How to Position Your Hands During the Golf Swing for More Distance and Control
I have written extensively about how the hands operate during the golf swing because their function is probably one of the most critical aspects of the entire swing.
I have received several requests from readers asking about various aspects of hand technique, so I thought I would use this article to share some of the main points that came from their questions.
Before I dig in, I just want share some thoughts about how I approach golf instruction with students because the overall sense I get from the nature of the questions that have been raised is that readers are searching for answers about the hands that are often over analyzed and impractical to control…
The golf swing can be a very simple and efficient action if it is approached that way…
It can also be an extremely complex action if you try to break down and analyze all the moving parts of the swing with the aim of trying in some way to consciously control each little element.
I simplify the swing into two critical moving parts:
1. The rotation of the shoulders and trunk
2. The rotation of the hands
With each of these motions you are aiming to achieve two objectives:
1. A simple single plane swing
2. Fully cocked and relaxed hands
Unlike other sports such as tennis where you have to have complex variation in your hand action and swing action to out maneuver your opponent, I encourage students to keep everything simple to make the golf swing easier.
The reason for this is purely to achieve consistency from shot to shot. That is the key to scoring success.
Not the ability to bend and curve the ball using complex hand action…
Setup Routine
Most of the swing motion and requirements that impact both hand action and swing plane are dealt with in your setup prior to you pulling the trigger on the swing.
Once your swing is in motion, there is very little you can do to adjust it after that.
Here are several key elements I focus on regarding your hands that are all taken care of in your setup routine:
1. The alignment and stance routine gets your hands in the correct position relative to the ball, club face and target before the swing starts. In the set up I always advise that the hands are positioned slightly ahead of the ball to place them in a “strong” wrist position.
2. The correct grip will create a “stable” take away and will cause the hands to break with the correct action and plane when they are cocked. I always advise a “strong” grip with the left thumb positioned right of the grip centerline. (Right thumb for left handers).
3. The left side which creates unison of the left arm and wrist at the start of the swing and during the first stage of the backswing should be firm. This gets you into the correct hand position at the top of the swing. I advise the elbow of the left arm to be pointing towards the ground to achieve this. (Right elbow for left handers).
Take Away
The next critical point of your swing after your setup is the take away. Many hand/swing problems can be created from that first critical movement of your shoulders and hands on the take away if it is not done correctly.
Again, the takeaway should be kept as simple as possible by focusing on two things only:
4. The backswing should start with the downward rotational motion of the left shoulder, not a hand motion. This action places the swing on a mid to upright swing plane, it improves back swing balance by encouraging trunk rotation, and it reduces unwanted hand action on the take away.
5. Within the first 6 inches of the take away, there should be ZERO motion of your hands. They need to be firm with your left side.
Backswing
As you progress into the backswing you have had only “one thought” on your mind to this point, and that was a “trigger thought” to initiate the downward rotation of your left shoulder to start the backswing.
Everything else up to that point has been taken care of in your setup to create that firm left side to solidify your left arm and hands in preparation for the takeaway.
So there is no need to think of anything else…other thoughts will only complicate the backswing.
All that remains on the backswing is:
6. Make sure you work within the range of motion of your natural swing muscle flexibility to avoid a left elbow break.
If you are able to concentrate on these techniques alone, your hands will reach the top of the swing in the correct position without you even having to worry or think about their orientation.
Critical: If a left elbow break occurs on the backswing, all bets are off on being on the correct swing plane and having the correct hand action.
Downswing
Now as for the downswing, the most important aspect to think about is:
1. Rotate the hips to initiate the turn – one more trigger thought
2. Delay the hand release by simply letting your hands relax totally from the top of the swing.
Starting the downswing turn with the hips keeps the swing on correct plane. As long as the hands are relaxed and not pre releasing, they will be in the correct orientation going into the impact position. So again you do not even have to think about them.
As for the release itself, that is governed purely by the timing of the downswing…not by the orientation of your hands or how they are turning over into the ball. Your hand orientation and how they react at impact is determined mostly by your grip which you have already taken care of in your setup.
If you approach the release by worrying about the orientation or action of your hands on the downswing you will find the swing extremely difficult to control with any consistency and you will end up losing distance.
Timing is a function of simply coordinating the release of the hands with the rotation of the shoulders.
If you are looking for some characteristic of the hand release that has a more complex explanation than this, I am sorry to disappoint you.
The reality is there is not much more to it than this. Big hitters simply let their hands relax and go for the ride on the downswing..
Above all the clear message from this article is keep everything as simple as possible.
Hone your setup techniques because they are so important in getting the swing started on the correct track where attention to small details is not necessary…the hands and swing will work naturally by themselves if you follow those simple guidelines.
Keep your head down and swing sweetly,
