GarageGOLF Lesson "The Grip"

SimpleStrokes

The Grip (Making a Choice)

A Pre-swing Fundamental

The Grip (Making a Choice)

A Little About The Grip (Making a Choice):

The correct grip is critical to the golf swing. Which style of grip a golfer should select, are questions every golfer should answer. A golfer can choose from countless variations and combinations. A good grip is the one that allows a golfer to achieve the desired shot, maximizing their criteria for distance as well as direction, golf’s primary goal. Beginning with the grip, the golfer can choose a combination of "preferences" to help accomplish this goal. Remember poor fundamentals can cause poor swings. The fact that better fundamentals lead to better golf is important to every golfer. The grip is a fundamental part of the golf swing.

The natural positions, in which the hands and arms hang, do not allow gripping the club to come natural. For most golfers, it is necessary to learn the grip with the club off the ground.

The Lesson Goal: To educate the golfer on the various grips that may be used, make a decision on which grip is best for them, and to learn a basic grip routine.

Variations of The Grip:

There is no one grip for every golfer, only every golfer needs one grip. The three variations of the grip are the ten-finger, interlocking, and overlapping. The full swing grip can vary from the putting and chipping grips.

Demonstration:

Demonstrate the three different variations of the grip 1. Ten-Finger 2. Interlocking 3. Overlapping

The ABC’s of The Grip:

[Figure A]

The Ten Finger Grip: Both hands should be close together working as a unit. When using this grip, make sure you do not have a gap of any kind between hands, causing a lack of swinging sensation and too much leverage in the swing. Remember to work the hands together as one unit. Kids tend to use this grip due to the lack of strength in their hands when they first start playing golf. It can be referred to as the baseball grip because of its similarities to a baseball-batting grip. [Figure A]

[Figure B]

The Interlocking Grip: The pinkie finger on your right hand along with the index finger on your left hand "criss-cross" one another in an interlocking fashion. This grip helps keep your hands together yet also gives a tendency to use the palm of the right hand a bit too much, Be aware of this. Beginning golfers favor this grip. [Figure B]

[Figure C]

The Overlapping Grip: The right pinkie finger in the gap between the left index and middle finger on the left hand. This grip creates another way to keep your hands close together working as one unit. The majority of professional golfers use this grip. [Figure C]

Think About It:

Make sure your grip is not so tight it will not allow movement in the wrist.
The grip is more in the fingers than in the palms.
When first learning golf, try a neutral grip.

A Grip Routine:

Now you are ready to put your hands on the club. Again, with any variation of grip, choose the one that fits you. Follow this step by step instructions.

[Figure D]

LEFT HAND:

Hold Left arm out in front of you parallel to ground.
Bend left arm so it will form a 90-degree angle and be vertical to the ground.
Place club in your hand over your shoulder with the toe of club facing toward the ground. This should feel as if you have a hammer in your hand.
Secured the club in the fingers of your left hand with your thumb on the shaft. Feel the weight of the club on the thumb of your left hand.
Now bring your club in front of your body with your arm parallel to the ground or slightly lower. Now you are ready for the right hand.

You are now ready to choose from the three variations of grips mentioned earlier. The right hand should work as one unit with your left, so in deciding between the Ten Finger, Interlocking, and Overlapping, choose what you feel confident and comfortable with.

[Figure E]

RIGHT HAND:

Place your right hand on the club with your left hand thumb in the palm of your right
Palms facing each other
Now choose a grip that is comfortable for you; Ten finger, Interlock, Overlap.
Now lower the club to the ground by allowing arms to rest on chest and bending at the waist with a comfortable posture. Where the club rests on the ground is your desired ball position, center to forward of your stance.

The Grip (Making a Choice)

Check Points: [Figure E]

Do not squeeze the grip to tight, if you feel a necessity do so check your left-hand position.
The angle of the wrists should be equal, with wrinkles appearing on the top when you lift the club vertical, not on the inner or outer side of your wrists.
Both thumbs facing down the shaft.

Tendencies:

The golfer does not need to grip the club tighter as speed increases, it happens instinctively. However, a club which is traveling at a higher rate of speed will give more pulling force away from the golfer, and will require a correct grip to stay in control of the club. A grip placed in the hand in different positions will require different grip pressure.
A Left-hand grip too much in the palm may require added grip pressure to stay in control.
Gripping the club tight is a common tendency; many golfers who do not hold the club properly will have no choice but to grip the club tightly.

Conclusion:

Consistency is the by-product of having a routine. Every golfer should prepare the same way before every swing (Routine). In the golf grip, the golfer should grip the club the same way each time in using a routine. When a golfer changes the rotational positioning of the hands, the resulting shot could be as far as thirty too forty yards off line. The basis of golf’s foundation is on consistency, which relates directly to a golfer repetition of the same grip every single swing. Without the proper grip, a golfer will never develop accurate and consistent shots. Learning a proper grip is the most important first step when learning the game of golf.