Hype Flex
news | August 09, 2026

What is a cupped wrist in golf?

These swing errors are easiest to spot at the top of the swing; bowed wrists look like the club is too heavy to hold in your hands and is visible through your hands falling to the ground a little. Cupped wrists look like the opposite and are instead visible through your hands arcing up towards the sky.

What does cupping your wrist mean in golf?

It's harder to see it when you're at the top of the backswing. But if you get the clubface open or shut at the top—by cupping or bowing the left wrist (or having a grip that's too weak or too strong)—you're going to hit a lot of high slices or low hooks. Check your clubface at the top.

How do you fix a cupped wrist?

If the tee falls out at the top of the backswing, you know that your left wrist is too cupped (see image below). A simple way to stop cupping is to point both thumbs at the sky at the top of the backswing (see image below). If you point your thumbs at the target, you'll almost certainly be cupped.

How does Dustin Johnson bowed his wrist?

But while many golfers bow their hand on the downswing, Johnson maintains the position from the outset. At the top of his lift, he's bowed his left wrist already. Locking the wrists into place gives him more consistency for his drives. “I'm taking less, less movement out in the face,” he says.

Should left wrist be cupped at address?

Likewise, good players who start with a flat left wrist at address have a flat left wrist at the top. Starting with your left wrist cupped and flattening it going back, or starting with it flat and cupping it, is unnecessary manipulation, which can lead to inconsistency.

39 related questions found

What does a strong grip look like in golf?

What is a 'strong' grip? A strong grip means that the 'V' shapes made with your thumbs and your hands are pointing somewhere to the right side of your head. This is generally how I direct my students to grip the club. A strong grip can cure someone who swings over the top and/or struggles with slicing the ball.

Should wrist be bowed at top of backswing?

There should always be a degree of flexion in your left wrist as you strike the golf ball. However, not all players will benefit from trying to bow their left wrist at the top of their backswing – namely players with poor wrist or hip flexibility, as it will be difficult for them to square the club at impact.

Can cupping help wrist pain?

An external suction technique mainly used outside the U.S., called cupping, is effective for providing temporary relief of pain from carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a new study.

How important is a flat left wrist?

Flexing, or bowing, the left wrist invariably invites a slice for most players. DO THIS! Keeping a ruler flat against your left forearm in practice gives you the best chance of solid contact when you swing for real.

How important is a flat left wrist in golf swing?

A solid, flat left wrist in the backswing of the golf swing assists with keeping the golf club on plane, keeps the transition from getting loose, helps stop over swinging and most importantly helps the golfer hit straight golf shots with consistent, controlled trajectory.

Does Tiger Woods use a strong grip?

Did you know that three of the greatest golfers of all time use the interlock golf grip? Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy all utilize the interlocking grip and it has helped them win a combined 37 major championships.

Do any pros use 10 finger grip?

Scott Piercy is one of a handful of players on the PGA Tour with a 10-finger grip. In fact, since Bob Estes went to something else a few years back, Piercy is the only guy that I know of who still uses it. Most players either use an interlock grip or the overlap grip.

Do pros use a strong grip?

Yes. Many pros use a strong grip on the PGA Tour. Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson, and Bubba Watson are all known to use a strong grip. Compare this to the time of Jack Nicklaus when a more neutral grip was the predominant grip style on tour.

Do you pull down on the golf swing?

You should pull the butt of the club toward the ball. Remember, this pulling down is done by the left arm. It's the controlling agent, and if you let it be you will escape the many troubles that result from trying to push the club down from the top with the right hand and the right shoulder.

Should you roll your wrists golf swing?

That makes the swing plane way too flat and forces the player to re-route the club dramatically to even hit the ball. The wrists shouldn't roll sideways. They hinge by moving up and down. Try this: Hold the club out in front of you, and hinge it upward as if you were going to tap your nose.

Why does Dustin Johnson touch his elbow?

By holding his right arm against his body, he's effectively pinning his arm against his body, so it stays tucked close to his torso. That allows the arms to swing the putter more inside on the backswing and start the ball on line as it comes through. “I've been working hard getting more comfortable over it,” DJ said.

How does DJ grip the club?

Not only are his hands in a much stronger position than most pros', his right thumb wraps around the handle as though he's holding a baseball bat. (This is sometimes called a “short thumb” grip.) His palms appear to have much more influence over the club than his fingers, another unusual feature.

How high should hands be at address?

At impact, your hands should return to the same place they were at address—no lower (as in closer to your body) and no higher (as in farther away from your body).

Is cupping good for carpal tunnel?

Because of cupping therapy, endothelial cells secrete NO which gives certain effect necessary for prevention of atherosclerosis [19]. It is the improved circulation in the carpal tunnel which would thus reduce the level of compression on the median nerve and its blood supply resulting in clinical improvement.