What grip type do I have

[koonl]

Can anyone comment on my grip position - are they neutral, strong or weak, or is one hand stronger/weaker than the other?

Many thanks

[Ian Hancock]

Re: What grip type do I have

Koonl,


"Show-off" it's perfect............


Ball looks a bit back in your stance, can't tell if it a wedge though....

Ian.

[koonl]

Re: What grip type do I have

That was with a 7-iron, which normally goes fairly straight, sometimes fades, sometimes draws, but I always slice or fade, rarely draw. With the driver. Wanted to make sure that the grip was not at fault. If I try giving it an ultra strong grip I still slice it! Must be the way I am swinging the club then.

Do you think I should have the ball a bit forward for a 7 iron, it's tight in the middle of the stance?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: What grip type do I have

Kooln,

Firstly I would advise you NOT to play with that grip it's perfect.


If you are going left and right with that grip I think (looking at the photograph) look at ball position first.


Text book: play the ball just forward of middle, middle being where your heels are not your toes, if your toes point out then it is deceptive where your middle is.

Or try swinging the club on grass with your eyes closed then look where you brushed the turf, it should be just level with your left breast.


Hope this helps.


Ian.

[koonl]

Re: What grip type do I have

I've always been taught to play the ball in the centre upto 7 iron, but sometimes I feel that I'm punching or coming down too much on it. I'll give it a go tonight and let you know. I'll also try and perform that drill you suggested. Funnily enough, if I concentrate on the ground about 2 inches ahead of the ball (ie. not looking at the ball), I definitely make ball-turf contact, it's really solid but can't always perform this if I do focus on the ball. Would the ball positioning help this?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: What grip type do I have

Koonl,
Don't go mad and make big changes just a ball width or maybe two.

If as you say the ball is middle for a 7 iron then you will be a bit punchie with it, this will account for the left and rights.

Let me know how you go on, I think you should be fine with the ball a little more forward.


Ian.

[gord962]

Re: What grip type do I have

Just because the grip is textbook, it does not necessarily mean that you are squaring your clubface at impact. Follow Ian's advice about moving the ball a ball width (max 2 widths) forward in your stance first, but this may or may not be the root of your problem. There are several things that can cause a slice, gripand ball position are only 2. There is still the swing path, position at impact, weight shift than can be causing your slice.

If everything else is fine and you still are slicing, try strengthening your grip. It may be that your grip is not allowing you to square your clubface at impact. I know I have had to strengthen my grip a bit which cured my fade.

[koonl]

Re: What grip type do I have

Not sure if I've over compensated but I was playing one particular 6-iron to the green, with the ball forward in my stance as suggested. It just hooked out of bounds and I immediately put the ball back in my normal position for the 2nd shot and hit a nice draw!

I've attached the full shot of my address position. I think it's a 7 iron, and when looking down, looks like it's in the middle - but looking at the shot, it's about a ball's width back! Could this also cause an early club release as I do tend to do this?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: What grip type do I have

Koonl,

As I said before the grip is perfect and the ball position with a 7 iron is a little to far back in your stance.

When you said you moved the ball forward you hooked the ball, you must expect the first few shot to go wayward, probably because you are releasing early due to your normal ball position.

You must hit a few bad ones before your brain tells your body to change something, just relax and keep hitting the ball with it slightly more forward, you will not keep hooking because your sub-conscious will automatically change your swing to hit the ball.

It works like this, no matter how you line up to the target shoulder open, closed, feet right, feet left etc etc etc, your mind will instruct the body to aim at the target, by doing all of the above only affect the flight of the ball, you allways hit at the target.


Don't panic keep trying.


Ian.

[koonl]

Re: What grip type do I have

Thanks, Ian, will persevere and keep you updated!