Grip concept

[Simon Woo]

Just to confirm... Strong vs weak grip refers to the twisting of the left wrist to see more or less knuckles. Hard vs soft grip refers to how hard the hands are actually clenched around the grip... Did I get the terminologies correct?

I have always been using a weak grip, ie. I usually only see one to two knuckles at the most. I've tried using a stronger grip and do feel better (more control) with the woods, but it becomes a disaster when I try that with the irons. I can't seem to get the clubface to square if I setup with a stronger grip on the irons.

So my question is, are we supposed to use the same grip for all the clubs??

[gord962]

Re: Grip concept

First off, yes you have the terminology correct.

Next, you should have one grip for all clubs. Try my clubface alignment drill:

http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/clubface.htm

[sevesteve]

Re: Grip concept

The strong grip can/usually does also refer to your right hand. Similar to the left hand, the right hand would be turned further clockwise (while looking down at your hands) the stronger the grip. A "strong" grip for most players would be where 3 knuckles show on the left hand, and the "V" formed by the right hand between the thumb and forefinger points somewhere near the right shoulder.

A strong grip should make it EASIER to close the clubhead at impact than a weak grip. You say you are having difficulty squaring the clubface with your "strong" grip. If you mean your face is actually "too closed" at impact, this would be an expected result of using a stronger grip. Try "weakening" it until the clubhead is suitably square at impact. If you are saying the clubhead remains open when using your "strong" grip compared to if you used your "weaker" grip, than the problem leading to the open clubface is somewhere else in your address/alignment or swing. In all cases, a strong grip vs a weak grip will further close the clubface, every thing else being the same.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Grip concept

Thanks for your replies. Yep, the problem I'm facing is that when I use the stronger grip, my face becomes too closed at impact. The ball will tend to go to the right and curve to the right further. Adjusting the grip for a square impact will bring me back to my original position of a weak grip, showing only about one knuckle.

So should I go back to the weak grip, or start re-adjusting my swing for a square impact with a new stronger grip?

Thanks!

[bonzi_532]

Re: Grip concept

Here is one for the pros, is more knuckles stronger? If so, a stronger grip makes it easier to fade because it takes more release to square it.

[GreeBoman]

Re: Grip concept

Thanks for your replies. Yep, the problem I'm facing is that when I use the stronger grip, my face becomes too closed at impact. The ball will tend to go to the right and curve to the right further. Adjusting the grip for a square impact will bring me back to my original position of a weak grip, showing only about one knuckle.

So should I go back to the weak grip, or start re-adjusting my swing for a square impact with a new stronger grip?

Thanks!

If you are closed then you will get a draw/hook not a slice like you are describing...
from your ball flight it sounds like you have your too many knuckles showing on your right hand, though withtout seeing your swing its hard to tell whats causing the slice.
As a guide the "V" at your thumb/index finger on both hands should point between your head and your right shoulder.
Practice with this grip, or get one of those practice clubs with a moulded grip on it and see how it feels.
You need to have a good grip and the sooner you change the sooner it gets better...

[LowPost42]

Re: Grip concept

Here is one for the pros, is more knuckles stronger? If so, a stronger grip makes it easier to fade because it takes more release to square it.

More knuckles is stronger, yes. But it makes for a draw, as you're now 'preloading' the forearm to rotate and release.

The next time you're on the range, try it. But don't go to extremes with a strong grip and a conventional swing. If you go to a 4 knuckle strong grip with a conventional swing, you're likely to hit the ball with the top of the clubhead.

[gord962]

Re: Grip concept

Here is one for the pros, is more knuckles stronger? If so, a stronger grip makes it easier to fade because it takes more release to square it.

More knuckles on the left hand (for righties) is strong. The reason is because if you rotate your hands towards the target until they are in the neutral position (while still gripping the club) the face is now closed. It is the same result as keeping your hands neutral and lining up the face closed. The reason to have a strong grip instead of lining up with a closed face is simple. It is easier to align the clubface square to the target and then apply your grip than to try to align your clubface to the target with the face closed.

[gord962]

Re: Grip concept

Thanks for your replies. Yep, the problem I'm facing is that when I use the stronger grip, my face becomes too closed at impact. The ball will tend to go to the right and curve to the right further. Adjusting the grip for a square impact will bring me back to my original position of a weak grip, showing only about one knuckle.

So should I go back to the weak grip, or start re-adjusting my swing for a square impact with a new stronger grip?

Thanks!

Can we assume you are a leftie by the ball flight description to the right with a closed face???

[bonzi_532]

Re: Grip concept

i was talking about the low hand, sorry!

[gord962]

Re: Grip concept

Simply, hands rotated away from the target is strong, hands rotated towards the target is weak.

[bonzi_532]

Re: Grip concept

Yep and more or less knuckles is exactly the oppo for hands, got it.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Grip concept

Sorry my mistake. Yes I'm a rightie and with the stronger grip the ball flies to the right and curves even more to the right (that is a slice right?). Does that make sense? When I rotate my left hand at setup for the stronger grip with clubface square to target, at impact it feels really weird and I'm not able to hit the ball square.

I also read the article on one-plane and two-plane swings, and apparently since I am using a two-plane swing, it might not be necessary to use such a strong grip? (The article was recommending a weak to neutral grip for two-plane swing in fact).

I suspect I might have tried to overdo it with the stronger grip. Will try with just a minute adjustment.

[gord962]

Re: Grip concept

If you are a rightie and the ball is starting right and THEN slicing (left to right) then the clubface is open at impact. Not only is the clubface open to the target line, but also your swing path. The good news is that your swing path is inside-out, so all you need to do is square your clubface to the target at impact and you should be on your way to straight shots and maybe even a slight draw.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Grip concept

Yep that must be in. I suspect that when I come back to impact point, my left hand goes back to the more relaxed/natural weak grip, so that would explain the club face being open rite? I guess it's a matter of getting used to the stronger grip (it does feel much better at address for the woods but not the irons), but then again if I am doing a two-plane swing, perhaps I should just keep the weak grip - maybe rotate it just a wee bit?

I also think the inside-out path is because I hear a lot of people saying the driver/wood swing should be flatter, so I try to take it more to the inside up the upswing :P