How to Correct the Cupping of the Wrist in a Golf Backswing

A cupped wrist at the top of the backswing is one of the most common swing wreckers in amateur golf, quietly opening the clubface and forcing you to make heroic, last-second corrections to have any chance at a decent shot. If you're tired of fighting a slice or feeling a lack of power, getting that lead wrist into a better position is a huge first step. This guide will walk you through exactly what a cupped wrist is, why it's so damaging, and provide simple, actionable drills to get a flat, powerful wrist position by the top of your swing.

What a Cupped Wrist Is and Why It's Hurting Your Game

First, let's be clear on what we're talking about. A "cupped" wrist describes the position of your lead hand (the left hand for a right-handed golfer) at the top of the backswing. If you look at your swing in a mirror or on video, a cupped wrist is when the back of your lead hand is bent outward, away from your forearm. It creates a 'cup' or angle, almost like you could balance a small drink on the back of your glove. While it might feel natural to some, it puts you in a terrible position to start the downswing.

The biggest problem with a cupped wrist is what it does to your clubface: it opens it. Think of the back of your lead wrist as being directly connected to the clubface. When the wrist cups (extends), the clubface twists open. From an open position at the top, you now have a monumental task to get that face back to square by the time you reach the ball. Golf happens in fractions of a second, and trying to consciously flip your hands or roll your arms to square the face is a recipe for wild inconsistency.

This single fault is a primary source of:

• The Slice: The most common result. You can't close the face in time, and you deliver an open face to the ball, resulting in that weak, curving shot to the right.
• Weak, High Shots: Even if you manage to avoid a full-on slice, an open clubface adds loft at impact. You get those shots that pop up high and go nowhere, robbed of all their power.
• The Occasional Hard Hook: In a desperate attempt to correct the open face, you might over-compensate and flip your hands too aggressively, leading to a snap hook. There's no middle ground.

Getting rid of that cup closes a huge leak in your swing. It simplifies the downswing, letting you focus on rotating your body instead of frantically trying to fix the clubface.

The Goal: A Flat or Slightly Bowed Wrist

If "cupped" is the enemy, what's a good wrist position look like? Your main goal should be to achieve a flat lead wrist at the top of your backswing. This means the back of your lead hand is in a straight line with your forearm. It feels stable and powerful. A flat wrist puts the clubface in a neutral, or "square," position at the top.

A square clubface at the top is the game-changer. From here, you no longer need to manipulate the club on the way down. You can simply unwind your body, and the club will naturally return the face to square at impact. This is the bedrock of consistency.

You might see some professional golfers, like Dustin Johnson or Jon Rahm, with what's called a "bowed" wrist. This is when the back of the hand is bent inward, toward the forearm. This is an advanced, powerful move that actually closes the clubface at the top and often leads to that signature low, penetrating draw. While it's great for them, for the average golfer, a flat wrist is the perfect goal. It removes the big slice miss and builds a solid foundation for consistency.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Your Cupped Wrist

Let's get to work. This isn't something you can fix by just thinking about it, you need to feel it. Here are the steps and drills to retrain your wrists and build a better backswing.

Step 1: Get a Grip (Literally)

More often than not, a cupped wrist has its roots in a poor grip. Specifically, a weak grip. A weak grip is when your lead hand is rotated too far to the left (for a righty), so you can only see one, or maybe even zero, knuckles when you look down at address.

When you start with a weak grip, your body instinctively knows the clubface is aiming way right. So, during the backswing, it cups the wrist in a subconscious effort to get the clubface back into a more neutral setup at the top. It's a compensation for a setup flaw.

The Fix: Strengthen your grip. When you place your lead (left) hand on the club, rotate it more to the right until you can clearly see two to two-and-a-half knuckles. The "V" formed between your thumb and index finger should now point roughly toward your rear shoulder (your right shoulder). This stronger position puts your wrist in a much better biomechanical position to stay flat throughout the swing.

Step 2: Rehearse a Better Takeaway

The cup often begins to form right as you start the swing. We can stop it before it even gets started with a simple thought and feel. During the first few feet of the backswing - from the ball to when the club is parallel to the ground - focus on keeping the clubhead outside your hands.

Drill - The Motorcycle Rev: This is a classic feel that helps so many golfers. Take the club back to where the shaft is parallel to the ground (hip high). From here, feel as if you are slightly "revving" a motorcycle throttle grip with your lead hand. This will make your lead wrist flatten or even bow slightly and turn the clubface so that it's pointing more toward the ground. This is an exaggeration drill. You're trying to feel the opposite of a cupping motion. Do this slowly a few times, then try to blend that feeling into a smooth, three-quarter swing.

Step 3: Drills for Engraining a Flat Wrist at the Top

Here’s where we use some training aids and specific motions to make the new position feel normal.

The Ruler Drill

This is as simple as it gets. Take a standard 12-inch ruler and slide it into the back of your golf glove, running up your hand and forearm. Now, make slow backswings. If you cup your wrist at the top, you'll feel the end of the ruler press uncomfortably into your forearm. The goal is to make a backswing where the ruler applies even, gentle pressure along your arm. This gives you instant, undeniable feedback a dozen times a minute.

The Two-Part Backswing

Breaking a complex motion into smaller parts is an amazing way to learn. Rehearse your backswing in two distinct stages:

1. Part 1: Swing back to where your lead arm is parallel to the ground. Stop. Look at your lead wrist. Is it flat? If not, adjust it until it is. The clubface should be an extension of your flat wrist.
2. Part 2: From this checkpoint, simply turn your shoulders to complete the swing to the top. This second part is a turn, not an additional lift with the arms.

Repeat this stop-and-check motion over and over. You’re building muscle memory one piece at a time.

Step 4: Bring It to the Ball

After you've done these drills without a ball, it's time to hit some shots. Start small. Grab a pitching wedge and make slow, half-swings focusing solely on that flat-wrist feeling at the top.

A word of warning: Your shots might go left at first! This is actually a good sign. It means your clubface is now square or even slightly closed, but your body is still making its old compensation for an open face. Stick with it. As you get used to simply rotating through the ball instead of flicking your hands at it, your shots will start to straighten out beautifully.

Gradually increase the speed and move up through your clubs. Be patient. It can take a few sessions at the range for this new move to feelautomatic, but the payoff in consistency and power is more than worth it.

Final Thoughts

Eliminating a cupped wrist boils down to fixing the source, which is often the grip, and then engraving the new feeling of a flat wrist at the top of your swing through deliberate drills. Getting the clubface square at the top simplifies everything that follows, allowing you to deliver the club with power and consistency by just rotating your body.

Ingraining new feels is challenging, and getting personalized guidance can make all the difference. Sometimes you need a quick answer or a second opinion without booking a full lesson. That’s where we designed our app, Caddie AI, to help. You can get instant, 24/7 coaching on anything from checking your wrist position to analyzing why you're hitting a certain shot. It’s like having an expert golf coach in your pocket, ready to provide clear, simple advice so you can stop guessing and start making real, lasting improvements to your swing.