The bony anatomy of the wrist and hand begins with the two forearm bones: the radius and the ulna. The eight carpal (wrist) bones come next, arranged in two rows. The "wrist joint" is not a single joint at all, but rather a complex assembly of many small joints.

The hand is comprised of the tubular metacarpal and finger bones (phalanges).

Unless you are in the habit of punching your golf partner in anger, chances are you will never sustain a wrist or hand fracture while on the golf course. One exception, however, is a golf-related fracture of the hamate bone in the wrist. The hamate bone is positioned in the second row of carpal bones on the pinky side of the wrist. The hamate has a small prominence, called the hook (red circle), which juts into the palm. In the right-handed golfer, the butt end of the club is positioned over the hook of the hamate bone. Hitting a fat shot or striking a fixed object (such as a rock or tree root) with the club can result in injury to the hamate and fracture of the hook.