Effects of a weak grip

[hookmaster]

I have been trying for years to find a consistent driver swing that I can count on. My most recent round I weekend my left hand grip so my left thumb was almost straight down the shaft. I kept the right hand grip in more of a standard position. I also extended my right index finger into more of a pistol shooting position if that makes sense. I feel like this gives me more control of the club. By having such a weak left hand grip is it typical to lose distance or what kind of side might I see because from doing this? Right now I still draw the ball and it's not hooking anymore.

[boogielicious]

I have been trying for years to find a consistent driver swing that I can count on. My most recent round I weekend my left hand grip so my left thumb was almost straight down the shaft. I kept the right hand grip in more of a standard position. I also extended my right index finger into more of a pistol shooting position if that makes sense. I feel like this gives me more control of the club. By having such a weak left hand grip is it typical to lose distance or what kind of side might I see because from doing this? Right now I still draw the ball and it's not hooking anymore.

The grip should not affect distance per se.  A proper grip helps you control the club face through out the swing.  But no one grip is optimum. Distance is affected by contact quality, launch angle and swing speed.

[inthehole]

I could have written this. Weakening my left hand has allowed me to tame my hook without changing anything else. Buying into this bigtime ...

[trickyputt]

I tend to get a strong grip going myself. When I started engaging my glutes and legs in my swing in a distance effort, I really started to get a full backswing and the long left shots became a hassle. I had to nuetral up my grip and make a little adjustment in my setup but its still there and bites me once and a while. Its much better though.

[mvmac]

I have been trying for years to find a consistent driver swing that I can count on. My most recent round I weekend my left hand grip so my left thumb was almost straight down the shaft. I kept the right hand grip in more of a standard position. I also extended my right index finger into more of a pistol shooting position if that makes sense. I feel like this gives me more control of the club. By having such a weak left hand grip is it typical to lose distance or what kind of side might I see because from doing this? Right now I still draw the ball and it's not hooking anymore.

Check this out

To answer your question, yes you could potentially lose distance with a weaker grip. Basically a weaker grip (if it's in the palm) can restrict the amount you can hinge your wrists and the amount you can sustain or create "lag" on the downswing.

With a weaker grip the club head will tend to over take the hands at a faster rate than with a stronger grip. Weak grips often results in a club face that's more leftward pointing and a path that is more leftward (for a righty). Opposite for stronger grips.

[acerimusdux]

Ben Hogan:

Quote:

Over the years since first adopting the overlapping grip, I have made two minor alterations....

I made my second alteration in 1946, moving my left hand a good half inch to the left. I was working then to find some way of retaining my power while curbing my occaisional tendency to hook. Moving my left hand over so that the thumb was directly down the middle of the shaft was the first step in licking that problem.  I regard both of these changes as personal modifications or adjustments...Let me make it clear, though, that I look upon them only as adjustments and not as fundamentals.  The truly fortunate golfer is the player who needs to make the smallest number of adjustments.

So yeah, it's probably less than optimal. But if it's working with what else is going on in your swing, it's a reasonable adjustment to make.