settle an argument

[doublesuited77]

had a good argument about the golf swing today and wanted to get everyone's point of view. Won't tell you which side I am on so not to bias you.

Point A: There is a strong correlation between lag and the strength of your grip. People with strong grips naturally put more lag on the ball and do it more consistancy.


Point B: Point A is puppycock. Lag is driven by the time between the start of forearm rotation and impact.

[jcrew]

I'm far from being an expert on this but I think a stronger grip does not lead to more lag.

[Ben]

I don't think it is necessary to have a firm grip to create lag of the club during the downswing. I've been toying around with creating more lag in my downswing recently. Grip pressure is not at all what I'm focusing on. I believe lag is a product of the angle created by the wrists. I try and focus on keeping that angle as long as possible before striking the ball. When the angle unloads I have a feeling of my right foreaem pushing down through the ball at impact, then both arms extending out and away from my body through the follow-through.

[doublesuited77]

I don't think it is necessary to have a firm grip to create lag of the club during the downswing. I've been toying around with creating more lag in my downswing recently. Grip pressure is not at all what I'm focusing on. I believe lag is a product of the angle created by the wrists. I try and focus on keeping that angle as long as possible before striking the ball. When the angle unloads I have a feeling of my right foreaem pushing down through the ball at impact, then both arms extending out and away from my body through the follow-through.

Ben, we weren't talking about grip pressure, but rather a strong versus weak grip (e.g. the position of the right hand and where the "V" points).

[$2 Nassau]

I'll agree with "A." For me, a stronger grip makes it easier to maintain the wrist hinge. That's just me though.

[beung]

I strong grip will take more of your hand and arms out of the swing and make it more about body rotation and weight transfer.

Having a strong grip just basically allows you to hold your wrist position through impact and lets your body release the club instead of your hands trying to square up the club and release through it. Producing more lag in your swing.

Be careful with the strong left hand that you don't have too strong of a right hand which may lead you to having closed club face.

I find that people with too weak of a left hand tend to hold the club too much in the palm of their hands instead of holding it more in the fingers. They almost hold the club like they would a putter. Hold the club in front you while you are standing upright, then grip the club in the fingers of you left hand and then roll your left hand over the club will give you a stronger grip.

[Ringer]

The difference is in the left wrist bending back on itself. With a strong grip you will tend to cup the left wrist and that gives the appearance of more lag.

Also with a strong left grip the forearm does not have to be fully rotated counter-clockwise in order to get the clubface square. That allows for the club to be lagged longer in the forward swing.

I believe that this would be best characterized as "fake" lag and not necissarily good.

[itzzzberny]

point A seems off. to my understanding have a strong grip is not what your looking for. a solid grip but only strong enought from keeping the club from flying out of your hands (literally). trying to grip it tight and rip it can cause slices,hooks and/or loss of distance.
lag would be having your wrist hindged til right before impact, to allow the clubhead to catch up w/ the hands. this should also bring up the club head speed as well.

[Ben]

Ben, we weren't talking about grip pressure, but rather a strong versus weak grip (e.g. the position of the right hand and where the "V" points).

You know, that's what I thought at first, but then I figured, "how could he be talking about that?" So I suppose that would just reinforce my idea that the grip has little to no bearing in the creation of lag in a swing.

[doublesuited77]

You know, that's what I thought at first, but then I figured, "how could he be talking about that?" So I suppose that would just reinforce my idea that the grip has little to no bearing in the creation of lag in a swing.

I agree with your point. However, my friend claims (and he had a Golf Digest article by leadbetter to back him up) that a stronger grip promotes a later release and encourages more lag since it is easily to get to square quickly.