Correct ways to utilize the right hand (2)

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

Power, or rather speed springs from four sources: the turn of the shoulders, movement of the arms, the wrists and impact through the club driven by the right arm. You create most of the power from movement within your wrists. These produce about 75 percent of the overall speed of the clubhead. For a full wrist hinge, you need to cock your right wrist correctly. Cock it so that you can feel the weight of your club resting on your trigger finger. You also need to ensure that your left wrist is flat at the top of your backswing.

A golf swing is comprised of action and reflexes. You’ll have difficulty reaching an ideal position at the top without taking the club away from the ball correctly. Granted, a correct takeaway calls for proper use of the right arm, wrist and hand.

To this end, you need to turn your shoulders properly. Focus on turning your right shoulder upward and behind your head. This keeps your hands correctly in front of the chest, guaranteeing a full shoulder turn. Also, if you start swinging with your right shoulder, your entire body will remain correctly coordinated.

More importantly, this presents more chances for your right arm and hand to work correctly on the backswing. Your right arm should hang in a relaxed way from your right shoulder. Rotating your right shoulder correctly will promote correct right-arm movement. You’ll eventually slot your club into position at the top and thus swing down on plane.

For a powerful swing, you need to swing your right arm back correctly. Keep it above your left as you take the club back. Keep your right arm on top of your left arm as you swing back. Then, let it move under your left as you reach the top of the backswing. This will keep the clubface remaining square to the swing arc, making it easier to return the clubface squarely on impact.

Also, this will prevent you from folding and shortening your right arm prematurely, helping create a wide swing arc. A wide arc, coupled with a good pace, helps hit the ball far and straight to the best of your capacities. Indeed, as you continue to swing toward the top, your right arm will fold and move under your left.

Often, not using your hands can be the right way of using your right arm during the backswing. At address, the butt end of the handle of your club should point approximately at your belly button. For a correct backswing, you need to keep the connection intact during the takeaway. Move your navel and club together about hip-high so that the grip end continues to point toward your navel. You need to preserve the connection at least until the shaft becomes parallel to the ground. That will mean you’ve swung the club back, using your right hand correctly.

Yanking the club back excessively outside or inside with your right hand, you cannot point the handle to your belly button. Let the handle of the club point to your navel about waist-high. From there, just rotate your left forearm and right wrist as you flex your wrists. That way you’ll reach a correct top-of-the-backswing position. You’ll also achieve a full body coil, enjoying an on-plane swing. On-plane swing increases distance and improves direction to the best of your capacities. It promotes straight shots, often producing soft draws.

Similarly, start your backswing with your right elbow moving first. Pull your right elbow inward and backward toward your rear so that your left arm swings across the chest. At around hip height, the club shaft needs to be over the insteps of your feet.

Also important is to keep your clubface staying square to your swing arc. Make sure the leading edge of your clubhead is at the 45 degrees, halfway between toe-up and face-down. You may feel your clubface staying closed, but it is only a feeling. It is staying square to the swing arc. To keep your clubface square to your swing arc, you don’t need to exert extra effort. Just pull your right elbow back without manipulation of your clubface.

A word of caution: Don’t become obsessed with any particular right-hand motion. Just concentrate your mind on hitting the ball with your right hand, using the clubhead. Your goal is to send your ball toward the target by hitting it with the clubhead. Aim to use your right hand halfway down or after swinging down waist-high. Then, your right hand will work properly, without having to think about any special right-hand action.