Switching grips?

[hamletsdead]

Anyone ever switched from baseball grip to overlapping? I've been baseball gripping since I started and have been hitting it well, but a pro I know told me I was losing lag and sacrificing distance, and that I would also be more accurate if I switched.

I'm hitting driver about 220 on average drives (250-260 when I catch it good), 3W 210, 2-hybrid 200, 7-iron 140, and I'm pretty accurate with the short irons (i.e., I hit most of the par 3 greens under 160). I feel somehow that I should be able to hit driver farther -- I'm 6', 215 lbs, and pretty strong, and my swing speed is a little over 100 mph -- but I often hit my 3W better and farther. Easiest club to hit in my bag for me is my 2-hybrid -- I just take an easy swing from the fairway and zoom it 200 yards out there.

Any ideas if this will help or not appreciated.

[jjb333]

I think it would definitely help you deloft the club at impact. Right now, I'm assuming you hit the ball very high and do not take much of a divot. Switching to an overlapping grip would more easily allow you to lead with your hands thus delofting the club and getting more distance.

[hamletsdead]

I'm not sure that was really my problem. I've been ballstriking pretty well, just thought it might help consistency and get rid of the occasional duffed shot. Just read Jackie Burke's book, and now I'm confused, since he says he disagrees with Hogan and if he had it to do over again he'd use the baseball grip, and that it supplies more leverage since the right hand is lower.

So far (after one who round) I'm shooting about the same with overlapping, but it's uncomfortable and makes my pinky sore, so I don't know what I'm going to do. Anybody have any real strong opinions as to why baseball ultimately is not as good (apart from the argument that only a couple guys on tour use it)?

[PiKapp23]

My father is a PGA teaching pro and 1 rule he has is do not change the grip of someone who has been playing a while. It's difficult to change and often can negatively affect your game. There are a number of professional golfers who use the baseball grip with success. Most do use overlapping or interlocking, but not all. Golf is such an individual game - what works for you may not work for others and vice versa. The baseball grip may be the best for you, although it doesn't hurt to try other grips, but remember that you may not see a positive difference immediately if ever.

This short, simple article explains each grip and benefits:
http://golf.about.com/od/golftips/ss/griptypes.htm

[kc8kir]

You know, one of the problems I see with the whole "grip style" issue is that people try to hit at or steer at the ball with their hands. So for those people, the grip makes a huge difference (right hand versus left hand action and control, etc).

I have read numerous sources that say if your hands are passive in the golf swing, it really doesn't matter. Jack Nicklaus said the type of grip didn't matter provided it "allowed the hands to feel like they worked together". I think Hogan would have agreed. In 5 Lessons he even warned against "conscious hand action in the golf swing". If the baseball grip works for you and your swing is powered and controlled by your body, don't worry about it. Lots of junior golfers use that grip with great success and there have been major champions with the baseball grip (Bob Rosburg). You will maintain lag with passive hands, and a correct grip for you will square the clubface. As far as your brain needs to know, your hands just hold on for the ride.

Think of this. They have a blind golfers association, and those guys hit the ball pretty good. One reason: without seeing the ball, they have no hit impulse. Just swing it and the ball gets in the way.

[MiniMoe]

I have used the 10 finger grip for over 10 years. I do not lose distance or accuracy. The key to any grip is to allow the hands to work together as one unit, not fighting each other. The overlap grip forces the hands to work together. With the 10 finger, you have to make sure your hands do not separate. They need to be as close together as they can be. If they spread apart, the right hand tends to want to take over and flip the club, or it gets lazy and leaves the face wide open. You don't have to change grips to make the hands work together, so be aware of what they are doing and you might not have to change. Besides, how much distance and accuracy did he say you were losing. If it is only a few yards, and one fairway, why bother with months and months of turmoil and frustration?