10 Finger Grip

[Long Dugg]

Hey all!
Just spent a week working with a 10 finger grip and quite pleased thus far. I switched from inter lock trying to find a way to cure the dreaded duck hook. I do have to take away on a more upright plane but my drives are staightening out some. Thought it may affect my irons (which I was pretty pleased with before) but now they are more accurate than ever, either with a slight draw or slight fade. I'll continue to work with this to see if I can find a consistent groove. I've read many articles saying that 10 finger gives you more release than inter or overlap. If this is true then it is the release in the body and not the wrist. I felt I was releasing too much through impact with my inter lock causing top hook spin on the ball but now feel is if I have to release my body to square the face which is fine for now. Don't know how long it'll hold up but I thought I would share this and also ask if anyone has any technical info on the ten finger grip as to pros and cons?
Hope everyone has a happy New Year!

[TeachingPro]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

Here's some information for you on grips. I'm sure you will find it interesting. Leslie King, a British golf coach who started in the early 60's and taught for 30 years, is credited as being the father of the modern golf swing. His studio in London was called "The Swing Factory" and he coached everybody who was anybody in his time...

He believed the grip has nothing to do with the swing or impact. Yep! This is why: address a golf ball with whatever grip you what and however your hands are now, they are capable of getting back there at impact. Try it ... with a bit of swing adjustments, it can be done!!!

There you are, theory proven!

I agree with Leslie King: the grip has to be comfortoble to build a swing around it. There is no point to having a perfect grip but it feels uncomfortable which throws the swing off kilter. If your comfortable grip is 10 finger (natural) grip, then go for it! You may have to make the hands a little quieter and a few swing adjustments but if you can start off square, you can end square.

Good luck with it! If you need help, you know where we are.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

I play with a guy now and then who has this grip, it looks abit strange but it works for him, he's off 3.

I remember doing an exercise once that involved this grip but with the hands seperated slightly about 4 inches, when you swing like this it gives you the feeling of a release.


Ian.

[TeachingPro]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

It may look strange but there is absolutely no reason why it can't work as good as any grip. I teach it to all my juniors and players with small hands or weak wrists.

In fact, there is a player on the PGA and Nationwide Tour that uses a 10 finger grip. I am trying to find out who it is ... a mate of mine is a caddy on the PGA tour so I ask him. I'm sure it is Craig Bowden... the finished with $500,000 in prizemoney and 3rd on the driving accuracy stats.

[richie2u2]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

just started using this grip, too at the range.

seems to help being more consistent in hitting straight
but am concerned if distance will be affected in long run

any thoughts?

[TeachingPro]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

No, you shouldn't lose any distance at all. In fact, you might gain some! Having each hand working independantly helps some golfers to release a little later in the swing.

[Long Dugg]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

Richie, I was worried about the distance factor also. I've been using this grip for a few rounds now and have not lost any, may even have gained some but I still use inter lock around the greens. I seem to have better touch with this on shots under 100 yds.

[bilinguru]

Re: 10 Finger Grip

I switched to the ten finger grip from the interlocking grip about 5 years ago. I have toyed with switching back a few times but always end up returning to the trusty 10 finger grip.
I have small hands and am slightly arthritic so this grip puts the least amount of stress on my joints and gives me the most power.
When I used the interlocking grip my misses, like most golfers, were slices. With the 10 finger, I draw the ball and gain an extra 10 yards per iron and 30 more with the driver. This is due to the ease with which my forearms are able to rotate through impact. I have a tendency to grip the club a little too strong which can result in wicked hooks if I'm not careful. But overall, because I am aware of this tendency I can manage it to my advantage and weaken my grip if I need to hit a fade.
For those of you who use the vardon or interlocking grip, I wouldn't recommend changing your grip, but I would advocate experimenting with a 10 finger grip as a practice drill to get rid of your slice.
Incidentally, the 10 finger is sometimes referred to as the 'baseball grip' which is innacurate. With the baseball grip your left thumb (for righties - I'm a lefty actually) is off the club just as it would be if you were swinging a baseball bat. This is actually another good drill to learn how to draw the ball and produces even more distance as you can get the maximum amount of wrist hinge at the top of your swing. I don't like it though as you need perfect timing to avoid hitting it all over the place.
The greatest ball striker of all time, the late great Mo Norman, used the 10 finger grip. I had the priveledge of seeing him hit balls when I was about 20 years old and I'll never forget the sound of his club flushing the ball time after time.

Keep it in the shortgrass.

Brian