Squaring the face with a flipping of the wrists is the most inconsistent way to apply impact. The golf club is designed to hit the ball with a forward leaning shaft in relationship to the clubface. That is why the shaft is built in front of the clubface. Hitting the ball with a neutral or backward leaning shaft makes it impossible to hit the sweet spot.
Early release/ Casting
The loss of lag, not maintaining the angle on the downswing, unhinging the wrists too early on the downswing results in the club head being lower to the ground in the downswing. This move puts the bottom of the swing arc further behind the golf ball. When the bottom of the arc is behind the golf ball it is impossible to hit down. The club heads only option is to begin to swing in an upward direction. The dreaded thin or topped shot soon follows. “Hitting down” with an early release relates to the dreaded fat shot.
Hit Down
More lag keeps the club head higher above the ground into the ball. This increases the vertical descent of the club head towards the golf ball as well as moving the bottom of the arc in the golf swing more forward.
Clubhead Speed
More lag delays the unhinging of the wrists. This delay stores power in the club head. More clubhead speed can be applied to the golf ball when the unhinging of the wrists is delayed.
Release
An early release, cast, or flip when trying to square the face usually coordinates with a trail hand under lead hand follow through which promotes the dreaded chicken wing. With more lag on the downswing and a delayed release squaring the face requires more of a trail hand “rolling over” lead hand follow through with a lead elbow folding on the follow through.
Scooping/Flipping
Hand and wrist action at impact when an early release has happened on the downswing.
Flat/Bowed lead wrist
Hand and wrist position at impact when lag is maintained effectively on downswing. Maintaining lag on the downswing will result in a forward leaning shaft at impact. This wrist position is a must in order to square the face at impact.
Backspin
A descending blow of the club head into the ball will smash the ball on the clubface. The grooves will grab the cover of the ball imparting backspin, which will allow the ball to lift into the air and land softly.
Bunker shots
Maintaining lag allows for a descending blow, steeper angle of attack and provides more speed in the club head. These attributes are vital to be a good bunker player. This is why poor ball strikers (early releasers) are poor bunker players.