2 different grips needed?

[johncdbass]

Lately I have found that I cannot hit the driver, a Cobra 9.5 x speed, without using a very strong left handed grip. When I hit it correctly it has a nice boring ball flight with a slight draw, perfect, BUT occasionally I will hit a huge 40 yd bananna, maybe once or twice a round. Today I had a 50/50 deal going. Now I did shoot my all time low last week, even par 71. However the different grip just doesn't feel right. I don't know why I all of a sudden started using it but now I just can't seem to get any feel unless I use the strong grip. For my fairway woods and irons I use a pretty neutral/strong grip. I just feel I am overly complicating the process while I really am trying to simplify the process and reduce alot of swing thoughts to just one or two. Any ideas? Should I force myself to practice back to my old grip? Thanks John

[LowPost42]

Re: 2 different grips needed?

Solid fundamentals can't be beat.

That said, there was a time when I was pounding the ball with my driver using a very, very strong left hand grip - almost baseball-ish.

However, the swing also involved fanning the face open on the backswing and using a really wristy casting motion to snap it shut.

That was a couple years ago. When I haven't been hitting the driver well, I've reverted to it over the last two years with some success - the miss is either a banana or a serious duck hook (as I'm really manipulating the face through impact).

The last quarter of this year (so, 6 to 8 weeks in cold conditions) I've simply focused on making a balanced swing with a neutral to slightly strong grip. I'm not pounding the ball anymore (I've probably given up 30-40 yards versus the long and sometimes dangerously wrong), but I don't miss the fairway by a mile anymore - my miss is a pull.

Just my $0.02.

[GoNavy]

Re: 2 different grips needed?

My guess would be that with the driver, you are just trying to hit it way too hard, swinging faster, the stronger grip allows you to get the club face closed faster, but of course not very consistently. Slow that driver swing down a little with your normal grip, give the hands time to work, try to swing like you do with the other clubs, see if that helps.