Grip pressure/Power

[jco897j]

So, I've had a rough time getting back into golf. Instead of just getting out there and winging it I'm trying to actually learn it. I'm trying to get my hands to release and I've read plenty of times that this should be more passive. I know that my grip is too tight. But if I loosen my grip to allow the hands to release where does the power come from? I feel odd letting the hands just follow through by themselves but it is effective. With that happening though I don't know how to get more force into it. The only way I can seem to do that is by tightening my grip.

[moonducks]

just hold on with just enough grip pressure to prevent the club flying out of your hands when swinging.

remember that your not trying to hit the ball with maximum power but that the ball is just in the way of your swing.

all your wrists and arms should be doing is to be in line to hit the ball at address. the power should be coming from shoulder turn and the lower body.

[jco897j]

This seems to be helping not only my release but also reducing a few fat and thin shot. I'm so glad I bought that practice net.

[saevel25]

First, any tip on grip pressure from a professional instructor, previous pro, or current pro should be taken with a grain of salt. The reason, because these people have been wielding a golf club for years, while most amateurs have not. They have built up strength in there fingers, wrists and forearms. So there grip pressure might be a 5 to them, would be a 8 to most amateurs. Its like saying that a 25 lb weight feels light for a professional body builder, but most recreational lifters thing its moderately heavy. The key to grip pressure is, uniformity. You don't want a death grip were your grip pressure brings in the forearms muscles, because that brings in tension. But you want a grip pressure that allows you to hold the club the same pressure through out the swing. Most amateurs hold the club loosly, then they regrip at the top of the swing, because its too loose, and they can't support the club properly, so they now add tension.

[arturo28mx]

I used to hold the club rather lightly in both hands as many instructors say. My ball striking was ok but not great.

Then, I decided to apply a conscious firm grip on the last three fingers of my left hand. My control improved. I played like that a few months.

Recently I have been applying a firm grip on my right hand as well (so it is firm grip in both hands). My ball striking has gone to another level!!! Driver and irons. More control, more distance and straighter shots. I just can't believe it. I should have done this a long time ago.

By "firm" I mean about a 6 out of 10. I am able to do it without causing tension in my forearms or stiff wrists.

[Uncle Peter]

The best analogy I've heard for gripping a club was to hold it as if you were holding an uncapped toothpaste tube. Squeeze with just enough pressure to make the toothpaste stop at the end of the tube, but not too much to make the toothpaste come out

[muggs]

In my opinion, yes, you have to have light enough pressure so that you're not tensing the muscles in your forearms which causes a lot of issues. But also, I feel that in order to strike the ball properly, you need a solid grip. That doesn't mean you have to squeeze the grip. If you have a fundamentally sound grip, you'll feel total control of the club and your hands will be working together. (If you work on perfectling your grip, it will improve your ball striking and will allow you to have complete control of the club during the backswing and most importantly at the top of your backswing).

Once you have a grip that is sound and is second nature to you, I think proper pressure will come, and you'll have complete confidence in it. With a proper grip and proper pressure you'll have plenty of power. When you're not tensing the muscles of the arms you swing the club much faster which means more clubhead speed and in turn, more power.

[inthecup]

You don't want to hit the ball with force you want to hit it with speed.  Tight hands, wrists and forearms do not produce speed.

If you were holding the club with two fingers and it was aligned properly and going 110 mph the ball would go.  The club head speed imparts energy to the ball not brute force.  Very hard concept to trust.  The ball is 1-1/2 ozs, you don't need a sledge hammer.

A whip moves very fast yet the tip is not being moved with force it is being moved with a kinetic sequence of levers.

Your body, arms, wrists and club are a sequence of levers.  Make them move fast and you will crush the ball.

Speed is produced through lag and release (whipping the clubhead).  Look at this video.  When Sergio's hands are in front of his right (back) thigh the club is roughly level with the ground.  In the next 12 inches of hand movement the club moves 3 feet.  That creates speed and that can not be done with a death grip on the club.  He is not hitting it with power he is creating speed by putting his body in the right place in the right sequence.

Look at this video same approach different angle.

It took me a long time to follow this path.  I did lots of Internet research and used another site for information.  I also use a local instructor who teaches the same thing.  Every pro golfer gets to the position of lagging the club like the first video.  Get there and you are getting closer.

That's my thoughts anyway.  Last year my swing was of the "as hard as you can variety"  pulling my left shoulder around for all I was worth.  Sweating up a storm, it was real work.  Shoulders and hips took a beating.  This year it is smooth and loose, the ball goes farther and much less wear and tear on me.

Good luck.