Proper Grip Pressure (It's Firmer than You Might Think)

[iacas]

10 hours ago, jmanbooyaa said:

@iacas why do you think there is such a misconception about grip size? You still have grip size selector on websites.  I remember a while ago getting clubs re-gripped and was told I should be in mid size grips. I currently don’t due to it not feeling comfortable. 

Same reason there are misconceptions about a lot of things. Someone hears it, passes it along. Eventually so many people say it, it's regarded as the truth.

And I'm not saying absolutely I'm right here, but I believe fairly strongly that I am, and will until I've seen evidence to the contrary. I don't expect to see that evidence - it's all just anecdotes.

[saevel25]

In the video, I like that they actually measured the grip strength of long drive competitors, and knowing that they have stronger grip strength. Note, grip strength is something you can improve. It actually is a pretty important thing when you get older, just for wellbeing and probably golf.  

 

[Jeremie Boop]

I also like that they mention the check being able to have flexibility in the wrists. I know that I tend to build up tension in my wrists/forearms and I need to dial that back.

[billchao]

17 hours ago, Jeremie Boop said:

I also like that they mention the check being able to have flexibility in the wrists. I know that I tend to build up tension in my wrists/forearms and I need to dial that back.

Check to see if your grip isn’t too much in the palms. I can grip pretty tightly and still have loose wrists.

[Jeremie Boop]

2 minutes ago, billchao said:

Check to see if your grip isn’t too much in the palms. I can grip pretty tightly and still have loose wrists.

I'm pretty sure I've kept it in my fingers but I'll recheck that next time I go hit balls to make sure. Also, my left thumb isn't extended, I realized after seeing a post in darkfrog's swing thread. I'm going to try to make sure I do that as well, which should help make sure I keep the club in my fingers.

[SEMI_Duffer]

On 3/13/2022 at 3:37 AM, cdh79 said:

I just read through the whole thread and initially did not want to resurrect an old one, but given that the last update was just in January I don't have to feel so bad about asking my question here.

I'm glad you did, because I'd missed it, until now, and now I've learned something new.  So thanks!

1 hour ago, billchao said:

Check to see if your grip isn’t too much in the palms. I can grip pretty tightly and still have loose wrists.

Now I understand why my first instructor taught us how to grip in the way he did.  I do not recall him explaining why, just that that's the way he wanted us to do it.  Same with my current instructors.

I had been getting everything fit with midsize.  Jumbo felt too big for me when I first started swinging a club.  Later I found jumbo felt more right for me.  (Fitting chart at the LGS put me right on the cusp between midsize and jumbo. Both the girl behind the counter at the time, and, more recently, my club guy, felt jumbo would be better for me.)  I have long, thin fingers.  Even XL gloves are sometimes marginal on me.

I just checked one of my irons, which are still all midsize, and one of my wedges, which has a jumbo on it.  With each: My grip is all in my fingers and my wrists move freely in all directions.  I feel little pressure in my palms at all.

I've gripped pretty tightly all along, despite the old "like you're holding a bird" saw. Tightly enough that, when I'm doing a lot of gripping, either through training, practice, or playing: I end up with calluses under the first joint above the palm.  Mostly on my lead hand.  Somewhat less pronounced on my trail hand.

Now @iacas's thread-starter has me thinking I should get back to doing grip-strength training again 

Great thread!

[Zippo]

I started playing with a new glove, not too long ago, and noticed that I'm wearing a spot on the glove that's higher in the base of my palm than I would expect with my grip. Further testing and experimentation reveals that I am letting the club get loose and move around in my lead hand (left for me) allowing the butt of the club to ride higher in my palm. I've also learned that gripping the club more tightly improves my ball contact and subsequent distance, somewhat. I've been loosening my grip at impact which, I think, lets the club vibrate more when the ball is struck. Gripping it tighter seems to allow me to transfer more energy to the ball instead of using it to wear a hole in the glove.

I'm thinking (though I have tried it yet) that it may also explain some of the issues I've been experiencing with chipping. Holding the club too loosely hampers my control of the club while chipping and pitching.

Unfortunately, I am also experiencing De Quervain's syndrome, again, in both wrists - the worst pain is in the left wrist. I can't get into the doc's office for another month for cortisone shots in my wrists, so this tends to hamper things a bit. I think, in the meanwhile, I'll grip more firmly but slow down my swing a bit. The pain is mostly post impact so that may help. 

In any event, this thread has helped. Thanks.

[iacas]

[iacas]

SuperSpeed Squeeze

---

The best players in the world can create significantly more grip strength than amateur golfers. This allows these players to not only create more speed, but also improves their ability to control the golf club, create lag...

Hmmmm…

The best players in the world can create significantly more grip strength than amateur golfers. This allows these players to not only create more speed, but also improves their ability to control the golf club, create lag, stabilize the club face, and deal with lies in the rough. More grip strength allows you to use less grip pressure compared to your maximum capacity. This creates less tension and the ability to optimize the use of your hands and arms in the golf swing. The bottom line is that if you want to grip and control the club like a tour player, you need more grip strength. 

Now, with the introduction of the SuperSpeed Squeeze, you can easily improve your grip strength leading to more control, consistency, and speed. The SuperSpeed Squeeze is easy to use fitting over the grip on your own golf club. Follow our simple and effective training protocol to see huge gains in grip strength in as little as 4 weeks of regular training.

[JetFan1983]

I remember learning guitar as a kid I had to squeeze the shit out of the neck to play notes and chords. Meanwhile, my guitar teacher played the instrument effortlessly. He told me the white knuckle phase would dissipate the more I played and over time I would develop the hand strength to where playing would feel effortless. He was right. It's been 25 years and it feels effortless now.

Pretty similar situation in golf. The stronger your hands, the more effortless a stock swing will feel. But this hand strength as it relates to golf probably needs to be developed over time and squeezing the grip hard in the early years is probably how you will mostly develop that strength. 

Anyway, it makes sense why lifelong golfers will tell you to grip it light. It feels light to them because they've developed the hand strength required for the game. 

[boogielicious]

20 minutes ago, JetFan1983 said:

I remember learning guitar as a kid I had to squeeze the shit out of the neck to play notes and chords. Meanwhile, my guitar teacher played the instrument effortlessly. He told me the white knuckle phase would dissipate the more I played and over time I would develop the hand strength to where playing would feel effortless. He was right. It's been 25 years and it feels effortless now.

What he didn’t tell you is the starter Hohner guitar you were playing had unbearably high action and his nice acoustic was perfectly set up and was much easier to play!

I still have that guitar. I turned it into a Hawaiian lap steel.😄 My other guitars are effortless.

Agree on the grip strength evolving over time. 

[JetFan1983]

6 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

What he didn’t tell you is the starter Hohner guitar you were playing had unbearably high action and his nice acoustic was perfectly set up and was much easier to play!

I still have that guitar. I turned it into a Hawaiian lap steel.😄 My other guitars are effortless.

Lol, exactly. My first guitar was unfairly high action. My go-to guitar these days definitely has lower action, but seriously though, my hands are much more "guitar strong" now than they were in those early years, that's for sure. 

For the non-guitar players wondering what we're talking about, I'll save you a google:

[iacas]

[iacas]

[colin007]

On 12/1/2022 at 2:56 PM, iacas said:

 

This image makes it look like it wants you to put it firmly in the palms tho?

[iacas]

8 hours ago, colin007 said:

This image makes it look like it wants you to put it firmly in the palms tho?

I mean, it's as far into his fingers as he can get it.

[iacas]

"It is fiction. You need to kill the bird."

[saevel25]

I find that interesting. More so that the lead hand has more pressure than the trail hand. I think I may have lack of grip pressure in the lead hand. 

It would be interesting to see the grip pressure device used on short game and putting as well. I wonder if putting flips from lead hand to trail hand being dominant in grip pressure.