Mastering Wrist Position at Address: Why It’s Key to Consistency & How to Perfect It
If you want to hit straight shots that fly far and land near your target, your wrist position at setup has to be perfect.
If you are setting up to hit a shot and your wrist position is inconsistent or incorrect you may end up with slices, hooks, topped or fat shots.
We will show you what your wrist position at address should look like, how it can benefit you, and how to identify any issues you might have with your wrist position right now.
Wrist Position at Address (Key Takeaways)
If you don’t have time to read the entire article on wrist position at address, here are the core points:
- Maintaining a consistent wrist position at address is vital for hitting great shots and achieving shot predictability.
- Excessive flexion or extension, improper grip size, tension in the hands and wrists, and over-rotation can derail your swing.
- A neutral grip position (wrists in line with your forearms, without major extension or flexion) makes it easier to control the ball.
- HackMotion can be used to measure and practice maintaining the same wrist position at address.
- There’s no one-size-fits-all “perfect” wrist position; understanding and working with your natural wrist position can produce better results than trying to copy a pro’s exact numbers.
Short on time? Watch this quick video recap by Rob Cheney on wrist position at setup.
Contents
Common Issues with Wrist Position at Address
The first part of improving wrist position is to look for issues at address.
After analyzing more than 1,000,000 golf swings, these are the most common problems:
Excessive Flexion or Extension
Setting up with too much flexion or extension in the lead wrist can make it difficult to recover.
If the lead wrist is too extended or cupped at address, the ability to get the wrist to a flexed position at impact is compromised. Too much extension or flexion at setup can also lead to a loss of power.
Playing with Improper Grip Size
If your golf grip doesn’t fit your hands (too large or too small), your wrists can end up in the wrong position at address. It’s best to go for a club fitting to ensure you have the proper grip size.
Here is a general guideline for grip size recommendation based on glove size:
| Glove Size | Typical Grip Size Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Men’s S / Women’s S | Undersize or Junior |
| Men’s M / Women’s M | Standard |
| Men’s ML (Medium-Large) | Standard / Midsize |
| Men’s L / Women’s L | Midsize |
| Men’s XL (and above) | Oversize / Jumbo |
Avoid Tension in Hands and Wrists
Too much tension in the hands stresses the wrists and makes it hard to release the club.
If you tense your hands right now, you’ll notice tension extends into your wrist, altering the wrist angle. Even slight tension changes can cause issues later in the swing.
Over-Rotation of the Wrist
Rotating the wrists too much (left to right on the club) can push you off-plane. Minimal wrist rotation at address helps maintain a consistent swing path.
How to Get the Perfect Wrist Position at Address
Now that we know the common mistakes golfers make with their wrists at address, let’s look at how to get the perfect wrist position.
Most wrist issues stem from inconsistency—it’s easy to overlook small setup differences from swing to swing until you measure with the HackMotion.
Establish Proper Posture and a Neutral Grip
Get your posture correct by standing upright and then tilting forward from your hips (not your waist). Let your arms hang naturally.
Position your hands so the lead wrist (left wrist for right-handed golfers) is not overly cupped (extended) or bowed (flexed).
Tip: If using HackMotion, check your lead wrist extension at address. Aim for a mild range (somewhere in the 0°–20° zone for most golfers).
Check Handle Height to Control Clubface
A higher handle tends to reduce wrist extension and can help close the face, while a lower handle increases wrist extension and can open the face.
Experiment on the range. Move the handle slightly higher or lower and note changes in ball flight:
- If you slice often, try lifting the handle a bit (reducing extension) to promote a draw.
- If you hook often, lower the handle slightly (increasing extension) to neutralize the draw.
Slight Forward Press for Short Irons (Optional)
In the shorter irons a slight forward press can help encourage cleaner contact. Gently move your hands just ahead of the clubhead, particularly on wedges and short irons, to encourage crisp contact.
Don’t overdo the forward press. A big forward press can misalign your wrist angles and cause erratic contact.
Measure & Refine with HackMotion
Part of the problem most amateur golfers have with their wrist position at address is they are unaware of the inconsistency that they have.
Here is a short yet highly effective video lesson on wrist position and grip from the Flipping Wrists at Impact training course. This video provides practical tips to help you perfect your wrist position at setup.
Use these steps to have HackMotion help you refine your wrist position.
Establish a Baseline:
- Put on your HackMotion sensor and note your lead wrist extension/flexion at address.
- This initial reading gives you a benchmark for consistency.
On/Off Consistency Drill:
- After each swing, step back, re-grip the club, and see if you can match your baseline numbers.
- This helps you build muscle memory for a repeatable starting position.
Analyze & Adjust:
- Check if your extension varies widely (e.g., 10° one swing, 30° the next).
- Tweak your grip pressure, handle height, or posture to narrow those gaps.
Refine Through Practice:
- Repeat these steps regularly, comparing your data each session.
- Over time, you’ll develop a comfortable, repeatable address position that leads to more predictable shots.
Is There a Perfect Wrist Angle at Address?
Everyone has a slightly different natural wrist position. To understand yours, start recording swings with HackMotion.
Once you establish a consistent wrist position at address, you can work on the right range for the top of the backswing and impact.
| Address Position Wrist Angle | Top Position Target Range (Relative to Address) | Impact Position Target Range (Relative to Address) |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral (0°) | -10° to +5° | -15° to -30° |
| Slightly Extended (+5°) | -5° to +10° | -20° to -35° |
| Slightly Flexed (-5°) | -15° to 0° | -10° to -25° |
These numbers are guidelines, not absolutes – find what works for you and your swing shape.
Drills to Improve Wrist Position at Address
One misconception is that you should have no extension in the lead wrist at address. In reality, some extension (or “cup”) can be perfectly acceptable.
Below are some drills and key insights to help you dial in your best setup.
On/Off Grip Consistency Drill
- Put on your HackMotion device and set up in your normal address position, noting your extension/flexion angle.
- Step away, remove your hands from the club, and re-grip, checking if you can match the same angle.
- Repeat 10 times to see how consistent your setup is.
HackMotion Static Top Drill
Static Top Drill in HackMotion
By working on the Static Top Drill, you can create muscle memory and achieve a flat lead wrist at the top of the backswing.
Static Top Drill – Step by Step
- Address the ball, then slowly hinge to the top position without swinging.
- Use HackMotion or video to see if your lead wrist is drifting from your address angle.
- This helps you see how the address position translates to your top position.
HackMotion Release Drill
Perfect Your Release with HackMotion
Fine-tune your release for consistent contact. Start with a short swing to master control before adding power.
HackMotion Release Drill
- Hit half shots focusing on a smooth wrist release.
- Note changes from address to impact in your HackMotion data.
- Great for feeling how the clubface squares during impact and how your setup can make a great impact position easier to achieve.
Final Thoughts
Wrist position is often overlooked in the setup routine. Most golfers focus on their feet, hands, and knee bend but skip the wrists.
If you want a more consistent, predictable golf swing, your wrists must be part of the equation.
Start practicing with HackMotion and using the HackMotion drills to achieve the same wrist positioning every time you address the ball.
This intentional, data-backed practice leads to lower scores. It’s like having a coach by your side for every swing session!
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