Very strong grip

[Broadus]

After a week or so of hitting my irons really well, I was again floundering with what appeared to be off-the-toe weak slices or topped balls.

I really worked on my spine angle, as that has seemed to be a large part of the culprit in the past.

Finally, I realized that when I was making my best strikes, I used a very strong grip. Because it is stronger than what I had seen instruction manuals teach, I get away from it in order to have a "more normal" grip. So, I went back to the stronger grip and, voila, decent strikes again.

Evidently, there is something about my swing that works with the strong grip which would cause others to snap hook. Perhaps with a weaker grip, I am not rotating my forearms enough, hanging onto the swing and not releasing. I don't know.

At any rate, I came across this article: http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...davenport.html , which begins with this statement:

Aside from being major championship winners, do you know what David Toms, Lee Trevino and Paul Azinger have in common? All three have the same type of swing -- they grip the club strong and then take it back and through with a full body turn and very little hand action.

It seems to be what I had stumbled upon.

I would post my swing, but I don't have that ability.

Any comments about the utilization of the stronger grip?

Bill

[lgskywalker37]

Re: Very strong grip

i like a neutral grip..... just let you hand hang down from your side and then grip the club, that is neutral. if you have a loose grip and swing properly with a good consistant temp then your hand should end up square at impact to the neutral postion.

i am not sure, but i hear that holding off the club's release and blocking it is actaully bad for you.

i never tried a stong grip so i guess it is personal preference, but the release of the club is about 20% of my power, why would you want to cut that out? and i still get good accuracy

[Broadus]

Re: Very strong grip

I wonder if a strong grip naturally causes the club to rotate. I agree that intentionally holding off the club's release and blocking it is not good, but it seems that, for me at least, with the strong grip the club is more a unit of my left hand and arm and helps be release the club.

FWIW, I am left-handed but play righty.

Bill

[lgskywalker37]

Re: Very strong grip

well if it works it works, it is just not for me. one thing that might help you is to get a thicker grip, that prometes less hand action (if that is what you are going for)

[Simon Woo]

Re: Very strong grip

Hmm I'm not sure if having a strong grip helps you to rotate, I would have thought that it's because of a lack of rotation that a stronger grip would help to compenstate for by closing the clubface more. I would also think that a weaker grip would make rotation easier.

Just throwing some wild thoughts into the air. Feel free to comment and correct some fundamentals I might be wrong about

[Broadus]

Re: Very strong grip

Simon,

I think you are right. That is what I meant, though I did not communicate it well. Could it be that the stronger grip helps square the clubface with less conscious rotation.

I do not understand all the mechanics. All I know is that when I have a weaker grip, I hit my irons, seemingly off the toe, with weak banana slices. If I do happen to square the clubface, I get about 100 yards, say, with a 7i. With this stronger grip and a nice, relaxed swing, I get about 140 yards with the same 7i, having a straight to a slight draw. I do have to be careful not to allow the club to come inside too quickly on the backswing or I will hit a bad hook.

It seems that I feel better leverage with the stronger grip. I enjoy the way the club feels like an extension of my left arm.

It also seems to create a more simple swing for me. Is this a band-aid that is correcting some flaw in my swing? I would have thought so had I not found the above-mentioned article from Golf Digest.

I would love to hear from the pro's about this.

Bill

[Timothy Slaught]

Re: Very strong grip

Broadus:

"Strong is not wrong".... as long as you keep two things in mind:

1) Make sure you do not rotate the right hand too far under the grip giving that clawing appearance. This will prohibit the correct right hand action so thoroughly detailed on this site. The right hand should have the grip primarily in the fingers. If you claw at it with the right hand you will not be able to place the grip in the fingers.

2) The hands should match as far as the position on the club. Some describe this as the v's (crease formed between thumb and index finger)matching up by appearing parallel to one another. This caveat patrols the first point mentioned above. If you rotate the left hand too far (three to four knuckles visible) then the right hand will have to be under the grip which is a big no no.

Remember, when you see or read about these tour pro's with the unorthodox swings and set-ups, they hit hundreds of balls every day.They also play nearly every day. This is not realistic for the average player. We need to capitalize on good fundamentals and a sound grip sets the stage for all other fundamentals to be adhered to. Keep that grip light but solid as well. Do not let the grip move around especially at the top of the backswing. It is not a bad idea to get a molded training grip to get close to the basic correct grip position. Every part of the swing is like clay and can be molded, hopefully into a resemblence of the correct form. The grip is one that can be worked on at home or in the office with one of these practice grips. An underated device on the market is the Mark O'Meara training grip. It fits right over the grip on one of your own clubs.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: Very strong grip

Simon,
It also seems to create a more simple swing for me. Is this a band-aid that is correcting some flaw in my swing? I would have thought so had I not found the above-mentioned article from Golf Digest.

I would love to hear from the pro's about this.

Bill

well, i am not a pro, but youare right about the band-aid. anytime you don't have everything neurtal you are essitaily changing somepart of the swing to compentate. but a timothy said, pro can get away with that becaue they practice everyday for hours.

[doogkie]

Re: Very strong grip

how strong are you talking? like is your clubface closed at address? or are you conciously opening it at address to make it square? i have no hand movement in my swings, i have dead hand swings for all of my clubs, i have a strong grip but the grip is in my fingers on my right hand

[Broadus]

Re: Very strong grip

3 1/2 to 4 knuckles of the left hand are showing. I have the clubface square at address.

Bill

[ChadCash]

Re: Very strong grip

I disagree with some of the comments above. I you are looking to change your ballflight all you have to do is change your grip to make it simple and fast. Moving the right hand under the club more will make you turn the ball over and hit a draw. I know it can turn into a duck hook very quickly but for a player that is struggling with a slice or who has never hit a draw I would suggest trying this to get the feeling of turning the ball over. The grip is the most indiviual thing about the swing. Do what works for you.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: Very strong grip

I disagree with some of the comments above. I you are looking to change your ballflight all you have to do is change your grip to make it simple and fast. Moving the right hand under the club more will make you turn the ball over and hit a draw. I know it can turn into a duck hook very quickly but for a player that is struggling with a slice or who has never hit a draw I would suggest trying this to get the feeling of turning the ball over. The grip is the most indiviual thing about the swing. Do what works for you.

you are right about just moving that hands to draw but..... the reason you change you setup is because if not the ball will draw (which is good for a dog leg left). but if you want to hit is "Strait" then you move your right foot back to hit it left and let is draw right, therfore hitting it "striat" down the fairway.

[JohnP]

Re: Very strong grip

I agree with the comment 'if it works - it works' - I hit the ball reasonably well with the irons but have problems with the driver and 3 wood. I found that by making my left hand grip strong, it cured my slice and I am now killing em both!

YMMV