Instruction
The Science of Square: Understanding the relationship between the wrist and club face
One of the biggest problems I see in today’s weekend golfer is an out-of-position clubface at the top of the swing. Understanding the articulations of the lead wrist at the address position versus at the top is crucial for you to get the face into a square position. In this article, I want you to truly understand how the grip and the top position work in conjunction with one another.
NOTE: In an upcoming article, we’ll discover why many teachers are now advocating a shut face at the top, and why they focus on getting their more serious golfers into this position. It does have several advantages for the better player, but as usual, it has limitations.
First, in this article, let’s show you the two basic left hand grips you will find in use today.
Strong grip, cupped wrist
The most popular grip today is one where the lead hand is rotated away from the target at address, showing several knuckles, which produces a big cup in the lead wrist at address as shown above. This is termed a stronger grip, and the cup you see in the photos above is referred to as “extension.”
Weaker grip, flatter wrist
The second grip is one where the lead hand is rotated slightly away from the target at address, showing 1-to-1.5 knuckles, which produces only a slight cup in the lead wrist at address as shown above. This is termed a weaker grip.
Now that you understand the two most common grips, you also need to understand how these grips control the face at the top.
Using Hack Motion Wrist Sensor, I am now going to measure how the lead wrist works to the top. Please only focus on the first number on the screen showing extension (cupping) of the lead wrist.
With a left hand grip that is less “cuppy” at address (or “weaker”), you will see that there is little extension if any at address, only 8 degrees. Therefore, if the club is square at address and you keep that same amount of flexion to the top, your clubface will stay in a square condition.
Address (weak grip)
Top of Backswing (weak grip)
So as you can see, if I keep the lead wrist in the same condition that it started at address, then I will have the face in a square condition at the top!
Ok, so what about today’s stronger grip, or players with a more flexed lead wrist?
Address (strong grip)
Here you see the stronger grip position with more knuckles showing in the lead hand producing 40 degrees of extension at address. Will the face be square if we keep that same amount to the top?
Top of Backswing (strong grip)
Of course! As you might have expected, the face above is square at the top, but only because the lead wrist is cupped the exact same amount at address it is at the top.
Therefore, in order to have a clubface that is square at the top, you must keep the lead wrist condition (extension) constant from the address position all the way to the top. If you interchange them, then you will have a clubface that is out of position, and you’ll have a hard time getting the ball to go where you want.
So, there’s my introduction to the wrist-clubface relationship. Look out for my next article where I analyze why bowed wrist players (think Dustin Johnson or Brooks Koepka) are finding success.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Kenneth Hooton
Jan 30, 2025 at 9:13 am
Absolutely on point…understanding initial wrist position and also at transition is a must. Along with maintaining that wrist position as it follows the swing plane downwards into the ball. For Driver and fairway woods it keeps the ball in play in fairways…I did have to experiment with marking the golf glove with where my knuckles actually are, but it is well worth the effort. Practice at range and calibrate…my irons are 1 knuckle…driver is 1 1/2 knuckle showing…and 3 hybrid and 3 wood are 2 knuckles showing.
Rusty Trombeauner
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:27 am
Tom, i’m Lovin’ this wrist action discussion, good stuff. Seriously, keep it coming. Same to you awesome guys in the comments section, woohoo!
Ray Bennett
Sep 7, 2018 at 5:02 am
My understanding of square,open, closed clubface at the top of the backswing is the relationship of the leading edge of the clubface to the lead forearm (ulnar bone) just before transition to the downswing. Closed is still open to the swing plane line just less open than square and open. In the modern tour swing closed is the new square because there is less supination of the target wrist to square the clubface before impact with minimum rotation of the face through impact.
Jeremy
Sep 5, 2018 at 9:45 pm
I thought DJ’s wrist position at the top of his backswing should normally result in a draw but he in fact hits a fade. It’s the wrist position at the top of the backswing in relationship to where it is at address that causes the fade (in conjunction with his swing path?)
stevet
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Tom has provided us with irrefutable scientific data that explains how the hand position and wrist release functions in the backswing to the top of the swing. Personal opinions are scientifically worthless. Let’s wait for the next article on the downswing.
Linwood
Sep 4, 2018 at 10:40 pm
this was confusing. As a really crummy, inexperienced player, it confused me as to how the heck I should position my wrist.
Jake
Sep 5, 2018 at 3:05 am
Ignore this advice according to the writer the number one player in the world has an out of position wrist.
Go figure.
stevet
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:49 pm
A little bit of knowledge is dangerous in the mindlets of incompetent golfers. Tom is sharing knowledge that is significant to other instructors, not crummy golfers like you who are confused continually. Get lessons.
Jake
Sep 4, 2018 at 2:38 am
No such thing as an out of position at the top.If you are coming into impact clubface facing target then your position is good.Its advice such as this which keeps golfers on a backfoot and no improvement in their golf.
stevet
Sep 5, 2018 at 2:53 pm
So what straightens out the clubface to the target at impact? A super game improvement club design… or how you hold and release your wrists?
Brad
Sep 3, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Has the Hack Motion Wrist Sensor been useful in your golf lessons for recreational golfers?
Tom F. Stickney II
Sep 3, 2018 at 11:47 pm
Certainly…the auditory biofeedback is a game changer.
stevet
Sep 4, 2018 at 1:25 am
Auditory biofeedback must be more effective than verbal instruction. The golfer has something other than their ‘feel’ to confirm their actions.
Shifty
Sep 2, 2018 at 6:35 am
If only someone could shed light on this. I’m forever going between strong and weak. Strong ends up in hooks and weak is straight but looses a lot of distance compared.
Tom F. Stickney II
Sep 3, 2018 at 9:09 am
It’s because of your path being too far left at impact
geohogan
Sep 3, 2018 at 8:02 pm
What George Knudson said about the lead wrist and the golf swing:
“I noticed every player who struck the ball well maintained the same firmness in the left wrist at the completion of the swing as was established in the Starting Position. The wrists don’t break down, as Tommy Bolt called flippy-wristed kids stuff.
“I had no idea that to maintain firm wrists was to properly use my legs. I ignored footwork also because I was stuck on golf’s number one misconception … keep the head still. I later learned that the head has to go where the body carries it. The head has nothing to do with the golf swing, the head has no purpose in the swing”
stevet
Sep 3, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Hogan had a cupped lead wrist at the top of the swing and used pronation to flatten the wrist into impact.
stevet
Sep 4, 2018 at 1:20 am
Your head is a counter-balance weight that stabilizes your shoulder rotation velocity vector axis.
Ray Bennett
Sep 7, 2018 at 4:49 am
Hogan supinated his left forearm early in the downswing and bowed (flexed) his wrist with ulna deviation (thumb down) prior to impact. His left forearm then pronated past impact to the finish.
stevet
Sep 1, 2018 at 7:33 pm
If your wrist is cupped at the top it must go flat in final release and impact for full swings. I hope Tom, in his next article, will explain the function of the trail hand in the backswing for flat and cupped lead hand. Thanks.
Tom F. Stickney II
Sep 2, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Certainly sir. Thx.
Brad
Sep 3, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Looking forward to your next informative article to tie everything together. You got the back swing, now the down swing through impact. Eager for your next installment.
PG
Sep 1, 2018 at 6:33 pm
How are there so many “shank” votes? This is pretty good.
TomTaylor
Sep 3, 2018 at 11:27 pm
Agreed; definitely good stuff.
As for your first question; it has to do with gossipy pointless articles written on this site that started popping up about 2 years ago. I won’t name authors but these articles are nothing more than click-bait and have drawn tons of kooks onto what used to be a site for serious golfers.
unoho
Sep 4, 2018 at 1:18 am
I came to this forum about a year ago and posted valid critical comments about golf club designs. I was hounded off by forum moderator(s) protecting gear heads and their fantasy WITB delusions.