Gripping it short

[taxgolf]

I have a question. Don't know if it is a stupid one.

I watched flashes on TV of the women PGA match, Ko and Henderson. It isn't broadcasted full coverage, but a summary. But it struck me that Ko (but I think also Henderson) geripped the club a bit short. Especially Ko seems to grip every club shorter. And I wonder why. I know you might grip shorter if you are between distances and you choose a longer club etc. Or you want another ball flight. But it seems she grips every club an inch or so shorter.

Why is that? Is the shaft to long? Why doesn't she has a shorter shaft in her club? What is the reason? Not sure all women players do grip a bit shorter. Or is it just the TV that may looks like Ko grips the club shorter?

 

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, taxgolf said:

I have a question. Don't know if it is a stupid one.

I watched flashes on TV of the women PGA match, Ko and Henderson. It isn't broadcasted full coverage, but a summary. But it struck me that Ko (but I think also Henderson) geripped the club a bit short. Especially Ko seems to grip every club shorter. And I wonder why. I know you might grip shorter if you are between distances and you choose a longer club etc. Or you want another ball flight. But it seems she grips every club an inch or so shorter.

Why is that? Is the shaft to long? Why doesn't she has a shorter shaft in her club? What is the reason? Not sure all women players do grip a bit shorter. Or is it just the TV that may looks like Ko grips the club shorter?

 

I remember Anthony Kim did this as well. His reason was that he was always playing his Dad's clubs when he was young and gripped down because of his height. He just got used to it. Maybe they are the same.

[PhxHacker]

They probably do it to gain some control over the club head. I've noticed this as well watching quite a bit of lpga golf this season. I'm considering trying it myself to see if there's some benefit, but unfortunately the Mercury is hovering around 112* for the past few weeks and it is downright painful to take a breathe in that much heat. Let alone the feeling of searing flesh when your skin is exposed to direct rays of the sun.

[Piz]

The late, great, Moe Norman used to shaft his clubs extra long so he could grip down.  He thought it gave him more control of the club.  There is no reason to think that it couldn't...and counterbalance is the concept behind back-weighting.  There is also an advantage when the ball is below your feet.  Instead of crouching, or taking a wider stance, you just grip the club a bit higher.  Moe liked large grips; but someone with small hands might actually prefer gripping down...and may have developed the habit when younger.

[Lastpick]

I grip it short.  Benefit to me has been hitting the center of the club face much more consistently.  I believe that it has added distance as well as control.  In short, gripping it short increases smash factor for me.  That is if you believe that someone 66 years old can have any smash factor.

[taxgolf]

Only stupid thought I had, why don't you put a shorter shaft in the club.

 

but the explantion above made sense. Gripping it longer when you need to.

thanks for the explanations! And yes, I believe a 66 guy has a smashfactor. 66 is the new 46!

[CCC]

Ko is a shot making specialist. She will grip down on the shaft of a longer iron to keep the ball trajectory lower than using a higher lofted club - for the same distance. And she likes to use half swings, 3/4, etc... She's thinking outside of the box. A lot to learn watching her hit different approaches to the hole.