Full shot problem

[GreeBoman]

Hey guys,

I was practicing some approaches last night (120m and in) and I noticed that I get a better contact, flight and distance if I grip down the shaft an inch or so and take a 3/4 swing.
This is especially obvious with LW, SW and W but I was also able to see it with all shots right up to the Driver.

I'm guessing that on the full swing I am casting and loosing all my lag way before the ball. Also gripping down an inch probably gives me more control resulting in a sweeter contact.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and any advice on how I can "fix" it?

I average
Driver 250m
5i 160m
9i from 110m

Cheers,
P.

[BrianW]

Re: Full shot problem

Gripping down the shaft reduces the swing arc and makes it easier to hit the ball, it does reduce distance for the club though. If I want to play a very accurate shot into a tight green, under trees or into the wind I will use a club with less loft than normal for the distance, grip down, play the ball a little back in the stance, hands forward, take a shorter backswing and follow through. This gives a much lower penetrating ball flight that will carry well. I use this shot often with my 3 or 4 rescue from around 130 / 150 yards on tight approaches.

A shorter shaft is easier to manage, there could be many reasons that you are having problems with your full swing, look at posture (lifting up) and tempo,(Rushing) first.

[GreeBoman]

Re: Full shot problem

Gripping down the shaft reduces the swing arc and makes it easier to hit the ball, it does reduce distance for the club though. If I want to play a very accurate shot into a tight green, under trees or into the wind I will use a club with less loft than normal for the distance, grip down, play the ball a little back in the stance, hands forward, take a shorter backswing and follow through. This gives a much lower penetrating ball flight that will carry well. I use this shot often with my 3 or 4 rescue from around 130 / 150 yards on tight approaches.

A shorter shaft is easier to manage, there could be many reasons that you are having problems with your full swing, look at posture (lifting up) and tempo,(Rushing) first.

Thanks Brian, whats confusing me is that Im getting more distance from a gripped down, 3/4 shot than I do with a full shot.
For example a full SW goes about 10m than a 3.4 one...
The full one always seems to go higher with less penetration; like Im scouping it.

[bill reed]

Re: Full shot problem

hi
you might be hitting the ball in the sweet spot area and getting a cleaner contact and thats why your longer with going down the grip.
best way to check is to put some talc or impact strips on the club head.
cheers
bill

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Full shot problem

By gripping down you are gaining more control of the club head. When you shorten your swing, you increase your control even further of the club head. With a shorter swing, your lag, down swing, tempo, and timing become easier to control. All this leads to better ball contact at the impact position which increases distance and accuracy. In other words the longer the swing, the more things that can go wrong with it, and the more practice time require to keep in under control. Just a guess, but I would suspect you might practice more on your short game, than on your long game, which makes you shorter swing easier to handle. GJS

[GreeBoman]

Re: Full shot problem

Thanks guys, I will get some think to check/compare the impact position between the combinations of grip and swing length.

I've no real problem swinging shorter if the ball goes further and straighter

GJS, my normal practicing routine is to hit maybe 1 or 2 balls of the tee and then maybe 2-3 long irons (from the bad tee shot) and then anything up to 6 8-LW approaches to the green, so in effect I am hitting more shots from 120 and in than anything else.

I do hit it well with my Driver though, which would seem to be the exact opposite of what you would expect, but thats probably a mental thing as I love my driver and feel like I can hit it where I want when I want.

Cheers,
P.

[ogallalabob]

Re: Full shot problem

I have also gone to a shorter more 3/4 swing with my wedges. Though I do lose about 5-10 yds by doing so it has increased my accuracy.

I would guess is that your making better contact with your 3/4 swing.

[bill reed]

Re: Full shot problem

hi
remember Sandy Lyle and how far he hits with his 3/4 swing. he was the longest hitter at last years open with a drive of 387 yards and that him in his 50s.
cheers
bill

[Bully306]

Re: Full shot problem

Garcia always grips down on his clubs for better control. Unless he's trying to hit a howitzer you generally see 1 or 2 inches sticking out at the top.

With better control and 3/4 swing you're probably timing it better aswell hence the improved distance.

I use a 3/4 swing but that's probably because I can't get my addled frame round any further

[GreeBoman]

Re: Full shot problem

Thanks guys, I am going to get some tape/talc tonight and see what I can find. Also going to play a few holes hitting every shot with gripped down a bit and see what happens.

FYI my old man pointed out that my "normal" grip is right at the very top of the club anyway, when its advised to be an inch or so down...