pre-cocking your wrists

Question
Paul,I have recently started precocking my wrists and am hitting the ball quite well.Since I will be 80 in two months,maybe,that is why it is working for me.Would appreciate your comment.
    Richard

Answer
Dear Richard,

Congratulations!  Glad you are healthy and enjoying golf at nearly 80!

Great question and my answer or comment with respect to you...is don't change a thing.  Setting the wrists before the arms begin the backswing may look odd to other golfers, but there is nothing wrong with it and it may, in fact, help you hit more solid shots.

There is no single "right" moment to set the wrists.  There are many excellent players who set their wrists early, late and everywhere in between.  The only bad way to set the wrists is not to set them at all.

The setting or cocking of the wrists is the single most power-generating move a golfer can make.  The wrists are your high-speed-hinge.  The release of the angle between your left or lead arm and the shaft of the club is the most speed-generating move one can make.  So getting the wrists set and then letting that angle go naturally (not via casting) is where most of your clubhead speed comes from.

When you pre-set your wrists you do not have to think about that again in your swing.  You only need to turn for the backswing and then reverse to make the downswing.  Your wrists are already prepared for their job.  And pre-setting means you get them set exactly right...exactly the way you want them, every time.  If you have practiced this enough that you feel comfortable doing it during regular play...go for it!

Best wishes,

Paul Dolman
PGA Golf Professional