Short thumb vs long thumb

[billchao]

I have always gripped the club in my fingers. Actually, I used to grip it too much in my fingers, and had to get the club more in my palm when I adjusted my grip. My left thumb rests just to the right of the top of the grip, say at the 1 o'clock position when viewed from overhead.

@Tee2Trees , I think you're asking about long vs. short thumb, in which case I can tell you that you can have a long left thumb AND have the club in the fingers, they're not mutually exclusive. Please see this thread: http://thesandtrap.com/t/43269/short-thumb-vs-long-thumb/0_30

[saevel25]

The conventionally known "proper" way to hold the club is with the left thumb high and gripping just in the fingers.

However, beginners will often hold the club deeper in the palm area of the hand and as a result have the thumb slightly extended down the shaft.

Well, I've always golfed the latter way.  Anyone else?

There really is no "Proper" way to hold a club.

Yes more in the fingers of the left hand is usually custom. Though Hank Haney advocates a grip were it is in the palm more.

Find what works, and if it doesn't hurt the swing, then go with it.

[mvmac]

The conventionally known "proper" way to hold the club is with the left thumb high and gripping just in the fingers.

However, beginners will often hold the club deeper in the palm area of the hand and as a result have the thumb slightly extended down the shaft.

Well, I've always golfed the latter way.  Anyone else?

Most functional golf grips have the heel pad on top of the grip and in the fingers. If the grip gets into the palm, it can lessen the amount you can hinge/cock your left wrist. Going to make it hard to "load" the shaft on the back swing and sustain the leverage on the downswing.

[dchoye]

I have always gripped the club in my fingers. Actually, I used to grip it too much in my fingers, and had to get the club more in my palm when I adjusted my grip. My left thumb rests just to the right of the top of the grip, say at the 1 o'clock position when viewed from overhead.

@Tee2Trees, I think you're asking about long vs. short thumb, in which case I can tell you that you can have a long left thumb AND have the club in the fingers, they're not mutually exclusive. Please see this thread: http://thesandtrap.com/t/43269/short-thumb-vs-long-thumb/0_30

LOL @ Bill

Do you realize that you reference to the same thread you posted at?

[billchao]

LOL @ Bill Do you realize that you reference to the same thread you posted at?

It was merged from another thread :-)

[dchoye]

Back to topic, I dont think about it, sometimes a tucked top thumb works well, sometimes long thumb works well,.

I dont like the term "short thumb" , I rather say "medium" thumb.

When someone says "short thumb" it makes me think of putting, when i tap the putter on the ground to shorten my thumb.

For me the 'short thumb" is good for putting stroke.

[cutshot878]

For me, holding it that much in the fingers with the left hand makes the grip too strong---V pointing at the right shoulder. I draw the ball and I'm always guarding against a hook so a strong left hand grip is a no go unless I want to hit duck hooks.  I tend to hold it a little more palmy but I still understand that only the 3rd, 4th and 5th finger (of the left hand) are responsible for holding the grip against the lower palm. The index finger and thumb don't do anything, just rest there.   I suppose I could use a strong or neutral grip but I would have to address the ball with a slightly opened clubface or make some other compensation (massive lower body rotation, which I'm not flexible enough for or perhaps a big lateral Tom Lehman type leg drive?) I understand that Jack Nicklaus once said "I've never seen a really good player set it square or closed at address." I have always had the clubface square or even a little closed---maybe that's just  one of the reasons I never made it onto a college golf team or never broke 70. That might certainly help explain my tendency to hook a lot. Just one of many possible fundamental variables---stance, grip, alignment, shoulder alignment, attack angle, spine angle, foot flare, takeaway, wrist set, backswing, downswing, impact, release type, etc.  But back to the grip, I think players who slice the ball too much (or hit weak fades) and don't have the hand strength to support a weak grip would benefit from the type of grip you have pictured there. I just have the opposite problem it seems, unless I make some other tweaks---ie. clubface at address.

[saevel25]

Not sure it has anything to do with hand strength. Though I do think most amateurs underestimate how firm the grip has to be to maintain a good constant pressure through out the swing. Also, I don't think a weak grip is necessarily better for those who have strong hands. I think its just personal preference. I prefer a stronger grip because it helps me with my swing path through the ball, and helps keep the clubface a bit more open at impact for me.

[cutshot878]

Hand strength and its relation to grip preference:

I believe Gary Woodland (one of the strongest, most athletic golfers on the PGA Tour) uses a weak grip (left hand turned more to the left, V pointing at his chin, one knuckle visible, thumb directly on top of the grip). But then again Dustin Johnson (another tremendous athlete) uses a very strong grip.

Maybe it has more to do with how the player releases the club?  Or whether the club at the top is laid off, perfectly parallel, or across the line?  Clubface closed (like DJ), square or open at the top?  And not so much how strong his hands are?

When I turn my left hand clockwise to even a neutral position, my grip feels very stiff and I feel like I'm holding the club uncomfortably tight. My shots tend to go low and left. Weakening my left hand---moving it counter clockwise with the thumb straight down the shaft, short thumb position, makes it all better. Comfort and a nice high, slightly pushed draw.

I guess grip (weak, neutral or strong) is a preference, like you said.

[Vinsk]

Do any of you guys think the fact that I'm ambidextrous could be screwing up my grip? I mean I don't have the usual "dominant hand" situation that most people do. I'm like this: Right Handed Frisbee Tennis Writing Left handed Golf Throw Bat Bowl

[metrybill]

This video shows the bottom line: short thumb inhibits wrist cock and will tend to hold off the release and the long thumb will tend to promote an easy wrist cock and an easy release of the hands through and after impact.

IMO if one tends to "lift" the body going back, and/or has little or has lost trunk flexibility, and/or tends to make a false body turn, and/or to block coming through the long thumb will help.

[Dannyboy92]

Me and my playing partner started playing Golf at roughly the same time, we've had maybe 4 lessons between us in around 5 years. Every change we make to our Golf game is very much due to what we read and see online. We were both pretty much at the same level (20 HC) with me winning some rounds and him winning some. Only a few things separated us for example, I would hit the irons and woods further than him, my putting was better, he was considerably better at pitch, punch and chip shots, he drives the ball more accurately than me. He wasn't happy with the inconsistency of his shots and wanted to find out why so he began researching. He stumbled upon this "short thumb" grip and began looking at the pros and cons. He has now used the short thumb grip for 5 months and has literally won every round in the last 4 months. The main hold I had over him (the distance) is now gone, at the same distance from the green he is hitting 5 or 6 iron where I'm having to hit a 4 iron!! The consistency of his ball striking has improved massively and his chipping has got even better. Now I don't know if the short thumb grip is intended to increase distance but his distance has improved massively. I've now had to change my putter grip to left hand low to keep ahead of him on the green. I tried to change to the short thumb grip but couldn't get the hang of it at all and it felt like I'd never played golf before. Maybe the short thumb grip is good for some people but not for others or maybe it's just down to my lack of patience. I'd say if you were a beginner to golf it may be worth adopting a short thumb grip as it does seem to offer greater control. I'd advise everyone to use the left hand low putter grip!

[Mike Boatright]

I have found the thumb on your left hand for right handed players weakens or strengthens the shot in a two ways. If you move it to the left off the shaft a bit it causes more rotation and a bit more power draw if you keep it tighter and more up and down it makes the ball go straighter. This is what pro's have found over the years. I remember Jack Nicklaus talking about this in an article of Golf Digest 2004.

[iacas]

I have found the thumb on your left hand for right handed players weakens or strengthens the shot in a two ways. If you move it to the left off the shaft a bit it causes more rotation and a bit more power draw if you keep it tighter and more up and down it makes the ball go straighter. This is what pro's have found over the years. I remember Jack Nicklaus talking about this in an article of Golf Digest 2004.

I don't think that's true for everyone, and possibly is not even true for most. Heck, the opposite is likely more accurate for more people, based on a quick read.

[dchoye]

just update... I been putting better with a long left thumb than short thumb.

If I move the putter shaft right against the thumb pad i have to extend my left thumb.

If I keep the putter shaft inside the lifeline, there is a bit of flexion at the knuckle joint.

For the long game, I dont really think about the thumb, I agree with a previous poster about the grip pressure more on the last three finger while the left index and thumb merely rest on the shaft. Its more impact  I can feel pressure in thumb and index fingers due to CF.

Edited October 27, 2015 by dchoye