How the Hands Work in the Golf Swing

The golf swing is a complex and intricate movement that requires the coordination of several body parts, including the hands. The role of the hands in the golf swing cannot be overstated, as they are responsible for controlling the clubface and generating power. In this article, we will explore the mechanics of hand action in the golf swing, focusing on grip, wrist action, and hand release.

Grip:

The grip is the foundation of the golf swing, as it connects the golfer to the club. There are three main types of grips: the overlapping grip, the interlocking grip, and the baseball grip. Regardless of the chosen grip style, the key to an effective grip is to maintain a secure connection between the hands and the club without excessive tension.

a. Overlapping Grip: The pinky finger of the trailing hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) rests on top of the index finger of the lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers).

b. Interlocking Grip: The pinky finger of the trailing hand interlocks with the index finger of the lead hand.

c. Baseball Grip: The trailing hand is placed directly against the lead hand, with all ten fingers on the club’s grip.

Wrist Action:

Proper wrist action is essential for generating power and accuracy in the golf swing. There are two primary wrist movements in the golf swing: hinge and cock.

a. Hinge: The hinge occurs during the backswing when the lead wrist bends back, creating a 90-degree angle between the club’s shaft and the forearm.

b. Cock: The cock is the upward movement of the hands during the backswing, which helps to create a powerful lever system for the downswing.

Hand Release:

The release of the hands through impact is vital for generating clubhead speed and achieving a square clubface at impact. There are two primary types of hand release: active and passive.

a. Active Release: In an active release, the golfer consciously rotates the hands and wrists through impact to square the clubface. This type of release is generally preferred by golfers who struggle with slicing the ball.

b. Passive Release: A passive release occurs when the hands and wrists naturally rotate through impact due to the centrifugal force generated during the swing. This release is more common among highly skilled golfers who rely on the body’s natural mechanics to square the clubface.

 

Key Hand Positions in the Golf Swing

Stage	Left Hand Position	Right Hand Position	Grip Pressure	Wrist Hinge
Address	Neutral	Neutral	Light	Minimal
Takeaway	Neutral	Neutral	Light	Minimal
Backswing	Hinged	Supporting	Light	Increasing
Top of Backswing	Hinged	Supporting	Light	Maximum
Transition	Hinged	Supporting	Light	Maintained
Downswing	Unhinging	Supporting	Light	Decreasing
Impact	Square	Square	Light	Minimal
Follow-Through	Turning	Turning	Light	Minimal
Finish	Relaxed	Relaxed	Light	Minimal

Grip Types and Characteristics

Grip Type	Description	Left Hand Position	Right Hand Position	Common Issue
Interlocking	Fingers interlock between left and right	Neutral	Neutral	Inconsistency
Overlapping	Left pinky overlaps right index finger	Neutral	Neutral	Limited wrist mobility
10-Finger/Baseball	Fingers side by side on the club	Neutral	Neutral	Overactive right hand
Weak Grip	Left hand rotated left, right hand right	Left	Right	Fade, slice
Strong Grip	Left hand rotated right, right hand left	Right	Left	Hook, draw

Hand Actions and Swing Issues

Hand Action	Swing Issue	Fix	Left Hand	Right Hand
Overactive Right Hand	Hook	Strengthen left hand control	Passive	Active
Overactive Left Hand	Slice	Strengthen right hand control	Active	Passive
Early Wrist Hinge	Loss of Power	Delay wrist hinge in backswing	Late	Late
Late Wrist Hinge	Inconsistency	Hinge wrists earlier in backswing	Early	Early
Loss of Grip Pressure	Mishits	Maintain grip pressure	Constant	Constant
Excessive Grip Pressure	Loss of Distance	Lighten grip pressure	Light	Light

Hand Movements and Swing Phases

Swing Phase	Left Hand Movement	Right Hand Movement	Synced Movement	Timing Aspect
Takeaway	Rotate around body	Rotate around body	Yes	Smooth
Backswing	Hinge upwards	Support hinge	Yes	Tempo
Downswing	Unhinge and rotate	Support and rotate	Yes	Transition
Impact	Square to target	Square to target	Yes	Impact
Follow-Through	Rotate and extend	Rotate and extend	Yes	Acceleration

Hand Drills for Golf Swing Improvement

Drill Name	Purpose	Left Hand Focus	Right Hand Focus	Key Aspect
Left-Hand-Only Swings	Develop left hand control	Hinging, squaring	N/A	Consistency
Right-Hand-Only Swings	Develop right hand control	N/A	Hinging, supporting	Consistency
Split-Hand Grip Swings	Improve hand synchronization	Coordination	Coordination	Synchronization
Towel Under Arm Drill	Reduce overactive hands	Passive	Passive	Connection
Hinge and Hold Drill	Improve wrist hinge timing	Hinging, unhinging	Supporting	Timing
Pressure Points	Maintain grip pressure	Constant pressure	Constant pressure	Grip pressure

Conclusion:

Understanding how the hands work in the golf swing is crucial to improving your overall game. By focusing on the grip, wrist action, and hand release, you can develop a more consistent and powerful swing. Remember that each golfer is unique, and finding the techniques that work best for you may require practice and patience. Consider working with a qualified golf instructor to tailor your hand action to your individual needs and abilities.