Changing grip for each club (Strong to Neutral)

[kfowler]

This off season I've been spending a lot of my time concentrating on my grip. My main struggle has been getting rid of that little tale slice on my driver. I've been working with a fairly strong grip with some very good results. However I've noticed that as I work toward my short irons, the strong grip seems to give me issues. A lot of sharp low duck hooks. It also seems to feel uncomfortable with the short irons.

Today at the range, I started moving my grip to a more neutral position the shorter club I used. This seemed to work really well. So I'm curious if anyone else does this?

[GaijinGolfer]

I dont personally do this, but if you slice your driver but tend to hook your irons when using a strong grip, I dont see anything wrong with adjusting to a weaker grip to cure your hook with the irons.
Different shots require different grips, such as hitting a flop shot (weak grip) and a chip shot (strong grip).

[kfowler]

Different shots require different grips, such as hitting a flop shot (weak grip) and a chip shot (strong grip).

Good point.

[Jenks465]

Trevino used to do something simillar, he adjusted the club face (open/closed) rather than his grip but it would produce the same result!

[klaymon]

I go from a very strong grip on the driver and gradually weaken it as I go down the club set.

[RC]

The real test of a change, such as using different grips, is to have a good day using the change and then go home and go to sleep. Next time out is the change still working? I can't tell you how many times some new swing thought fails the sleep test.

If we did not have to sleep, we would all be great golfers. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Ha ha.

[TheLauncher]

I go from a very strong grip on the driver and gradually weaken it as I go down the club set.

This is how I seem to feel comfortable too. I don't think it's always a conscious thing (maybe it should be), but my driver grip is definitely strong and my 9 and especially wedges is decidedly weak. it not as though I'm trying to employ a tested methodology, just more of a natural inclination/feel thing.

[kfowler]

This is how I seem to feel comfortable too. I don't think it's always a conscious thing (maybe it should be), but my driver grip is definitely strong and my 9 and especially wedges is decidedly weak. it not as though I'm trying to employ a tested methodology, just more of a natural inclination/feel thing.

This is exactly what I mean. True test will be getting out on the course.

I like the "Sleep Test". So true.

[Brakkus]

This I think has to with the plane of the club,as we are closer to the ball with wedges and further away with the driver whatever swing we all employ.

I found that too as I have a natural strong grip but I would pull my wedges to the left as I have a flat swing plane,but I managed to cure this because I wasn't employing a shallow enough swing plane with the wedge which suited my one plane action.

I was following the standard advice of a steep backswing,but now I'm ,more shallowed out and the ballflight is higher now with a softer landing.The ball gets lifted out more rather than compressed,but I love the way it lands.

[David in FL]

.02 worth from someone who isn't a teacher......

If we ignore the putter, you've got 12 different grips......each just minutely different from the others. Given that golf is all about consistency (or the lack thereof, in my case ), it seems to me that there's just an awful lot of opportunity for error in adjusting your grip just the right amount for each individual club.

I notice that you're already playing a draw biased driver. By strengthening your grip, you're closing the face down even more. It really seems to me that you're really just putting a bandaid on what is likely a fairly significant swing issue. It's also worth noting that iron sets tend to have a progressive offset in the clubhead.....with slightly more offset in the longer irons and less in the shorter clubs. That change in offset is usually enough to accomplish what you're trying to do by changing your grip. If it's not, once again, it seems to me as if you're not addressing the underlying problem, but rather simply a symptom.

[kfowler]

I notice that you're already playing a draw biased driver. By strengthening your grip, you're closing the face down even more. It really seems to me that you're really just putting a bandaid on what is likely a fairly significant swing issue. It's also worth noting that iron sets tend to have a progressive offset in the clubhead.....with slightly more offset in the longer irons and less in the shorter clubs. That change in offset is usually enough to accomplish what you're trying to do by changing your grip. If it's not, once again, it seems to me as if you're not addressing the underlying problem, but rather simply a symptom.

Thanks David. I just picked up the Draw biased driver this winter. You're right in that I have a swing flaw. My issue is not rolling my hands at impact. You can easily see it from a DL shot. About half way up after impact, my club face should be perpendicular to the ground. Instead it's still slightly open. I'm not "chicken winging" it. It's almost like a delayed release.

My ball flight with my driver is straight with a weak fade tail at the end. Very playable but quite annoying because I lose some yardage and I can't hit a draw to save my life. The weak fade tail probably explains why it's not pronounced in my shorter clubs. The stronger grip coupled with the draw biased driver gives me a more desirable ball flight. I suppose I'm trying to imitate Paul Azinger's swing in the end since we have the same issue.