Grip question for Erik, mvmac, etc.

[shortstop20]

I realize there's some variance to the grips used but I am curious where you guys like to see the V's of the hands lined up as a general rule of thumb.

Both at the right shoulder?

Somewhere else?

I am experimenting with a more neutral left hand position. It gets rid of the pull draws, but I tend to hit more pushes.

When I use a strong left hand grip(3 knuckles), I start hitting pull draws. I'm thinking maybe my right hand grip is too strong.

Thanks!

[Randy R]

Long, long ago (like 30 years ago) I used to pay attention to where the "V's" pointed,

but since then I use a technique much like Adam Scott where I hold the club in my left hand

and out to my left side with the toe of the club pointing towards the outside of my left foot.

I make sure that the heel line of the club is perpindicular to the outside line of my left foot, and

I just grab the golf grip with the top of my hand facing directly forward. Do this and you will see

when you pull the club back to in front of you, your hand is in a neutral position. You can also use this

technique to ensure the club is in your fingers and not too high in your hand.

This technique is for right handed golfers. Use the opposite hand for lefties (obviously).

[iacas]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

I realize there's some variance to the grips used but I am curious where you guys like to see the V's of the hands lined up as a general rule of thumb.

Both at the right shoulder?

If forced to answer, probably there, but it depends (as you would have guessed) on each individual student, their physiology, their desired shot shape, etc.

But you can do that and still have a terrible grip. A LOT of golfers grip the club very much more in the palm than they should. I like to tell people to get the heel pad more on top, or rather than the fingers running closer to parallel to the grip, to feel like they run more perpendicular (puts the grip more at the base of the fingers than across the palm).

Originally Posted by shortstop20

I am experimenting with a more neutral left hand position. It gets rid of the pull draws, but I tend to hit more pushes.

When I use a strong left hand grip(3 knuckles), I start hitting pull draws. I'm thinking maybe my right hand grip is too strong.

Weaker, palmy grips tend to hit pulls, pull-cuts, and pull-draws. We will actually tend to fit good players into stronger grips to help them start the ball farther right because they don't have to do anything (no rolling, no flipping) to get the face where they need it. Weaker grips require some action to get the face back.

I'd check that it's properly in the fingers before going too weak - all other things equal, a stronger grip tends to suit more players than a weaker one or even a "neutral" one.

[saevel25]

Unless your someone who can hit a pull with a stronger grip ;).

But i agree, i've worked on my left hand position the past couple of years. I use to be very much in the palm, now i finally gotten use to putting the heel pad ontop of the club. One way i like to do this is hold the club vertical infront of me, and grip the club with my left hand that way. This way i can see its perpendicular. If you hold the club with the right and grip with the left, your going to put it more closer to 30 degrees up the fingers, getting into the palm of the left hand, just because your right hand is on the otherside of your body.

[shortstop20]

Originally Posted by iacas

If forced to answer, probably there, but it depends (as you would have guessed) on each individual student, their physiology, their desired shot shape, etc.

But you can do that and still have a terrible grip. A LOT of golfers grip the club very much more in the palm than they should. I like to tell people to get the heel pad more on top, or rather than the fingers running closer to parallel to the grip, to feel like they run more perpendicular (puts the grip more at the base of the fingers than across the palm).

Weaker, palmy grips tend to hit pulls, pull-cuts, and pull-draws. We will actually tend to fit good players into stronger grips to help them start the ball farther right because they don't have to do anything (no rolling, no flipping) to get the face where they need it. Weaker grips require some action to get the face back.

I'd check that it's properly in the fingers before going too weak - all other things equal, a stronger grip tends to suit more players than a weaker one or even a "neutral" one.

Thanks.

Maybe mine is not properly in the fingers. I will do some checking and try to post a picture.

[shortstop20]

Didn't really want to post a picture from another golf forum but this is the best picture I could find.

Would this be what you would like to see, Erik?

My grip is definitely NOT in this spot.

[anthony]

I'd say that's pretty spot on to how my grip is, with the heel pad (bottom portion of the glove across from the pinky) on top of the club. Personally, I start the grip by placing the heel pad on top of the club and grip it from there. I don't really think about where the fingers are, just the heel pad to create a good lever.

[HawkeyeDan]

Lets say I get my left hand in the correct position - do you like to see a similar "strength" in the right hand position? Where should the right hand be in relation to the left? Assuming I am playing right hand golf.

[shortstop20]

I'd say that's pretty spot on to how my grip is, with the heel pad (bottom portion of the glove across from the pinky) on top of the club. Personally, I start the grip by placing the heel pad on top of the club and grip it from there. I don't really think about where the fingers are, just the heel pad to create a good lever.

It just seems like the grip would be pretty strong in that position but I will have to give it a try.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by iacas

A LOT of golfers grip the club very much more in the palm than they should. I like to tell people to get the heel pad more on top, or rather than the fingers running closer to parallel to the grip, to feel like they run more perpendicular (puts the grip more at the base of the fingers than across the palm).

Weaker, palmy grips tend to hit pulls, pull-cuts, and pull-draws. We will actually tend to fit good players into stronger grips to help them start the ball farther right because they don't have to do anything (no rolling, no flipping) to get the face where they need it. Weaker grips require some action to get the face back.

Agree with everything Erik said, couple good pics I'll share

[shortstop20]

I tried putting my grip more in the fingers today and definitely noticed a difference. More consistent draws with few over draws. Didn't hit any hooks. Thanks guys!!

[boil3rmak3r]

Agree with everything Erik said, couple good pics I'll share [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/75672/] [/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/75666/] [/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/75667/] [/URL]

[quote name="shortstop20" url="/t/67152/grip-question-for-erik-mvmac-etc#post_847896"]I tried putting my grip more in the fingers today and definitely noticed a difference. More consistent draws with few over draws. Didn't hit any hooks. Thanks guys!![/quote] That middle picture showing your right hand grip has been critical for me. When I put my right hand on the club, I get my fingers around the club and close my hand so my palm connects to the club. The only difference for me is that I like to press my thumb against my first finger, which gives me a nice pressure point. I've found that this right hand placement, with a relatively weak left hand grip, allows (probably more accurately, requires) me to release the club to get a nice draw. If I get lax and get too palmy with the right hand grip, hooks and weak hits occur.

[shortstop20]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Agree with everything Erik said, couple good pics I'll share

mvmac,

As I mentioned earlier, I think my right hand grip may be too strong. It's definitely not in the spot you have shown in this picture. While I am really liking the feeling I'm getting from getting the grip more in the fingers of the left hand, I'm hitting some hooks again now. I had to purposely setup open last night and hit cuts because I was hooking everything when I tried to play my draw.

I'm going to go to the range tonight and experiment placing my right hand grip as you've shown in the picture. Currently, my right thumb rests more on top of the shaft and my right hand is turned to a stronger position, more to the right.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

mvmac,

As I mentioned earlier, I think my right hand grip may be too strong. It's definitely not in the spot you have shown in this picture. While I am really liking the feeling I'm getting from getting the grip more in the fingers of the left hand, I'm hitting some hooks again now. I had to purposely setup open last night and hit cuts because I was hooking everything when I tried to play my draw.

I'm going to go to the range tonight and experiment placing my right hand grip as you've shown in the picture. Currently, my right thumb rests more on top of the shaft and my right hand is turned to a stronger position, more to the right.

Quick checkpoints,

- In the fingers

- Trigger finger pad is on the side of the shaft, yours would be under the shaft

- V points to your right shoulder, yours might right of the right shoulder

[shortstop20]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Quick checkpoints,

- In the fingers

- Trigger finger pad is on the side of the shaft, yours would be under the shaft

- V points to your right shoulder, yours might right of the right shoulder

Thanks!

Here's some pictures I pulled off my phone real quick from a range session a couple weeks back. Right hand definitely looks stronger than what you are suggesting, no?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

I'd just check to make sure the index finger on the left hand isn't pointing too much down the shaft line and is a little more perpendicular - it is indicative (not 100% but highly indicative) of a grip that goes from the left index fingers but crosses too much into the palm of the left hand. More perpendicular fingers keeps the entire left hand using the fingers.

[shortstop20]

It probably wasn't in the picture but I am doing so now(more perpendicular).