seems to freeze my forearms and make them more tense somehow, the fingers on my right hand are sore, and I have to force my right hand into position on top of the club to get the “V” to point up straight. Now, that can’t be natural.
I’ve also been having trouble getting the right hand in the tray position, the club slips down betwenne thumb and forefinger, no doubt due to my bad grip and lack of forefinger pressure.
Doing it all right is very challenging, but I’ll get there is I just take my time and keep trying.
Thanks for your tremendous work!
Great self-analysis. Good luck with the changes.
Herman
Well, I thought moving to an overlapping grip would need time to improve my shots, before I was blocking and push slicing, now I’m hitting the ball left of center to center already and its easier to get that right hand on top.
I think the interlocking grip was an obstacle to releasing because it bonded the hands together too tightly.
Still some tweaking to do, but I’ll get there sooner or later.
Great video Herman,
I have been struggling a bit with pulling the golf ball and coming over the top. Will working on the right palm facing the sky ‘waiters position’ help with overcoming this problem?
Cheers
Thanks for stopping by Troy … I like your website. This waiters tray won’t necessarily help unless you can feel like you drop the tray straight down (right palm moving toward right hip) on the downswing and then “cover” the ball with it. David Leadbetter once said to imagine holding a pizza at the top and then splatting it on top of the ball at impact. Good luck. – Herman
Hi Herman,
Thanks for the great video as always. The action of the right wrist is something I have been studying in great detail recently. I am a mid-handicapper who has always struggled mightily with an early release. I tend to scoop balls clean off the turf and feel like I have no distance control whatsoever. I KNOW that I need to maintain the lag, but it seems like every time I try to hold off the release until my hands are past the ball, I end up shanking it. I believe this may be due to my right hand “flipping” outward at impact so that my palm is facing the target, rather than the ground, effectively bringing the hosel of the club to the ball. Does that make sense? Is there a drill / training aid that you might recommend for such a problem?
Thanks as always, all my self-diagnoses and countless range sessions with no improvement are starting to wear on me…
Mike, your self-diagnosis sounds pretty accurate. With casting, almost always there is or was a problem with an open clubface lurking somewhere. The scoop/flip is a last-ditch effort at closing the face. So the best thing you can learn is how to have the back of your left hand and right palm already facing down as you approach the ball. Then the face is squared up early and shaft is leaning forward. It’s not always such a big deal to have a maximum amount of lag, just a leaning shaft. Picture a long chip shot with the ball off your back foot and how you should strike it with the shaft leaning forward to keep it low and running. Create the same feel on your way to impact with a full swing, and you’ve got it. Here are 3 checkpoints for right hand.
1) Just past right thigh in takeaway right wrist should be bending back so palm is facing mostly down toward ground. Clubface will look and feel closed.
2) At top of backswing right palm will appear to face away from you to the right like waving to someone off your right shoulder.
3) At waist-high on downswing wrists are still fully bent back but right palm is largely facing the ground again with clubface in slightly closed appearance. Now you only have to finish driving your hands forward and turning the hips to get to impact.
Herman,
I just started watching your videos and after many years and many different swings, i think you explain it perfectly. I know focused on the flat left wrist and was always an over the top player. I was still able to shoot low 80′s at times, but was very inconsistant. I could never get the club to come from the inside. i think using your swing thought of laying the club on a table behind you is really working for me. I also now feel what a real release thru the ball feels like, that flat left wrist helps so much at top of swing.
Thanks
ken
sudeenly, I can’t get your tube videos. best explaination of golf swing I have seen, period. clears up a lot of misunderstandings
CAN YOU APPLY THE SAME TECHNIQUES TO A DRIVER OR A WOOD OFF THE FAIRWAY. I DON’T HIT THE BALL VERY FAR NOW (AGE) AND ANY
HELP FROM YOU WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED.
THANKS
GREAT VIDEO AND THANKS. CAN THIS SAME METHOD BE
USED FOR A DRIVER OR FAIRWAY WOODS?
Absolutely … just be sure your ball position is good.
One of the best golf instruction videos period. Went and played yesterday with the grip, and while it was different for me, I could really see how it would benefit my game. I appreciate all the time put into this video and how well you know the swing. This was an aspect I knew I needed help with and really feel like I got it here. My one question is on the downswing when you are going from having the right under the club at the top to on top of the club at waist down, how do you maintain the lag? I worked on this for a while and couldn’t really get it. I could feel the pressure of the trigger but was having a hard time maintaining the angle. Thanks.
Imagine your right hand painting a stripe down a wall with your palm facing the wall to your right in the downswing. Just keep your wrist bent back, fingertips to the sky.
Then go look at this article and video http://www.hermanwilliamsgolf.com/golf-lag-stop-casting-lag-like-tiger-woods/. Good luck. – Herman
Nice tip – painting a stripe down a wall. I would tend to get the back of my upper arm into my side on the downswing, which would have my right palm facing up to much when i was coming into the ball. Anyway it helped me quite a bit. Thanks
Herman:
Thank you for your videos.You have helped me in understanding the golf swing.I do need clarification on the part swinging the arms has in the overall golf swing.
In the back swing the arms are swung to waist height. After this the upper body is used to complete the back swing and the arms are passive eccept for breaking the wrists.
The down swing starts with the lower body with the arms remaining passive.When does swinging the arms on the down swing start? Is at waist height or until just before the impact zone
Thank David Maggs
David,
Thanks for commenting and following the videos. Your description is pretty accurate, but I’m not necessarily passive at swinging the arms down in the downswing. Tour Players often fight being too aggressive with hands and arms, but most of my amateur clients are the reverse. They often need to be aggressive right at the start of downswing at pulling the handle down. Most of my amateur clients bring the chest around too fast which causes casting and over-the-top moves as well. So my answer depends on your style which I have not seen, but …
My typical suggestion is to get into a backswing position with an inward braced right leg, spine leaning away from target, full 90 degree shoulder turn and armswing slightly above right shoulder. Then keep your chest “closed” as you press into down into left foot and inward on right foot. Arms will be driving down aggressively toward right hip while maintaining full wrist hinge.
At this waist high position for the hands, you can really pour on the right side extension and release as hips and chest continue clearing.
Caveats: If you’re a somewhat upright arm swinger, then you must hold your chest back longer and “bump/slide” even more to the left with the hips as you forcefully drive the hands down toward right pants pocket.
If you are a flatter armswing player, you will have the club more behind you in the backswing and will probably be more over the ball with your pivot. As a result, you won’t need as much leftward shift. Simply push into the ground with your left foot and clear your whole body (hips and chest) evenly. Armswing can still be aggressive, since it is likely your stronger hips and legs will outrun the smaller muscles of your hands and arms.
left arm flying wedge/right arm flying wedge
Is this right hand movement also referred to as “laying off the club”?
Not necessarily. It can get more involved, but “laid off at top of backswing” describes a shaft position that points offline to the left of target toward third base for a right-handed golfer. Ideally if the shaft reaches “parallel” at the top of backswing, it should point directly at target.
herman,
i really enjoyed your youtube footage of the masters practice round. i couldnt emagine being at the masters. i watched johnny miller talk about the trigger finger on youtube. he references using that pressure and how john daly exaggerates the seperation of the pointer finger and the middle. its may be worth mentioning.
well great videos and let me know what other tour events you have on youtube
jeremy avila
Jeremy, thanks for checking in and thanks for watching my videos. I didn’t get to see all of Johnny’s presentation, but you’re right about Daly’s forefinger position on the club. His trigger is so exaggerated he’s almost touching the steel on the shaft. The Masters is an annual trip for me, but it’s tough with my schedule to get to other events to get video. So for now, everything I have out there on YouTube is from Augusta, but besides the practice footage there are a number of individual pro’s swings on my YouTube Channel.
Herman,
I liked this lesson and gave it a try at the range, it felt a little off but i’ve been giving it some time to adjust. The ones i did hit were all a slight draw when i did the turn the toe over feeling, when i hold off just a pinch it’s a high straight ball (beautiful). Taking it to the course Friday and will see how it looks, didn’t get to hit driver so no idea about that one yet.
How is the belly putter treating you, we’ll discuss validity of it when you get back, enjoy the vacation!
Good luck … belly putter was awesome. Thanks for checking in. – Herman
Herman,
Great lesson. But I am struggling with the hammering nail concept. When I think about hammering a nail, i think about straight back and forward but isn’t the right hand also going forward?
the picture I want for you is to imagine driving a nail somewhat sidearmed as if you were driving a finishing nail in the baseboard or shoe moulding at the base of a wall.
Herman,
I like your points but they conflict with your three videos on “Get more distance”. I like the stronger grip, it feels better for me. Should I just stick with it?
Thanks, Jon Skowvron
Hey Jon, look a little closer. In both video series we allow for a “strong” left hand. It’s only the right we’re willing to make weaker. The weaker right actually allows you to hinge more by bending in the “dorsiflexion” (back bending) direction. Now just keep it bent back and palm facing down on downswing and you’re in the most powerful possible position. Generally the only time this fails is when a player adopts the weaker right hand but fails to get in the “tray of dishes” position at the top. If you’ve already found success, I wouldn’t worry much. But if you think something is lacking in terms of lag and compression at impact, then give this technique a look.
Ultimately, though you bring up a valuable point. The content I produce is for a wide audience. You guys likely can’t try every training tip I produce. I try to put out pretty main stream stuff, but there is certainly more than one way to succeed at this great game. Just as age, talent and physique vary from player to player, so will the swings. Sample things that fit your style, and ignore those that don’t. Good luck. – Herman
Thanks Herman, as usual another great online lesson. Everything you put online is very practical. BTW you will be happy to know that I shot a 76 from the blue tees at Tobacco Road this weekend. Credit to you for getting my game to another level.
Nice playing … that’s a great score especially for winter golf and thanks for checking in to comment. – Herman
Herman
Another great instruction!
This fits nicely into what we discussed in our last session – going to incorporate this into the practice session today.
Thanks, Deva. Good luck with your training … I’m still soaking up the sun in sunny South Florida, but I hope to see you soon. Herman
Herman, brilliant video, easy to understand, although I’m interested in your advice on the implementation of the concepts you cover in this one. ie. is it best to break each concept down and implement in a sequential fashion, until mastery (or reasonable mastery) or attempt to implement each into your swing at once and wear the pain of a multi-implementational approach!
I see the concepts to be implemented as: dorsiflexion, dropping club down with lateral move whilst maintaining the lag, and then the release. Working on trying to implement these together would be, as you say in the video “not for the faint hearted”. What is your advice on the best approach to implement these concepts, sequential or multi implementation approach.
Regards
Garry Nolan
Smart question. If I think my student is doing none of this correctly, I like to start with perfect grip, then the release. I actually don’t mind over-releasing and hooking. This plants the seeds to allow the drop with lag without blowing the shots dead right. But I must say if the tray of dishes at the top and palm-down position half way down are good, then slicing won’t be such a problem if you dive in and try it all at once.
Anyway, trying everything at once can be done if you’ll spend plenty of time with slow-motion reps and no ball to groove the pattern. Most players manage the grip and the drop but have a hard time getting the palm down and the over-handed release, thus leaving shots to the right.
Thanks again Herman,are you sure you don’t have a video of my swing….
because losing the grip at the top of the back swing sure sounds like me.
Hermanized again….It’s amazing…. watching 4 videos of your golf tips and it corrected years of frustration and not knowing how to correct them.
All the instructors,all the videos and all the hours and you summed it up in 4 videos…… and you have never seen my golf swing.
Thanks again….
My crystal ball is all seeing …
Thanks for following my videos and commenting on the results. I’m glad to have you in the Hermanized camp.
This is really timely. I was just trying to explain the position of the right hand to my son this past week while we were hitting balls at the Golf Academy. Thanks.
Glad to help … keep him practicing. – Herman
Hi Herman,
Great video and explained so well. I think many instructors do not relate to the recreational golfer’s physical ability. But you address it and give us a great path to follow. Can not wait to try this tomorrow. I am so glad I found your website!
Thanks!
What a great observation. You captured my intent perfectly. I really believe most of the published information you get in golf is explaining to you how a Tour Player is swinging and it’s often too generalized or too advanced.
The Tour Player is operating at a PhD level if we compared it to the education system or an Olympic caliber athlete when we compare to the sports world. The recreational amateur can certainly aspire to reach that level, but don’t start with coaching geared toward that level. Grammar school, then high school, then undergraduate and finally the PhD if you make it that far. Good luck and stay in touch. – Herman
Follow up to my first comment. I went outside to practice swing a little bit with the things in mind from the video. I find that the trigger finger emphasis with V pointing at my chin makes me feel more tension or discomfort in the right thumb part of the hand. It feels uncomfortable. Do I need to just get used to it? It will go away in time. Do size of grips have anything to do with the comfort of doing it properly? I don’t have long fingers but I have a thick thenar eminence and large thumb. Thanks again. Wish you were in CT for live instruction.
Hey Mike, Glad you’ve been able to take advantage of a warmer than average Fall and Winter. I’m curious about the thumb situation. The weaker grip should have the thumb pad sitting off the left side of the handle with only half the pad touching the club. There should be almost no thumb pressure on the club, so it’s unusual to have any thumb problems. In fact Ben Hogan used to practice occasionally with his thumb and pinky finger pointed out in the air off the club to accent how the middle two fingers of the right hand gripped the club with the trigger applying pressure from the side. Just make sure the thumb is not doing any of the hitting and you should be ok. Smaller grips will make for more active hands and wrists if you think that will help.
Kudos to you for the best explanation of where the left hand and trigger finger belong on the grip I have ever seen. I think I forget about the waiter tray position too often, resulting in early release that makes me hit the ground before the ball. I am a sweeper so perhaps the early wrist set and waiters tray position can help prevent it from happening. Can’t wait to apply this tomorrow. Yes, I am still playing up here in CT. Weather has been more golf friendly this year.
Hello Mike,
I have had the same problem of early release and my grip being too tight at the top of the backswing. I get a powerful feeling with my driver on the way down so it works,but I am hitting my irons fat.