Grip Revelation

[chinoodriver]

For the longest time I tinkered with my grip.  I never could really flush my irons the way I wanted to.  If i strengthened my left hand where I had 2 and a half or 3 knuckles showing I would flush it but it was always hooky.  If I weakened my left hand id start to hit it thin and not crisp.  It wasnt until recently that I found out the key to striping my irons was exaggerating my right hand under the club.  I turned my right hand far to the right and way underneath the club and now I cannot believe how effortlessly im taking a nice divot and the ball is flying off the club face.  Ive gone with a neutral left hand and would it now be a very strong right hand?  Anyone had issues similar or this correction work for them? This also carried over to my hybrids and driver and ended up shooting my low round ever of an 84 last week.  I feel like ive had my ah-ha moment.  Until next weekend of course :).  Appreciate any input/insight

[Rainmaker]

I'd say to go to the range or somewhere and take some video of yourself.  Check your positions against the positions here:

What I'd want to make sure of is that you're not just opening the club-face so you're more square when you come over the top and swing left.  Not saying you are . . but that's what I'd want to be sure of.  If you're close to matching the positions in the post above - I'd say you found a good feel for you!  It would be weird for me, though . .but that's golf.

[Vinsk]

1 hour ago, chinoodriver said:

For the longest time I tinkered with my grip.  I never could really flush my irons the way I wanted to.  If i strengthened my left hand where I had 2 and a half or 3 knuckles showing I would flush it but it was always hooky.  If I weakened my left hand id start to hit it thin and not crisp.  It wasnt until recently that I found out the key to striping my irons was exaggerating my right hand under the club.  I turned my right hand far to the right and way underneath the club and now I cannot believe how effortlessly im taking a nice divot and the ball is flying off the club face.  Ive gone with a neutral left hand and would it now be a very strong right hand?  Anyone had issues similar or this correction work for them? This also carried over to my hybrids and driver and ended up shooting my low round ever of an 84 last week.  I feel like ive had my ah-ha moment.  Until next weekend of course :).  Appreciate any input/insight

I'd like a photo. I too seem to struggle with my grip...I fidget around like a dog trying to get comfortable in a blanket. I'm a leftie, I'm like you in that if I place my lead hand to strong I tend to hook the bejesus outta it. Or shank. If I go neutral or weak with my lead hand I fade it or slice...or of course shank. 

This whole grip thing has always perplexed me. If was standing with an axe and going to chop the base of a tree just off my lead foot, I sure as hell wouldn't place my trail hand under the handle. I'd hold it like any other piece of wood or club or hammer....but nooooooo the golf club demands so much more....frustrating as hell to me.

[Rainmaker]

9 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

I'd like a photo. I too seem to struggle with my grip...I fidget around like a dog trying to get comfortable in a blanket. I'm a leftie, I'm like you in that if I place my lead hand to strong I tend to hook the bejesus outta it. Or shank. If I go neutral or weak with my lead hand I fade it or slice...or of course shank. 

This whole grip thing has always perplexed me. If was standing with an axe and going to chop the base of a tree just off my lead foot, I sure as hell wouldn't place my trail hand under the handle. I'd hold it like any other piece of wood or club or hammer....but nooooooo the golf club demands so much more....frustrating as hell to me.

The tree chopping thing is a good one.  If you hold your golf club like an axe and "chop the tree", you'll come into it hosel-first.  You'd want to address the tree like you were going to chop it but then try and hit the tree broadside with the blade of the ax, instead.  Why would you ever do that?  Because golf is a stupid, stupid game, lol.    

[70sSanO]

This is pretty crazy because just yesterday I went to the range and started tweaking things and decided to try the same left neutral/right strong grip and was amazed at how things improved.  Now I realize that one trip to the range doesn't confirm success, but I am optimistic.

In a nutshell, Since I hurt my left shoulder, and also gotten old, I have found that my shortened back swing requires a really good turn and lower body movement to get the club head square, especially with the driver.  When all things come together it's fine, but far too often I just can't get the club head square especially as I tire out.  So I have been moving the ball up in my stance moving my hands forward to compensate, a stronger left hand, and essentially de-lofting the club.  All of this resulted in hit or miss and overall less than consistent results.

So yesterday I tried what the OP has suggested ( I didn't even know about this thread).  Here is a picture I found online that is similar, except my left may be more neutral...

This grip does a bunch of good things for me.  Since only the right hand is strong it doesn't overpower the left and cause a pull or hook.  But at the same time keeps me from scooping (???) at the ball and rotating the wrists wrong way (?) and opening up the club face with a late release (correct terminology ?), especially when I try to swing hard.  I don't know if I explained that correctly, but I can feel it when I swing.  I can now ground the club and use the natural sit of the club and I don't have to put my hands so far ahead of the club head that causes the de-lofting due to a more severe shaft tilt.  This also helps to get the ball up.  I usually do pretty well at keeping my right elbow in, but a strong right hand, it almost ensures that I won't chicken wing my right elbow.

So far it works great with my driver and fairway woods.  It also seems to help with my longer irons.  It remains to be seen how well it works with my short irons especially under 100 yards, as I tend to play them a little more open and this grip may not work as well for that, but we'll see.

John

Edited April 22, 2016 by 70sSanO