Especially useful for golfers with medium and low handicaps

Most golfers' minds are cluttered with thoughts of cocking the wrists correctly at the top of the backswing. This is a needless worry. They shouldn't think about cocking the wrists, because if they drop their wrists down correctly on the downswing, they will increase with a natural motion what wrist-cock they have. This action, moreover, will build up a delayed hit which gives real power.

I try to get my pupils to do this by getting them to think that, as they start down from the top of the swing, they are pulling down on a high rope. That concept usually helps them to bring their hands down to the correct position, low and with the wrists cocked even more than they were at the top of the backswing.

Watch the great swingers like Gene Littler. He has a pronounced late hit to his swing due to dropping his wrists. He doesn't swing his arms down. He drops them. He gets the additional cock and then hits the ball with the delayed hand action that produces distance and accuracy.

To summarize, dropping the wrists increases the arc of the swing, stores the power for its best release, and makes for longer and more consistent hitting. It is the modern pro's secret weapon.

from JIM BROWNING, pro at Weston Golf Club, Weston, Mass.

TWO PHOTOS

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS

Two views of Jim Browning dropping his wrists into hitting position as he starts club down from the top of the backswing

NEXT WEEK'S PRO: JIM FOGEARTEY ON LINING UP THE SHOT