Overactive Hands in Golf Swing: Overview

The hands are vital in a golf swing.

In fact, they are the only part of the body attached to the golf club.  The hands have great control over the clubface and can make or break a swing depending how you use them.

Unfortunately, golf can be complicated with the many little pieces of advice we might hear.

Some instructors will tell you to take the hands out of the golf swing, while other instructors will tell you to trust your hands.

So what is the right approach and what if we have overactive hands in the golf swing?

Let’s dive right in and help provide clarity on the many questions surrounding the hands and the golf swing.

What role do the hands play in the golf swing?

There are two basic roles that the hands play in the golf swing.  First, the hands play the role of controlling the angle of the clubface at impact.  They also help produce some speed in the swing at the right time.  

Role #1: Controlling the angle of the clubface.

This is vital as the direction of the initial start line of a golf club is mainly impacted by the angle of the clubface at impact.  The hands play a role in influencing what direction the clubface is facing at impact.  Generally speaking, the golf ball will start in the direction of the clubface at impact and the curve away from the swing path. 

For example, if your clubface is 2 degrees open at impact, the golf ball will start to the right.  If the swing path is 4 degrees to the right, the ball will draw back to the left.  If the swing path is 4 degrees to the left, the ball will start right and fade further right, resulting in a poor outcome, unless you were aimed way left and trying to hit a big fade.

Should I roll my hands over in the golf swing?

Role #2: Producing swing speed at the right time.

While you might have heard to take your hands out of the swing, we wouldn’t advise this.  When used properly the hands can produce some tremendous speed.  Here is a quick test your can do:

1. Take a golf club and put your hands straight out and simply move your body and some arms without your hands.  Are you able to generate any swing speed?
2. Next, take a golf club and keep your body still, but swing quickly with just your arms and hands.  Can you hear the swoosh with the club?

This quick test above proves the need for the hands in the golf swing to produce speed.  They key here is to not rely on rolling your hands through the shot, which can cause great inconsistency in the golf swing.

Complete Overview: Hands in the golf swing!

Overactive Hands in Golf Swing

Someone might have told you along the way that your hands are too active in the golf swing.  More than likely the true problem is poor synchronization of your body turn and the use of your arms and hands.  While the body starts earlier in the downswing then the arms and hands, there is a small time gap between the two.  Here is what happens when improperly synchronized.

1. Fault #1: The body gets too far ahead of the arms and hands in the golf swing.  The golfer will often feel this, the body stalls and the hands flip through.  One some days you can play great golf, on other days you are going to fight the overdraw or the hook.
2. Fault #2: The body doesn’t move enough.  The golfer struggles to make proper contact as there is no flow to the swing and the arms and hands are releasing too early causing a flipping of the golf club.

They key isn’t to eliminate the hands, but instead to train your hands to make the proper movements that produce the shots we need during a round of golf!

How to release your hands in the golf swing!

Tip: Feel To Overcome This Issue

Have the feel that your arms and hands are going to ride the body a bit on the backswing.  Gather yourself and then naturally have a throwing like motion of the golf club towards the target.  Make a natural swing and flow through the shot.  This can help the body sync up with the arms and hands and produce an efficient and powerful golf swing!

Fade vs Draw: Complete Overview

Bottom Line: Train Your Hands

My number one tip is to learn to use your hands properly.  The hands are vital and must be trained to hit a variety of shots.  Over reliance on a body and complete rotational swing might actually take some distance away from your swing. 

While overactive hands can be a bad thing, the hands do need to fire and properly release on full shots.  Training your hands to hit high, low, left to right and right to left shots is key to your overall development as a golfer.

Best Drill For Training The Hands: 9 Shot Challenge

Tiger Woods is known to utilize the 9 shot challenge drill.  The golfer attempts to hit the 9 different shots in golf.  These include the following:

• Low straight shot
• Medium straight shot
• High straight shot
• Low draw
• Medium draw
• High Draw
• Low fade
• Medium fade
• High fade

I use this drill often and it helps on numerous fronts:

1. It helps me train my hands to hit a variety of shots.
2. It helps me keep my swing path from getting too far to the inside or too far across the ball.  It becomes a drill that helps neutralize our swing, but helps us maintain the ability to hit a variety of shots.

I will often use my 6 iron with this drill and hit the 9 different shot utilizing my Skytrak Launch Monitor either in my garage setup or at the driving range.  Seeing the shot tracer and getting the key numbers helps me dial in these shots.

I would highly recommend a Skytrak Launch Monitor for any serious golfer.  

Price them out here at Rain or Shine Golf!

Next Steps: Enjoy the Journey

Have fun and be creative in hitting the different shots in golf.  While you might not use all 9 during every golf round, having the ability to hit these shots when in trouble or simply to keep your swing on track can be very helpful over the course of the golf season!

Keep in mind that there is no perfect golf swing, but own your golf swing.  Learn to hit the shot, build the skill and have fun on the journey!