The Correct Wrist Set Simplifies Your Golf Swing

Mike Malaska, Golf Digest Legends of Golf Instruction, explains how Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, and Jack Nicklaus set their wrists in their golf swings but also clarifies how he recommends amateurs to set their wrists.

Wrist hinge in the golf swing can be confusing, but leave it to a legend to clarify the confusion and simplify your swing so you can enjoy the game more.

Whether you set your wrists early or late, there is an optimal way for your wrists to work to hit the ball more consistently.

Thanks for watching!

00:00 Title
00:40 Hand Action
01:42 How Your Hands Work
02:43 Benefits of Early Writs Hinge
04:23 When DJ, Tiger and Jack Set Their Wrists
06:26 Which One Is Right???

Don't just play golf. Understand it.

MIKE MALASKA TEACHING CREDENTIALS
Golf Digest Legend of Golf Instruction
2011 National PGA Teacher of the Year
2021-2022 Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers in America (Lifetime Achievement)
2020-2021 Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America
TaylorMade National Advisory Board Member, 2020-Current
PGA Class-A Member since 1996
Honma US Advisory Board, 2019-2020
Worldwide Director of Instruction at Nicklaus Golf Academies
2017 PGA Southwest Section Teacher of The Year
25 years as a Jack Nicklaus Academies Trainer & Instructor
2017 GRAA Growth of the Game Teaching Professionals Elite Member
TaylorMade National Advisory Board Member, 2015-2018
2016 GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professionals
Southwest Section Senior Player of the Year
TaylorMade/Adidas Instructional Consultant
Former Director of Instruction at Superstition Mountain Golf & CC,
Superstition Mountain, AZ

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[mga]

I found this video last night, I purchased your lesson program also. I have been struggling so bad lately with ball striking. After watching this video on setting the wrists properly and making sure they’re not cupped, I have never felt so confident after a round. It was night and day today at the course, strikes were pure, balls were flying high & straight, I had one bad shot all evening, Driver was 🔥, Irons were crisp, wedges were flush. It’s crazy what one simple thing will do for a guy. Thank you very much, I’m a 13 handicap and this video is gonna help me so much as well as your M system.

[kevintrimble]

Mike-undoubtedly the best video on how to set your wrists. I am 62 years old and played baseball my whole life and have that typical baseball swing with the golf club. Your explanation on the movement of the wrists has been invaluable!!!

[PTGolfCoach]

Mike, Thank you for your help. I was a scratch golfer before I took off 23 years off..Your teaching of the hands and how they work has changed my game for the better..Im a subscriber to your system...Just shot 67, 69 the past two days...I'm 56 years old and loving golf again.

[josephtripoli]

Clearly the most practical, consistent, effective, and user-friendly golf instruction on You Tube.

Thanks, Mike

[hookembuzzroye]

Reading the 60+ year old book, 'Four Magic Moves', by Joe Dante - this video describes the grip he advocates and the first of his "Magic Moves" - AMAZING!

[albertmaas]

The best video for me on how to set my wrists. I used to set them nearer to the top. I've watched this video 3 times and went out and practiced this early wrist set for the last 2 days. What a difference in compression, divots and height of my irons. Thank you very much.

[chazbo]

This video is a great illustration of why you are such an admired teacher. You center on fundamentals but describe how there are different ways to honor those fundamentals, pointing out the strengths and challenges of each. You share the whys of your preferences. And you point out changes to swing theory over time. Thank you!

[williamcampbell]

This is a fantastic explanation of how to use the hands in a golf swing. I watch a lot of instructional videos online and this is as clear a description as I have seen. I can’t wait to try this early wrist set on the range. Thank you Mike.

[tthgbwv]

Less than full wrist hinge was identified as my biggest swing issue by one of your colleagues. You have provided the best explanation on how to achieve a correct wrist set. Great instructional video.

[fqpbujf]

Like your videos, being 71 yrs of age I look for a simple easy swing that gives positive results. As with majority of golfers, amatures we bought into the turning the hands over as well as other useless info. Like you when I started I had a simple hinge like you. Keep up the great videos. Understanding why/how the body works for golf makes a great difference. Once your subconscious see’s the picture your body will start flowing.

[jclifts]

Might be the best ever video explaining this

[henrysalvo]

I’ve been setting my wrists early per you instruction for awhile and the added benefit at least for me is it helps me straighten my left arm early and has added width to my swing. Thanks Mike. Always good.

[andyss]

Fantastic video! I'm not sure I've seen so much good information - the how and why - packed into less than 10 minutes. This is great!

[realcap]

Excellent video! I’ve watched Nelly’s swing on video and she is fully set by the time her hands get to her right foot. Thanks for reinforcing my thought that an early set is ok. Love your videos, so common sense!

[dry]

Wow that's got to be the best video I've ever seen on how to swing the club, this has transformed my game. Thank you!

[joer]

A clear student of the game. I’ve felt more comfortable setting my wrist early for most of my life. Feel powerful. But I’ve been talked out of it so many times. This validates what my body has been telling me.

[fu]

This video is golden and helps put together what I’ve been working on….i really need the drills

[scottdouglas]

Love your 'Platonic' style of instruction, Mike in that you always explain the why's of what you teach, i.e. based on sound biomechanics, so that the golfer can come to realize the wisdom of your approach, and develop a sound mental approach to the swing and the game!! You're instructional here on the proper hinge movement, as you pointed out, was first pointed out to me in Joe Dante's book, Four Magic Moves of Golf (and this is likely who you're referring to). Once I learn that secret that you mentioned of the left hand 'rotating under the club' (left does palmer flexion, so that the knuckles of the left hand disappear from my view) I made huge, striking improvements!!! Thanks so much!

[hiroshima]

Agree 100% with you. I even preset the wrists at address and hold it until after making contact. SUPER accurate irons. Winning lots of pin shots.

[quincydailey]

Thank you Mr. Malaska. I had started to figure out some of these elements on my own but it wasn’t comprehensive. I have been inconsistent in transition and your instruction on a flat lead wrist set appears to one of the key components for me. I have struggled with the cupped lead wrist on the downswing. I appreciate the attention to detail and providing a simple methodology for improvement.