Stop Flipping at Impact in Golf: A Simple Fix

Learn how to stop flipping the golf club at impact with one simple change. Transform your golf swing today!

Watch the full 9-minute video lesson

Understanding the Flip in Golf

If you're like most amateur golfers, you struggle with a flip or scoopy motion through impact. This issue doesn't just affect your full swings; it can also occur during chips and other shots. Today, I'm going to help you fix this problem with one simple change—it's almost a philosophical shift rather than a physical one.

The Concept of Pushing vs. Pulling

Everything in golf revolves around the concepts of pushing versus pulling. Most golf instructors may not emphasize this, but understanding this distinction is crucial because all movement in golf is either a push or a pull. When you think about how to start your takeaway, get to the top of your backswing, or initiate your downswing, you must consider whether you're pushing or pulling.

The mistake most golfers make is dominating the swing with pushing from their right side (for right-handed golfers). The reality is that the golf swing should be primarily lead-side dominated. If you continue to push with your trailing hand, that's likely why you're flipping the club at impact.

The Role of the Right and Left Hands

During impact, your right wrist is typically fully hinged back, and the muscles are loaded. This position makes it easy for your right hand to push against the shaft, which results in a flip. Conversely, the left hand is not in a strong enough position to counteract the force and inertia of the club. This is why flipping is much easier to achieve with the right hand.

How to Fix the Flip

To stop flipping, you need to focus on pulling with your left side instead of pushing with your right. When you pull, your left wrist stays flat through impact, leading to better shots. You don’t want to overdo the pull, as that could leave the clubface open, but a slight pull allows for a natural release.

One effective drill you can practice anywhere is to focus on using your lead arm only. This helps you understand how to release the club properly. By dragging the club through with your left hand, you’ll notice how your wrist remains flat. This simple change can prevent flipping entirely.

The Importance of Grip Tension

While practicing this drill, pay attention to your grip tension. Many golfers grip the club too tightly, which hinders their ability to release it naturally. Try taking your left thumb and forefinger off the shaft, focusing on using the last three fingers of your left hand to drag the club through the hitting area. This adjustment makes it virtually impossible to flip the club and helps you feel how little grip tension is necessary.

Observations from Tour Professionals

When watching tour-level players, you'll notice they practice with their lead hand more often than their trailing hand. This is because they instinctively understand that the lead side should dominate the swing. Observing players like Vijay Singh or Phil Mickelson, you’ll notice their trailing hand often comes off the club during their swings. This illustrates the importance of releasing the club rather than pushing it through impact.

The Physics Behind Pulling

Consider the analogy of pulling a trailer down the highway. At high speeds, if you attempt to back up the trailer, it becomes difficult due to the misalignment of the centers of gravity. The same physics applies to the golf swing. When you pull the club, you align the centers of gravity, leading to a more stable and accurate swing.

Releasing the Club Properly

Understanding the difference between flipping and properly releasing the club is essential. Flipping typically occurs when the right wrist pushes through impact, causing the left wrist to break down. This results in added loft to the clubface, which is not what you want. Alternatively, a proper release involves a passive rotation of the forearms, allowing the club to glide through impact without forcing it.

Conclusion and Next Steps

By adopting this shift in mindset and focusing on pulling with your lead side, you can eliminate the flip and improve your ball-striking significantly. The most enjoyable aspect of the golf swing is the feeling of releasing the club effortlessly and letting it do the work for you. If you're ready to take your swing to the next level, consider using AI swing analysis tools to measure and refine these patterns in your game.

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