Grip Issues

[dannyra]

I posted earlier about snap hooking everything. I think it really had to do with my grip.

After reading several other posts and the article by Go Navy I changed up my grip. The snap hooks instantly dissappeared. Now I have a terrible slice . I'm not getting the club face square at impact, but I'm pretty sure my swing path is alright as the ball starts on target or slightly to the right of target.

I used to grip the club in the fingers of both hands. Because I've always heard that the club should be in your fingers. From reading Go Navy's article it sounds like the advice should be, grip the club in the fingers of your right hand. As it is impossible to put the heel pad of your left thumb over the top of the grip and have the grip in your fingers.

[gord962]

Re: Grip Issues

check out my drill to ensure you are square at impact:
http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/clubface.htm

[GoNavy]

Re: Grip Issues

Hard to diagnose without pictures of your swing or even your grip. But, if you use to hook badly, then the new grip causes a slice, then use something in between the two. Actually putting the heelpad on top, puts the club more in the fingers then hands, or your grips may be too big for your hands, without pictures it's a bit difficult to tell. You also may be holding off the release with the new grip, if you remember I also mentioned that you would probably have some bad swing compensations from using a bad grip for a long period of time. With grips that were held mainly in the fingers (too much in the fingers) people tend to flip thier hands through impact, rather then roll the forearms through. With the correct grip, you may need to learn to roll the forearms through. My point being, I don't know without pictures of your swing and grip. I don't think any other GTO member can either.

[dannyra]

Re: Grip Issues

Attached is a picture of my grip. When I was at the range yesterday slicing everything I moved my right hand stronger and that didn't seem to help much.

I tried the drill that Gord posted and found that my left hand seems to be the problem, but I'd have to have a very uncomfortably strong grip with the left hand to correct it. Maybe there is something I need to be doing differently with my left are?

From the second picture I uploaded you can see that my left hand appears to be pointed at the right shoulder, but my right hand is pretty week. Like I said above though, my left hand appears to be the one not getting square when I do Gord's drill.

[GoNavy]

Re: Grip Issues

You are doing the same thing Koonl was doing. Read this thread:

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/v...ead.php?t=4478

The v on your left hand may be pointing to the right shoulder, but is a fake v, your heel pad is no where near ontop of the club, if I draw a line straight up the club, it would fall under your left thumb, and the right hand is way on top, V pointing at your chin or left ear even, that alone will make you slice, and come over the top. The grip is a very difficult thing to master, most people just don't appreciate how important it truely is, takes time to perfect.

When putting the left hand on the club, actually exagerate it to the point you feel like your left wrist is over the shaft, it will feel ackward at first, but is necessary. You will think your wrist is cupped backwards, but when you place the club on the ground behind the ball and forward of it, it will straighten out. I had a three picture series that showed how the right went on, this thread:

http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/v...ead.php?t=4507

for the right hand and grip pressure explaination. Let us know how you are doing.

[dannyra]

Re: Grip Issues

Your right that does feel awkward. Hopefully the weather will clear up a bit to where I can go to the range this weekend.

Thanks,
Dan

[GoNavy]

Re: Grip Issues

This takes time, any change is going to feel a little strange at first. But you will get to the point when it will feel strange not to grip that way. You will also notice you don't have to do anything with the hands when you swing, this is a new concept to people that play with a weak or incorrect grip. They always have to work thiers hands really hard to square the face, now all the sudden it just happens without much thought to what your hands are doing, one less thing to think about, always a good idea. I very seldom think about the face being opened or closed during the swing, I just trust that my grip will get the job done, and it usually does. This is what Gord was trying to say to you, make it happen naturally, not forced, you don't want either hand fighting for dominates, should feel like one big hand.

[dannyra]

Re: Grip Issues

Went to the driving range this weekend and also played a few rounds. Had a couple of bad slices and a couple big hooks but overall a pretty good day when making solid contact.

Most of my slices came when I was trying to hit the long ball. So I'm not to worried about that. And most of my hooks where when I was trying to hit a 3/4 or half shot so I think it was more of a time issue than a grip issue.

The grip is feeling more comfortable, but I think I'm shutting the face down on my back swing which is something to work on later. As long as it's square at impact, I'm not to concerned about it at the moment.

Thanks for the help.