Extending the right index finger down the grip.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I too do this when putting, but not with any other club.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

Yea I don't think it will help when you swing with the other clubs. I myself do this when putting, and it's helped tremendously. I've tried it on full swings too with results that can be summed up in one word: FAIL.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

Let me exaggerate this "better support at the top" by suggesting that you just split your hands apart a foot on the grip. That'd give you the best support at the top, right?

Perhaps my exaggeration will register, maybe it won't.

Suffice to say if this was a valid idea, I think we'd have heard of it before, and someone on the PGA Tour would use it.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I can't see how it would be comfortable in a full swing.

I use that method with my putter though.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I pull shots when I tried it.
I also pulled putts aswell.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I played 9 holes with an older gentleman this year who had his right and left fingers extended down the shaft on all shots. He never hit the ball more than 150 yds, but was dead straight all day.

It was funny, he kept complaining about his lack of distance, but was using clubs that had to be at least 50 years old. Another guy in our foursome suggested trying some newer equipment. The older gentleman waved his hand and scowled at such a ridiculous idea.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

Some people are just creatures of habit and fear change! Its always good to try new things

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

Are you referring to creating and sustaining lag?

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I wouldn't advise placing the right index finger down the grip. It is actually creating some of your lack of control at the top. It gives your right hand a disporportionate amount of control of the swing when instead you want to have your hands working as one. It will often times lead to flipping the wrist prior to or at imact. Depending on where your weight is at impact it will lead to either weak slices or hooks; neither good. It will keep your left hand, arm and shoulder weak and get the swing started with the hands and not the lower body.

Maybe try placing your left hand in a normal grip with your right hand applying weak pressure and simply guiding. Try a couple practice swings holding off the left wrist through impact. That will help to visual the connection of the back of the left hand to the club face. The back of the left hand is in direct correlation to the club face. You'll notice that the left hand is always pointed at the target. When we're off, it's pointing at our misses.

Another thing to try would be to place your left hand with a normal grip and place your right hand in a four finger overlapping grip that again allows you to feel the pull from your left side, starting with your weight transfer from right to left leg. Make sure your left back hand is facing the target until just after impact and get your weight on your front leg.

I hope this helps. I think you'll be amazed at all the feel that it adds to the left side. I think that it can provide the confidence that we all need to get onto our left sides and not stay back. For most of us righties, our strong side is our right side. No matter how much we work to balance it, we will always favor the right just a bit. In practicing using a strong left side it will make the imbalance we have marginally less and that could be the difference of a couple strokes a round.

Re: Extending the right index finger down the grip.

I use that grip for Putting only.

I've started to do this recently, and it's given me much more stability at the top of the swing, as well as creating a better impact position. Feels a little weird at first, but its helped out a lot. To each their own, though. 

I extend my index finger often for practice swings, but don't hit shots with it because I tend to hit pulls. Its a great way to feel clubhead lag, which kind of helps calibrate the rest of my swing. When I hit the ball, I just slide my fingertip off and under the grip at address. I still have a pretty long trigger finger but put it in a better position to feel the club without directing it. BTW, this is how I originally learned to feel lag which even the pure ball striker couldn't do for me.