Grip change: how long until it works?

Today I had my first lesson in about 15 years.

My teacher saw me play last week and spotted my weak grip as the major problem, leading to inconsistency and control. She had me change to a strong grip which feels totally alien to me, but should bring the clubhead through consistently every time.

After about 40 minutes I found I could hit it pretty well, but the feeling is still very strange for me and I have to consciously place my hands on the grip as if it were the first time I've picked up a club. I managed to shank some of the wedges I hit with this grip, and most distances were shorter than normal because I was concentrating on just hitting the ball with a repeatable rhythm.

I'm keen to continue with this on the range, although I might turn back to the old grip when I'm next on the course, which won't be until next month. My last outing was an 84, pretty solid off the tee, but hit and miss on irons. I'm a high 80's to mid-90's player. I usually get the ball up in the air well, but have a problem with direction, often pushing or pulling with a straight ball-flight, so this grip-change is part of the effort to break through the 80 barrier sometime soon.

I feel like a grip-change is almost one of the most basic things you can do to a swing, so was wondering who else has tried this, and with what success...How soon can I expect to see results, and how long will it be before I feel confident enough to take this new grip out on the course? Obviously depends on how much work I put into it, but I think I can at least practice in the nets (albeit off a mat) 3/4 times a week.

What have been other peoples' experiences in a similar situation?

Thanks.

That's the worst thing you can do.That's like resetting all of your work. Besides, it'll be natural in a week or two.

The grip is probably the biggest change you can make. I had my grip change down in 2 weeks. I had to grip it more in the fingers and strengthen it.

This was similar to me. When I went for my first lesson last July, that was the MAJOR problem with my game as that my grip was too weak. That was leading to my slice and the reason why I hit the ball so high, losing distance.

Going to the stronger grip I lowered my ball flight a little and developed a 'natural' draw. After a month it seems natural to me and it didn't feel awkward in my hands anymore.

For you, since you had been playing 15 years as oppose to my 2 when I got it changed, you will probably be feeling a little weird with the grip for a month.

Extreme grip positions are not something that has plagued me. For me it is minior changes over the years, from stronger as a kid, to weaker, to stronger and now back to weaker.

So just for the sake of discussion, remember I am talking about small changes but general trends observed over decades. And these observations are susceptible to error... they are only what I have observed, but from many great teachers.

Hogan started the general public down the road of weaker grips to combat hooks. For years, weaker grips seemed to be favored. Everyone talked about a flat wrist at the top of the backswing. Then as golf grew, two new trends showed up; a little more cupping of the left wrist at the top and stronger grips. Not everyone did this, but I'm talking general shifts in large populations and simply talking off the cuff without real data.

As equipment and ball spin improved, there seems to me to be more of a two camp world today. You find great ball strikers with weaker grips and modern swings like Sergio Garcia, and you still see some strong grip types or stongly cupped wrists at the top. I have heard many girls' golf coaches encourage stronger grips for weaker strength players. And, no doubt chronic slicers tend to go to stronger grips. But does that cure the slice? No, not in many cases. I view strong grips as mostly crutches for some other swing problem. That does not mean there are not great players with strong grips. Paul Azinger used an super strong grip, did not swing over the top, and controlled his ball flight with a special follow-through. If you can do that, it obviously works. Likely the most important point is to stay further into the fingers of the left hand and not regrip.

Count me in the neutral to weak grip camp just because a neutral grip allows a full and free right side release -- I can hit it further this way. My personal belief is the slice has very little to do with a neutral grip if your swing path is good, so I don't encourage stronger grips for over the top swings becasue that is like adding two wrongs to try to fix something -- compensation rather than fundamental fixes.

Finally, there is very likely no fixed answer for everyone. No two swings are alike and grip variations are likely required to optimize each person's swing path. Just don't get too far away from "normal."

Everyone will be different...could click in a week, might take a month or more. Since you've used the same grip for many many years I'm guessing you'll be closer to a month before you really start feeling like it is your "normal" grip. I would definitely play with it though...going back to your old rip is not a good idea. I remember making a grip change last year and hacking it around the course for several rounds...I didn't like it, but I knew why I was doing it.
Now I'd consider myself a real tinkerer and quite honestly I can make a change and have it feel "normal" after about a week. Recently made a pretty big change in standing more upright and closer to the ball...few days of doing a few of the S-word...but then it "clicked" and I've been playing the best golf of my life.

Thanks for the replies guys.

I said I hadn't had a lesson in 15 years, which is correct, but in fact I stopped playing completely for 10 of those years and only began again 5 yrs ago. I see some people here are playing several times a week: last year I played in total 6 times, and so far this year I've played 7 times altogether.

I'm really making an effort to play more and practising when I can, but it's just not feasible here in Japan with costs and hassle as much as they are. I love playing golf here, but it really is a Big Day Out in terms of travelling to the course (I'm near Tokyo so journey to a course is at least a couple of hours into the country) , spending a day there with a long lunch, travelling back etc. I'm really envious of those who can get to a course before or after work and just treat is as a relaxing part of the day. No matter what anyone says, I think golf=stress in Japan.

Anyway, rant over, I'm going to persevere with the new grip and take it out to the course next time no matter what. If I work on it between now and then maybe I won't be hacking it too much. I'm actually finding it pretty interesting in practice because I have to think about the mechanics of the swing so much more than before.

Cheers.

one month

Funny I learned with a strong grip and my instructor switched me to a neutral grip. I can relate to the alien feeling you talk about, it feels so odd to swing this way and I want so bad to go back to a strong grip cause it just feels right. I fight this temptation and force myself to use the neutral grip cause when I do (and trust it) I hit many more pure shots. I noticed my last range session that it's becoming more and more comfortable, before I know it I'm sure it will feel as comfortable as my strong grip.