THE GRIP
Learning how to place your hands on the club is the final part of a good set up and a very important one for a better golf swing. Let me show you how to properly hold the club in order to better groove your swing in the process, as shown in the image above.
If you prefer to wear a glove, (left hand glove for right hand players) you should always wear it on the top hand (the hand that is closest to your body), as shown in the image above. The following directions can simply be reversed for left hand players.
The correct golf grip is the key to a better golf swing, as shown in the video below.
There are three options when holding the club. The one you choose is your preference. All 3 grips are good and can be used by anyone when gripping the club, as shown in the images above.
1) 10 finger grip: This grip is called the 10 finger grip because all ten fingers are touching the club. It also promotes more wrists actions during the swing and is recommended for people with small hands and those whose hands and wrists are not particularly strong, as shown in the image above.
2) Overlap grip (Vardon grip): This grip is called the overlap grip because the small finger of the right hand overlaps the index of the left hand. It is said that it promotes a more passive action of the wrists during the swing, as shown in the image above. This method of holding the golf club is the most popular amongst professional golfers.
3) Interlock grip: This grip is called the interlock grip because of the interlocking of the left index finger and the small finger of the right hand. This is also a good way of holding the club. It promotes less wrists actions than the 10 finger grip, as shown in the image above.
Caution: When using the interlock grip, make sure your right hand does not interlock too far which would make it more of a palm grip. You would lose the finger contact which is more desirable to promote club head speed. All grips are good. All golfers must respect the following factors when gripping the club:
- Pressure applied on the club;
- Placement of hands and fingers on the club; and
- Position of hands as the player addresses the ball.
How to place your hands on the club:
The grip is the only link from your body to the club. Learn how to place your hands correctly on the club, as shown in the image above.
Where do you grip the club?
As shown in the image above, there is a gap of about 1 1/2 inches from the butt end of the club to the left little finger. This will make the club feel slightly lighter and will also give you better control to achieve a correct grip.
The left hand:
The club should pass diagonally across the lower part of the palm of your left hand, as shown in the image above. You should be holding the club with more of your fingers rather than with the hand itself.
Looking down at your grip:
When placing your left hand on the club, you should see the first two knuckles. This insures that your hand is placed correctly and you have a correct golf grip with that hand, as shown in the image above.
The left thumb:
When I was a junior, this was one of the best golf tip that improved my game. Your left thumb should be placed slightly to the right side, as shown in the image above. This is very important because it will enable you to support the club at the top of the backswing.
Proper left hand placement:
As you are looking down at the grip, the left hand is slightly turned to the right, as shown in the image above. When doing your backswing, your left thumb will be supporting the club at the top of your backswing.
Left hand grip:
If you can support the club with only the heal of the left hand and the index finger, as shown in the image above, is a good indication that the club is properly placed in the left hand.
The right hand:
This online golf tip is probably my favorite when talking about the golf grip.The right hand is a finger grip. Holding the club with your fingers will promote better control and more club head speed. It also runs diagonally across the fingers, as shown in the image above.
A common problem is not holding the club primarily with your right fingers. Holding the club with the palm of your right hand instead of your fingers, will not allow you to create the correct rotation in your swing in order to hit the ball straight. The common results from this problem is slicing the ball.
The right crease:
The left thumb should rest snugly in the crease between the thumb pad and the heal pad of the right hand to produce a better golf swing, as shown in the image above.
The V’s:
The “V’s” formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand should parallel each other and point slightly toward the right shoulder, as shown in the image above.
GRIP PRESSURE:
Pressure applied on the club: A problem with many golfers stems from tension in the hands, arms and shoulders generally caused by holding the club too tight. The results will probably be inconsistent direction and slicing of the ball.
Which fingers should apply the most pressure on the club? Even though the overall grip pressure is fairly light, most of the pressure comes from the last three fingers of both hands, as shown on the image above.
Thumbs and index fingers:
When applying pressure to a club with only the thumbs and the index fingers, you are using the outside muscles of your forearms as indicated with the red lines in the image above.
These are muscles that will create tension in your shoulders and are not needed to create a fluid swing
Last 3 fingers:
The primarily muscles used when gripping the club are the ones located on the inside of your forearms, as indicated by the yellow lines in the image above.
These muscles are not attached directly to your shoulders, therefore, less tension will be created making this obviously the best choice in gripping the club and also creating a better golf swing.
Ball drill:
When watching television or sitting around, practice holding one golf ball in each hand, as shown in the image above. Apply pressure with the last 3 fingers of each hand and you will get the feel of gripping the club properly.
Try the ball drill, as shown in the image above, and find out for yourself which fingers apply the pressure.
A favorite expression used: ”You must be relaxed to play golf. Don’t play golf to relax.” Tension in your shoulders will create stress. A good grip will help reduce this stress and will make for a smoother swing.
If you are really serious about wanting to learn how to play golf, you must start by reading and understanding how this game is played.
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