Practical Drills to Improve Wrist Mechanics and Clubface Control

Preset Wrist Drill – Step by Step:

1. Alignment Stick: Place one on the ground parallel to your target line.
2. Set the Club at P2: Swing the club to waist-high (club parallel to the ground). Ensure the shaft sits just above the alignment stick.
3. Wrist Angles: Your trail wrist bends back into extension. Your lead wrist moves slightly toward flexion (removing excessive cupping). The clubface should appear slightly tilted downward.
4. Continue to the Top: From that “preset,” complete your backswing.
5. Hit Shots Slowly: Start with slow swings to ingrain the correct wrist hinge, then progress to normal speeds.

HackMotion Tip: Watch your lead wrist extension readouts. If it’s too high at the top, revisit your preset position, as you may be extending the lead wrist too soon in the golf swing.

Hip Station Drill – Step by Step:

1. Setup a Barrier: An alignment rod, golf bag, or chair just an inch outside your trail hip.
2. Address: Normal stance and posture; the object is close but not touching your hip.
3. Rotate Instead of Sway: Make your backswing, turning your trail hip behind you without bumping the barrier.
4. Slight Trail Leg Straightening: This helps rotate the hip in place.
5. Add a Ball: Once comfortable, hit half-swings or pitch shots, ensuring the hip doesn’t sway.

HackMotion Tip: If you see odd spikes in wrist extension or lead wrist flexion at the top, you may be compensating for a sway. A stable lower body often stabilizes the wrists as well.

Tees Under the Arms Drill – Step by Step:

1. Tuck Tees/Gloves: Place them under both arms to feel gentle pressure.
2. Short Backswings: Rotate your shoulders instead of lifting your arms.
3. Maintain Light Pressure: If a tee falls, your arms are disconnected.
4. Progress to Larger Swings: Continue to three-quarter or full swings.

Water Bottle Drill – Step by Step:

1. Fill a Bottle Partway: Hold it upside down in your trail hand at address.
2. Top of Backswing: Make a normal backswing and pause.
3. Pour the Water: As you begin your downswing, rotate your trail forearm so the water would pour out to the side (not over your head).
4. Replace Bottle with Club: After rehearsals, swing your club, feeling the same forearm rotation.
5. Build Speed Gradually: Start small; work to full swings once you can sense that “pour.”

Hit Hard, Stop Quick Drill – Step by Step:

1. Setup & Grip: Address the ball normally with a neutral grip.
2. Half Backswing: Take the club back to waist or three-quarters.
3. Accelerate Through: Hit firmly through the ball, then stop your swing abruptly.
4. Check Shaft Lean: At your stopping point, the handle should still be ahead of the clubhead.
5. Repeat & Increase Speed: Once you can maintain the correct wrist angles at low speed, increase power.

HackMotion Tip: Watch for a spike in lead wrist extension at impact. The goal is minimal extension for crisp strikes.

Towel Drill – Step by Step:

1. Fold Towel: Make a small rectangle.
2. Position It: Place the towel about one grip-length behind your ball on the target line.
3. Avoid the Towel: Focus on striking the ball cleanly without hitting the towel.
4. Gradually Move The Towel Closer: Challenge yourself as you improve your low point control.

HackMotion Motorcycle Drill – Step by Step:

1. Normal Setup: A slight extension in the lead wrist is normal at address.
2. Swing to the Top: Pause at the top position.
3. Motorcycle Twist: In transition, it feels like you’re twisting the throttle “off.” This moves the lead wrist into flexion, closing the face.
4. HackMotion Feedback: See if your extension data drops into the flexion range.
5. Adjust Ball Flight: Too much flexion might cause hooks; not enough keeps the face open.

HackMotion Casting Drill – Step by Step:

1. Slow Rehearsals: Make a normal backswing, then begin the downswing by shifting weight left and rotating hips. Don’t pull down with your arms.
2. Maintain Trail Wrist Bend: Check HackMotion data on your trail wrist. Keep it extended (bent) as you initiate the downswing.
3. Arms Follow: Allow the arms to drop naturally, letting the club “lag” behind.
4. Progressive Speed: Start slowly, building up speed while retaining your wrist angles.

HackMotion Tip: If your trail wrist extension straightens too soon, you’re casting. Keep the extension longer to store power.

Low Chip Shot – Step by Step:

1. Upright Setup: Stand slightly closer so the shaft is more vertical.
2. Thumbs Down: Feel like your thumbs point at the turf (ulnar deviation). This reduces excessive wrist action.
3. Back & Through: Use a small, controlled motion with your chest turn—avoid “flipping” the club.

HackMotion Tip: If your lead wrist extends at or before impact, you’ll often blade or chunk. Keep extension low in your data readout.

High Lob – Step by Step:

1. Open Face & Wider Stance: Aim the face slightly open; the ball can be forward in stance.
2. Retain Cupped Lead Wrist: As you hinge in the backswing, keep the extension in your lead wrist.
3. Swing Under the Ball: Maintain that extension through impact so the face stays lofted.

HackMotion Tip: Watch your lead wrist extension. Too little: face shuts down. Too much: potential to overdo it. Find a middle ground that yields a soft, high flight.

Landing Spot Drill – Step by Step:

1. Pick a landing spot: Depending on the shot, choose a spot about 3-5 feet from the green.
2. Place a towel or coin on the landing area: This provides a clear visual target.
3. Hit a series of chips, focusing ONLY on landing the ball on the spot: Don’t think about the hole; just try to land the ball on the towel/coin.
4. Adjust for different lofts and roll-out: Use a lower-lofted club (e.g., PW or 9-iron) for more roll, and a higher-lofted club (e.g., 58°) for a softer landing.
5. Test different distances: Move the landing spot farther away to develop better touch and feel.

Putting Stability Drill – Step by Step:

1. Activate Putting Mode: In the HackMotion app, select “Putting.”
2. Establish Baseline: Hit a few putts to see your typical wrist usage.
3. Green Zone Training: The app provides a range (e.g., minimal extension changes). Try to stay within it.
4. Shorter Strokes First: Keep your wrists quiet and let the big muscles (shoulders, arms) control the stroke.
5. Gradually Increase Length: As you keep wrist motion low, move on to mid-range putts.

The Chopsticks Drill – Step by Step:

1. Create Chopsticks: Secure two alignment rods at one end with a rubber band.
2. Under Your Arms: Place them so they extend out in front, forming a channel for the putter shaft.
3. Practice Without a Ball: Swing the putter back and forth, feeling how the rods prevent excessive radial (up) or ulnar (down) motion.
4. Add a Golf Ball: Once comfortable, roll putts focusing on stable wrists.

HackMotion Tip: Check your radial/ulnar deviation in the app. Aim for a flat line indicating minimal up/down wrist hinge.

Driver vs. Iron Wrist Angle Drill – Step by Step:

1. Use a Door Frame: Stand so your lead ear is near the frame (or use an alignment stick just outside your lead ear).
2. Setup & Pivot: Take a regular golf posture (driver or iron). Practice “pushing” hips forward in the downswing while keeping your head relatively centered near the frame.
3. Drag an Alignment Stick: Some players put a stick on the ground and rehearse dragging it with body turn instead of flipping the wrists.

HackMotion Tip: Compare your lead wrist extension from iron swings to driver swings. They should be similar at impact, any big difference likely comes from poor hip shift or tilt, not from changing wrist angles.

Increase Forearm Rotation (Feet-Together Drill)

1. Stand with Feet Together: This setup lessens lower-body contribution, forcing more natural arm/forearm rotation.
2. Small Swings: Focus on the arms swinging freely, your forearms “roll” through impact, helping you close the face if you slice.
3. HackMotion Tip: Monitor your rotation from P6 (shaft parallel on downswing) to P7 (impact). If your reading is too low, add a bit more release.

Decrease Forearm Rotation (Body Release Drill)

1. Normal Stance, Body Turn: Try to minimize the “rolling” of the forearms by rotating your torso and shoulders more.
2. Stop at ~P8 (Short Follow-Through): Check that the club hasn’t passed your hands or turned excessively left.
3. HackMotion Tip: If your data shows extremely high forearm rotation, reduce it by focusing on a stronger body pivot and less “arm roll.”