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Newsletter - Issue 36 Date 09/25/07
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TCT Quick Tips
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Lifting the head during the shot is usually the result of 
another fault, and not the actual cause of a poor shot.

Instead of thinking "keep your head down", concentrate
on maintaining your spine angle through impact and 
you'll be much more likely to make solid contact.

And yes Buzzy, it's TCT guaranteed.
 
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Golf Tip : Flat Left Wrist
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If anyone has a golf question that they would like 
answered, please email your question to: 
teachingpro@bataviacc.com and I'll do my best to answer 
it in an upcoming newsletter.

When watching a golfer, the left wrist is probably the easiest
way to tell how well the person plays golf. If the left wrist
stays flat, he/she is a good player. If it collapses, they need
improvement. The Flat Left Wrist is the result of swinging the
club in a manner where the alignment of the club face to the left
arm stays constant. It shows the club followed the pivot and that
the clubhead was not "thrown" at the ball.

Let me take a moment to define the Flat Left Wrist and a collapse.
Flat means either straight or slightly supinated.  Collapsed means
cupped.  Here's what flat, supinated, and collapsed mean.

Hold your left arm straight out in front of you with your palm 
facing left and your fingers pointing straight ahead.  
Your wrist is now flat.

Now bend your wrist so that your fingers point to the right.  
Your wrist is now supinated.

Now bend your wrist so that your fingers point to the left.
Your wrist is now cupped, or collapsed.

Because the flat left wrist is the indicator of a precision golf
swing, it should be carefully monitored. I highly recommend slow
practice swings with the objective of maintaining a flat left
wrist. Use these practice swings to work out the sequence of
movements that repeat the correct wrist position at impact.

Another way to perfect the flat left wrist is through chipping
practice. Chipping requires a short, slow swing and is easy to
monitor. Ensure that your hands stay ahead of the clubface until 
the ball is long gone and you will be repeating the correct wrist 
position.

There is one training aid called the wrist firm that I use 
occasionally with students that have problems with the wrist position, 
and it's very effective.  Buy one if you need one - about $50 - but you can 
get the same result by using a tight glove on your left hand with a comb 
or 6 inch ruler inserted along the back of your hand/wrist area to 
prevent it from cupping.  The comb or ruler will first act as a 
restraining device to keep your hands from steering or throwing the 
clubhead.

Practice chipping with the comb inserted in the glove, and
if it's a bit uncomfortable at impact it means that you are trying to 
cup your wrist.  The more you need to improve, the more the comb or ruler
will restrain you. You simply can't cheat it.  Keep practicing until your 
impact position consistently finds your left wrist slightly supinated or
flat.

Getting your wrist position down with this chipping drill will help your 
correct wrist position follow you through to the longer swings.