Rolling the Wrists Through Impact
Also known as: roll my wrists, roll the wrists, rolling the wrists, roll your wrists, forearm rotation through impact, rolling the forearms, turning the hands over, rolling the hands over
You should not consciously roll or flip your wrists at the ball. The forearms do rotate through impact, and the face closes as the body turns and the arms swing. Let that happen on its own. Forcing it causes hooks, and blocking it causes pushes and slices.
Through impact, the lead forearm rotates and the clubface turns from open in the backswing to square at impact and closed after it. That rotation is part of a normal release. How much happens depends on grip, body speed and the face angle at the top. A player with a strong grip and a fast-turning body needs very little. A weak grip and a quiet body may need more.
Trouble comes from rolling the hands over on purpose to square the face at the last moment. That timing is hard to repeat. A little early sends the ball left. A little late sends it right. Many coaches prefer a body-driven release. The chest keeps turning through the ball and the lead wrist stays flat or slightly bowed. The forearms then rotate as a result.
To feel a natural amount, make waist-high swings and check the club at the end of each one. The toe should point roughly up at hip height on both sides. If the face points at the sky after impact, you are holding it open. If it points at the ground early, you are rolling too much.
Tips by skill level
Make slow half swings and stop at hip height after impact. Check that the toe of the club points roughly at the sky.
Strong-grip players tend to need a body-led, holding release. Weak-grip players often need more forearm rotation. Match the release to the grip before changing either.
Example
A golfer fighting a hook rolls his hands over hard at impact. His coach has him keep his chest turning toward the target and feel the back of his lead hand stay flat. The face now squares with less hand action, and the ball curves less.
Why it matters
The face angle at impact sets most of the start line. A release driven by the body squares the face more reliably than a last-moment wrist roll.
Common mistakes
- Flipping the wrists to scoop the ball up
- Rolling the hands over hard to fight a slice
- Locking the forearms so the face never closes
- Matching a release style to a grip it does not suit
Frequently asked questions
Should I roll my wrists through impact?
Not on purpose. The forearms rotate naturally as the body turns and the arms swing. Forcing a wrist roll tends to cause hooks. Blocking all rotation tends to cause pushes and slices.
Why do I hook it when I roll my wrists?
Rolling the hands over closes the face quickly. A little too early and the face is shut at impact. The ball then curves left for a right-hander.
How much forearm rotation should there be in the golf swing?
It depends on your grip and body turn. A useful check is that the toe points roughly up at hip height after impact. Much more or less than that often shows up as a hook or a slice.
Related terms
- ReleaseThe release is the natural unhinging of the wrists and turning of the forearms through impact. It squares the clubface and delivers maximum speed.
- FlipA flip is a flick or scoop of the hands at impact, instead of forward shaft lean. It adds loft, kills compression, and is a defensive reaction to poor sequencing.
- Lead WristThe lead wrist is the wrist of the top hand (left for right-handers). Its position throughout the swing — especially at the top of the backswing and at impact — directly controls clubface angle and low point.
- Face AngleFace angle is where the clubface points at impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. It determines roughly 75–85% of the ball's starting direction.
- BlockingBlocking is when the arms and club fail to fully release through impact. The face is held open, so the ball flies straight right (for a right-hander) with no draw.
- Strong GripA strong grip turns both hands more to the trail side than neutral, showing 3 or more knuckles at address. It makes the face easier to close and is a common slice fix.
Related guides & benchmarks
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