Grip Down - Distance Control

[hendog]

I realize that this is probably different for everyone, but has anyone developed a good system (or found one) that equates inches gripped down to distance reduced?

I am specifically looking at scoring clubs. For example, I hit my 60 degree wedge about 105 with a "normal" full swing. Yesterday I had 100 to the flag. I gripped down about an inch and swung "normal". The ball landed almost exactly 105. No difference. I am not saying I am Mr Consistent but I expected a little distance reduction.

Anybody have a good rule of thumb they use?

[Timothy Voyles]

I just hold it the same but have notes of how far each wedge goes based on back swing distance, 11 o'clock with my 53* is 95 yards, 9 - 70 yards, 7 - 45 yards.... I do that for my 56, 53, and pw. I carry a 60 but only use it inside 25 yards on rare occasions, need to sit next to a pin but have to clear a bunker to get there type of shots. the 60 is my go to club for green side bunkers as well.

[hendog]

I found this in an older thread:

Originally Posted by dreamfxgolf

You lose approx 5 yards when you cut 1/2 inch.

Originally Posted by iacas

I don't quite buy that. That's 10 yards an inch. Off a driver, they say 1 MPH in swing speed is about 2.5 yards of carry (IIRC), so off a mid-iron (say, a 6-iron) that's probably closer to half: 1 MPH = 1.25 yards of carry. A half inch = 4 MPH slower clubhead speed? That's the part I don't quite buy.

100 MPH driver is about, what, an 80 MPH 5-iron? That's 20 MPH over (45" - 38") 7 inches... about 3 MPH per inch. So by this math (which I admit is far from scientific), it seems to me that each inch = about 3 MPH, and if 1 MPH is 1.25 yards... that's about 3-4 yards shorter per inch, not 10.

But like I said, far from scientific. I'd believe 5 yards for an inch, no problem.

[Jeffrey71]

I heard Ricky Fowler once say the issue of gripping down so I tried it. Honestly, I'm still working some things out in my swing to notice......but I have heard it from other places as well.

[dsc123]

I don't have a SW right now, so when I see a 100 yard shot I go with my AW that is 112-115 on a normal swing.  I think I grip down about two inches and I usually end up around 95-100.  Maybe I'm shortening the swing too without noticing it, but I always go with 1 inch for 5 yards and I'm always surprised when it comes up short.  I keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.

[14ledo81]

When I try to take a little off of a shot, (grip down or shorten the swing) I usually hit the ball just as far.  Sometimes, further.  I must get better contact with a gripped down, shorter swing.  Why don't I always do that? Hmmmmmm...

[WUTiger]

It could just be variation from day to day.

Unless you do the Dave Pelz calibration tests, and get to where you can "feel" the 48-yard half PW swing (as opposed to a 43-yard swing... really, that's what Pelz wants you to do), you may be short or long of what you expect.