Low 'cappers: when do you grip down and why?

[hoselpalooza]

context: i'm looking for more realistic shots to practice. besides wedges, i'm wondering what non-stock shots people with more playing experience encounter on the course or like to practice on the range.

let's assume the best answer is "it depends". 🙂 that being said, what are some shots/scenarios you could share based on your own experience?

thanks!

[Pretzel]

Whenever I need to hit the ball low I grip down on the club. This can be because there's a headwind, because there's a tree, or even just because the green has a big back-to-front slope and I don't want the ball to come back when it lands

Usually about an inch or so for a normal low shot, for hitting it into the wind or controlling the spin. If I really want it to go low I'll grip down on the club by nearly two inches. 

[Vinsk]

Into the wind where the distance is an 8i I might be concerned it’ll balloon. Rather than trying a difficult full 8i and hope to hit a boring shot I’ll choke down on a 7i knowing I’ll get a lower trajectory but still get the distance pretty close.

[LMoore]

Exactly what Vinsk and Pretzel said, and to take off a little distance.

Ex. If a nine is a 145 club, and the distance is 140, with pin at the back of the green, choking up half an inch or so will take off a few yards. 

[Patch]

I have used a gripped down club to run the ball up onto the green from as much as 120 yards out.  I might take as much as two extra clubs depending on the distance. The shot stays low, and rolls a lot. 

The situation had to be right for this shot. I consider it a really long bump and run. Firm, even fairways that sort of just meld into the green work best for this type of shot. .

Choking down helps with club head control, which also helps with accuracy. 

It's a good shot to have on those days when a golfer's other, full/abbreviated swing shots are not working well. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Patch

[Piz]

I'm no low capper  and the only time I grip down is when the ball is above my feet.  I try to create a swing arc that seems normal rather than odd.  It's one of them "Spider senses tingling" kind of deals.