Gripping Down on Every Shot

[stealthhwk]

I played much better golf today and couldn't figure out why. Then one of my playing partners said I was gripping down on every shot. I watch a lot of the Lpga and Brooke Henderson plays that way. After today, I think Im gonna play that way from now on. Anyone else have experience playing this way?

[Kalnoky]

How much are you gripping down?

[stealthhwk]

Just now, Kalnoky said:

How much are you gripping down?

Not sure really. Just til it feels right. Probably just a smide over an inch Im guessing. Im guessing Im gripping down similarly to Brooke Henderson. You always see butt of club come out the back of her grip.

[Papa Steve 55]

I started with my driver last year. I was having issues hitting straight shots, but 10 yards right. Not slicing much. I choked down an inch or two and it helped a lot. Minimal impact on distance. No idea why that worked.

[Kalnoky]

I think I've always gripped down about half an inch. My first instructor wanted me to stop doing that. My second instructor, whom I've been with much longer, has never mentioned it. So I still do it. But of course, I'm not the person to pattern your golf game after... lol.

I heard that gripping down will stiffen you shaft flex.

 

[Patch]

Many decades ago I learned it was pretty normal to grip down on the club so that 3/4"-1" of the grip was sticking out past the top hand. I think some company even came out with a practice grip using the same numbers. 

Also that if more control was needed, to grip down even farther. 

I have always used that advice. 

[Hacker James]

"many find that doing anything to excess is excessive". 

[Mr. Desmond]

Brooke Henderson plays a very long shafted driver, 48 inches from all reports, which is why she grips down. Check out her bag.

But if gripping down helps you, great.

[stealthhwk]

37 minutes ago, Mr. Desmond said:

Brooke Henderson plays a very long shafted driver, 48 inches from all reports, which is why she grips down. Check out her bag.

But if gripping down helps you, great.

Its not just her driver tho. She seems to grip down on every shot with every club. 

[Yukari]

AK, when he use to play the PGA, always gripped down on all his clubs. 

[Good Ash]

I usually play better when I grip down.  Now that I am actually taking video and looking at my swing I have seen how much I lung down towards the ball.  It makes sense that gripping down would straighten my lead arm a little bit coming into the ball and help prevent fat shots a little.  I think it was just a compensation I was making so I didn't notice my swing flaw as much.

[paininthenuts]

13 hours ago, stealthhwk said:

I played much better golf today and couldn't figure out why. Then one of my playing partners said I was gripping down on every shot. I watch a lot of the Lpga and Brooke Henderson plays that way. After today, I think Im gonna play that way from now on. Anyone else have experience playing this way?

Yep. Started doing this with my driver a while ago, and now do it with all my clubs. I have standard length clubs, and I am only 5' 7", so it sort of makes sense. My right hand is about two inches above the bottom of the grip. It has taken a few yards off of my length, but increased the accuracy.  I have a friend who holds the club half way down the shaft for chipping, and he has the best short game I have ever seen. 

[Ernest Jones]

It's a feel thing for me. Sometimes I grip down, sometimes I don't. Depends on what I'm feeling when setting up for a shot. 

[shanksalot]

The only time I grip down is when I want to take some yardage off a shot. 

[jamo]

I've never liked the feel of griping down on the club, but if it doesn't feel weird to you, there's no reason you can't do it on every shot. Anthony Kim does/did that and he still hit the ball plenty long. 

[saevel25]

If you get better contact, more consistently, then you might gain yardage on your shots anyways. 

[natureboy]

Jimmy Walker playing a 42" driver at Kapalua.

He was experimenting with a 41" driver before settling on that length. Goal is 'more fairways'.

[Hacker James]

many things seem to work their way into my swing from time to time and I usually recognize the patterns as they appear. Sometimes by accident. An example is that recently I picked up the older Wilson Ultra driver I have in my closet and had a session with very good results and solid shots. Some may have been due to the Women's flex shaft, but then it occurred to me that not only was the shaft more flexible, it was shorter and measured 41 inches.

I then went to my Orlimar  which has a shaft length of nearly 45 inches. So, I decided to grip down to a 41 inch length and got nearly identical results. It is also interesting to note, that both shafts "appeared" to have the same flex when bent with pressure with heads resting on the ground. I think the flexes were different however, but the extra length made the men's driver appear to have the same flex. I will NOT cut the shaft however, as this "feeling" is usually temporary and I would not want to end up with a driver with the SW out of wack. I marked the position on the grip with tape so I could replicate it easily.

Also noteworthy is the fact that the Orlimar is 10.5 deg and the Wilson 12.