Flicking of the Right Wrist is Not That Simple

The start of the back swing which is flicking of the wrist backward is not that simple or straightforward as it may seem. In order for it to be standard as part of all the golf motion, especially for putts, it must follow a certain path or way. This move is particular very essential for short back swings as in putting and chipping.  The good way to describe this is it is like the Hogan cupped right hand usually shown on the forward swing but it is really the way the back swing should be started.

Here is another way to describe it.  Start by flicking the wrist facing to the sky and at the same time starting the upswing.  On small back swing as in putting, the cupping of the right wrist might completely pan away because of the short stroke but that is OK.  As a matter of fact, the motion is like the forward motion of Mickelson - the forward press - except it does not need to go forward or be the start of the back swing.

THIS MOTION MUST START ALL THE GOLF SWING! HOWEVER, DO NOT FORGET THE VISUALIZATION OF THE PLANE ON THE BACK SWING! ALSO THE LEFT HAND MUST BE IN CONTROL ON THE FORWARD SWING.

This is really posted after the original date.

It is important to note that the flick of the wrist is started by the visualization of the plane. The club head is flicked and panned along the plane first before the shoulders starts their rotation.

Important Right Hand Path 

When the right hand flicks the club, there is only one way it can go up. THE V FORMED BY THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER MUST BE THRUST UPWARDS ALONG THE PLANE - NO OTHER WAY. The grip has to sit on the club in such a manner that this "thrust" to the top is accomplished.  With this action, the grip can become a solid grip and the whole turning around and hitting the ball become so solid that one can feel the repeating swing.  The repeating swing promotes confidence also.

And Yet Another Way to Visualize How the Club is Brought Up

Usually the problem lies only on the upswing for the driver (woods). 

1.  Let me state first that the first objective of the back swing is to launch the club head (not shaft) as strong as possible to the top most and pull the left side body muscle before the down swing is started.
2. What has to be done is visualize the woods or any club like a short iron - where the face is used in contrast to the woods where only the plane and, therefore, a line or the plane line is visualized.  
3. The face of every club must be visualized because the main objective of the perfect swing is to fan the club face along the plane like a waiter carrying his tray. 
4. However, since the club face can easily be "squared" to the target (by weight shifting), the club face must be kept square to the target line as much as possible before it is fanned out along the plane (waiter pan).

Helicopter Takeaway

After playing today, my takeaway is a mess.  Too many ways to do it.  I think the easiest way is still visualizing the helicopter rotors along the plane.  I think this is the one that can withstand the pressure of actual play.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.