Flat earth versus flat wrist

For a long time there was no reason to doubt that the earth was flat, after all, that's what it looked like. Maybe there was a slight curve, which explained why those sails appeared gradually over the horizon. And besides, if the earth was round, some people would fall off - stands to reason.

Of course, science came along and complicated things - atmosphere, gravity, planetary orbits, solar systems, galaxies, universes, big-bangs and black holes - and not the holes with the glad wrap over them that I see every Saturday morning.

It's the same with golf. We have complicated the dickens out of the game. And I have been as complicit as anyone with my theories and systems. It's time to simplify things.

One of the simplest concepts in golf, and one of the easiest to understand, is that the clubface determines where the ball will start and, to a large degree, continue through the air. Control of the clubface is paramount.

Now, how that clubface control is obtained can vary a great deal - look at the many and varied swings of the good golfers out there. The bottom line is find out how to control the clubface, with consistency, and while hitting proper, full golf shots, on full length golf courses.

I believe I have found a way for me to gain that control, and I'm working on it every chance I get. For me, as a right hander, the secret is in the left wrist.

If I can keep my left wrist flat during the backswing and at the top of the backswing, mirroring the alignment of the clubface and actually keeping the clubface pointing at the plane line, I can feel secure in knowing where the clubface is pointing. This allows me to concentrate on actually playing the shot I want to play without fear of extreme side spin or major pushes and pulls.

One caveat is that one's grip must be neutral in order to use the flat wrist theory. A strong grip can work, and does, but the wrist will be bent slightly backward (supinated) at the top if the clubface is to be considered square. A weak grip, not recommended for most full shots, means the wrist must be bent inward, or pronated, at the top for the clubface to be square to the plane.

I know this sounds complicated, but having a neutral grip (look it up if necessary) will remove some of the complexity, remove some of the felt need to manipulate the club or clubface. The square clubface, or the confidence that one has a square clubface, also removes the need to think too much about swing in to out or transfer the weight or whatever. The backswing feels compact and the golf swing seems easier in general.

Perhaps this is just another theory, but I don't think this is another flat earth theory. I just need to do a few more experiments and make a few more observations. I'm quite confident that I won't fall off the edge of the earth.