Left Thumb

[pnearn]

Ive been experimenting with completely removing my left thumb from the grip, that is actually having it lying on top of the middle two fingers of my left hand and not down the shaft. Ive found this has really helped keep my swing loose and allowed a much better release as the club feels much more in my fingers. I tend to really press that thumb down onto the shaft, i just cant help it !

Im guessing this is analagous to the short thumb idea. Does anyone else do anything similar, is it a bad idea?

[leebev]

Re: Left Thumb

Hi pnearn, Well it's different !

Having just tried the above grip myself for feel, it starts to feel just like the classic baseball grip. One hand below the other griping the club with no interlocking. Although, you are probably still interlocking or overlapping your right little finger over your left, I doubt this is having any effect now. Have you tried the classic baseball grip, rather than the Vardon ?

I can't say the above grip is a bad idea, as it appears to be working for you, but I don't remember ever reading or having seen it demonstrated before, so it is definitely unorthodox.

The advice I would give you is to revert back to the classic vardon grip. Make sure your grip is on the strong side of the club, so that the V's between your thumb and forefinger's are pointing towards right shoulder. This allows you to swing with a firm grip without having to throttle it. I read somewhere (probably on this site), that if you hold a tube of toothpaste as you are meant to hold your club, if you squeeze any out, then you are holding it too tight. A further useful tip for your right hand, is to separate the right forefinger from your middle finger slightly. It will feel like your right forefinger is on a trigger. Also make sure your right thumb is across the shaft, not pointing down it.

Good luck.

Cheers.
Lee.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Left Thumb

With your right palm wrapped around your left thumb, you realise that no matter what, both your right and left wrists will rotate in the same directions. When you remove your left thumb that way, do you find that now both wrists are able to rotate independently of each other? (I'm just trying to imagine - don't have any club with me right now)