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**Golfbald** · 12-17-2003, 01:06 AM

Pat,

I would stick with a neutral grip for full shots and a slightly weak grip for pitch and chip shots.

GolfBald

**paterick** · 12-18-2003, 12:44 AM

grips

thanks goldbald

now for clarification as to which is which?

is the strength of the grip determined where the thumb is placed from the left hand (for righties) or is it the V made by the right hand? are they seperate? or in conjunction?

thanks
pat

**Golfbald** · 12-18-2003, 01:47 AM

Pat,

Both hands for a V. The neutral grip the left hand V is toward your right ear and the right toward your right shoulder. The weak grip the Left V is toward the nose and right V toward the ear.

GolfBald

**mtibt** · 12-18-2003, 11:48 AM

Recommend v's same

In order for the hands to work together as a single unit, don't you agree that whatever the v's are, they should be the same for both hands in order to get maximum hinge and to work together as a single unit.
As I have tinkered with the grip over the years, I have found that when the v's point nearly in the same direction, the hands work better and a maximum release occurs.
What are your thoughts/experiences?

**Golfbald** · 12-18-2003, 02:15 PM

mtibt,

I like to look at the back of he hands of my students. I also do this in a mirror for my own grip. I am looking for the first knuckles on both hands to form a line. No matter which grip you use this is a common trait. If there are two lines, one on each hand, your hands will not work together.

I also look for the thumbs to be along the hand, this takes tension out of the grip and the right thumb is a platform for the club at the top.

Just some thoughts of what I see,

GolfBald

**pgmetcalf** · 12-21-2003, 06:37 AM

I think it can be extremely destructive to start fiddling around with the grip. Many coaches state that most of the swing problem start at the grip. Making a consistent grip is difficult enough for the beginner - If you asked a beginner to grip a club 5 times you would probably see 5 different grips. The change in grip might not look much but it will affect the whole shoot.

I think it's better to use a simple, consistent grip then worry about what type of shot require when setting up the stance. Bare in mind, that a shaped shot is not gauranteed ... even for a top profesional.

Paul

**mtibt** · 12-21-2003, 01:51 PM

More on grip

As a 3 handicapper amateur, my humble opinion is that the grip is the single most important part of the set up and can dictate alot of other things such as swing, club face, impact, etc. I agree that changing the grip can be devastating to most folks and like Hogan said, if you change your grip and it feels comfortable, you haven't changed your grip.
However, having said that, when someone has a poor grip, very little else is possible. As one who has struggled at times in my 40 years of playing the game, it wasn't until I employed the proper grip that my game really became enjoyable. The hands are the first and most important contact with the club therefore when the grip is such as it allows the wrists the do their job naturally without any compensation, the player can really enjoy hitting shots that are to his/her maximum potential.
Poor grip leads to tension, lousy takeaway, ****py wrist cock or none at all, poor downswing motion, and finally, open or closed face at impact.
Maybe one of the pro's here can help in addition to the instructional on this site by commenting on the grip.

**Golfbald** · 12-22-2003, 04:41 AM

Grip & release

I find in teaching beginners I try to match a grip with a swing style (hitter or swinger) and the proper release for both. When these things work together a student will get max distance and good trajectory. Most try to mix bits and peices of each, I had one student took it back with a left arm swinger's swing and return with a right arm hitters swing. He prefered to be a hitter but didn't understand a right arm type takeaway. Once I explained how it worked he said it felt more natural, he wasn't "Fighting his Swing." Once someone gets past the flailing and trying to blast it to the fences, not knowing what they are doing the learning process can begin.

There are 3 types of grip Weak, Neutral and Strong. Weak grips are good for the short game and for someone who has active hands, strong grips are for folks who hold on at the release. The different degrees of weak or strong directly relates to how much the club must be released or squared up for impact. Neutral grips can relate to either swing characteristics. I favor this grip when teachng new students.

GolfBald

**paterick** · 12-22-2003, 12:33 PM

grip and release

Thanks again golfbald

your suggestion for the weak grip for chip and pitch was great. no telling how long i would have been hitting away with out it.
it was kind of neat once i set up for a chip shot not to have to turn my wrists to get the blade square to the target. the weak grip felt natural for this shot.

strong girp and release

when ya talk about release do refer to club greater than 7 or 6 iron to driver? or does this also affect the higher angled clubs. it seems much easier to think release with the driver, 3i,4i etc when i have so much room on the fair way to play with. but when i get to the green approach i am thinking, whoa! straight, not too far, and please dont run.

for the strong grip, would that be more for the driver? or just forgotten

thank

pat

**paterick** · 12-23-2003, 03:26 AM

follow up

i think i found out what happens if your grip is tooo strong. on contact your left hand comes right off the club.
haha or I got another problem!!!

it happened four times today wierd for a righty. left hand comes off somewhere and i really feel it at contact with the ball and end up hold the club with my right hand

pat

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grips?????

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