Grip pressure-----EUREKA!!!!

[joeunc]

Thanks for the video, I saw the golf Academy show also and this is what he said

[vbb]

I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.

[Precis1on]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1404901558' post='9664999']
I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.
[/quote]

There is truth to that. Also relaxing your core so that you can rotate properly. A relaxed transition will set up a free flowing downswing.

I'm sure there are some people who can keep a super strong grip on their club while keeping their forearms, shoulders, and core relaxed.

[dslatt33]

I hope Tom Watson's advice on Golf Channel was better than those stupid Mastercard commercial that have him driving a range cart and "suprising" people on the range. - " uhh look its Tom Watson!"

I want to break my TV with a 4 iron every time it comes on.

[moneytalks]

Good luck with grip pressures during a tourney or an important event . Will be a distaster been there done that

[vbb]

[quote name='Precis1on' timestamp='1404928333' post='9667529']
[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1404901558' post='9664999']
I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.
[/quote]

There is truth to that. Also relaxing your core so that you can rotate properly. A relaxed transition will set up a free flowing downswing.

I'm sure there are some people who can keep a super strong grip on their club while keeping their forearms, shoulders, and core relaxed.
[/quote]

That's what I'm working on. Not even close to trusting it on the course yet, but when I'm at the range I try to keep a pretty firm grip with my hands so the club doesn't feel like it is out of control, but I focus on keeping my forearms and shoulders as slack as possible. I've hit a few like this and they've been great shots, but again, it is so far from feeling comfortable that I wouldn't dare try it during a real round yet.

[Captain Bondo]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1404901558' post='9664999']
I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.
[/quote]

You probably know this- but the reason you don't square the clubface when you don't use your hands is because (obviously enough) you are used to squaring the clubface with your hands.

When your swing relies on steering the club with your hands, when you stop steering it, the ball can go literally anywhere or you might even whiff it.

If you've always gripped it tight, the in conjunction with a looser grip, your swing probably needs to change such that you can get back to the ball without manipulating the club with your hands. Takes some experimentation.

[Tax Man Golfeth]

[quote name='Captain Bondo' timestamp='1404998774' post='9672425']

You probably know this- but the reason you don't square the clubface when you don't use your hands is because (obviously enough) you are used to squaring the clubface with your hands.

When your swing relies on steering the club with your hands, when you stop steering it, the ball can go literally anywhere or you might even whiff it.

If you've always gripped it tight, the in conjunction with a looser grip, your swing probably needs to change such that you can get back to the ball without manipulating the club with your hands. Takes some experimentation.
[/quote]

I myself am finding this out the hard way. Wrist injuries have prevented me from powering the club shut and the misses now are constant and god-awful. Looking at video, it is semi-evident what the issues are. Time to revisit my swing. I'll start my own swing thread w/ video seeking help when I gather the nerve...

[TheCityGame]

This is my favorite idea about grip pressure. . .

You know how you don't think about how hard you grip a baseball when you throw it. You just know that you don't grip it so tight that you can't throw it or grip it so loose that it falls through your fingers.

Grip your golf club like that.

[wmblake2000]

[quote name='ChicagoCook' timestamp='1404941078' post='9668859']
Good luck with grip pressures during a tourney or an important event . Will be a distaster been there done that
[/quote]

Isn't that true for every change that goes against instincts? I think this ability to executed learned moves in pressure has to be learned, too. Problem is getting enough pressure situation 'reps' to do it under pressure.

[uscheese]

Last week I went out as a single and paired up with a guy almost 20 years older than me (I'm 42). On the first bunch of holes we played together he was 10 or 15 yards ahead of me on every drive and as usual I was swinging out of my shoes and averaging 220 yards off the tee and fighting a hook. On hole 7 or 8 I decided to loosen my grips and more importantly loosen my arms and just let them hang from my shoulders. The rest of the round I hit some of the longest drives I've ever hit on my home course (260 to 280) and found my distance drastically improved. I hit a few shots thin as I hadn't gone to the range or hit balls with such a loose feel in a long time but it's amazing what stress in your arms and hands and your body in general can do to a golf swing. Anyone who asks why they hit their short irons long but their long irons and driver short should start here...loosen up!

[vbb]

[quote name='Captain Bondo' timestamp='1404998774' post='9672425']
[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1404901558' post='9664999']
I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.
[/quote]

You probably know this- but the reason you don't square the clubface when you don't use your hands is because (obviously enough) you are used to squaring the clubface with your hands.

When your swing relies on steering the club with your hands, when you stop steering it, the ball can go literally anywhere or you might even whiff it.

If you've always gripped it tight, the in conjunction with a looser grip, your swing probably needs to change such that you can get back to the ball without manipulating the club with your hands. Takes some experimentation.
[/quote]Believe it or not, and as simple as that sounds, I'd never actually thought of it like that, but it is exactly right. Thanks for the tip. And yes, it is a major change for me that I'm going to have to work a lot on before it feels anything close to comfortable.

[dlam]

[quote name='Steve Ryan' timestamp='1404780004' post='9655881']
I've heard a few different grip pressure ideas throughout the years.

I've heard to have pressure of about 2 or 3 during the backswing, then switch it to 9 or 10 during the downswing.

Others say to keep it consistent throughout the whole swing.

One thing to consider is that the grip technology has changed a lot. Some of these Winn or Golf Pride grips are so tacky now it changes how you apply grip pressure. You can hold it looser and feel that it's firmly in the hand. Older grip styles like the Lamkin Cord don't feel as tacky so you might feel like you have to grip it tighter.
[/quote]

This is what I been finding. When I swing my irons off the turf well i feel like constant pressure point in my fingers throughout the swing and really only feel the shaft.

On the other hands, with driver and deep face 3 wood off the tee-ball I feel like looser grip pressure feel 2 0r 3 pressure in my right thenar mucles and then change at the top of the swing .... build up 9-10 in the hands (minus my right forefinger and right thumb which is off the shaft )right thru contact and I feel contact of the ball beening compressed by the head. Should be able to feel a center or off center hit.

[nowitski41]

I discovered this a few years ago but my natural tendency is a death grip. Kills yardage and accuracy but somehow I always find myself gripping too hard. One measure that I've taken is to put +1/32 Winn grips on all my clubs. They are tacky so I never feel like the club is going to fly out of my hands and the added thickness helps reduce grip pressure much like the fatso grip does on the putter.

[dlam]

I been finding that changing the grip pressure too much can lead to some inconsistency.
For the driver, I been feeling like a "palm hold"with my right hand as opposed to a "finger grip" with my right hand when Im hitting off the turf works a bit better from off the tee
I can regulate any changing pressure felt in my hands and as "firm" and 'light" hold as opposed to constant "tight" or constant "loose' which is more at the fingers

[scottaz]

Grip pressure for me is an issue but the opposite of most I guess. I tend to relax my grip during the swing. I need to feel really locked in at address and try my best to keep that same grip pressure thru out. My major swing fault is the grip getting loose during the swing, especially at the top. Keeping the arms and wrist loose is rarely an issue.

The other problem I have with a looser grip is over swinging. I feel the left wrist break down at the top a bit and go back further than I want with it loose. I'm sloppy.

Everyone's 1-10 is different. I have strong hands and arms but had a pinched nerve in the neck recently and ended up getting my hand grip tested. I was in a range of 150 or so with the left and 140 in the right during that time. So my 10 is likely higher than most. But 3-4 would never work for me.

[Van Halen]

Like most things in golf, I go back to Monte's "avoid the extremes" theory. Don't grip it too light, don't give it a death grip. Somewhere comfortably in the middle.

[Van Halen]

[quote name='scottaz' timestamp='1438364562' post='12055014']
Everyone's 1-10 is different.
[/quote]

This is very true. I would think the stronger the hands, the lighter you feel you grip it.

[Ewmcdade]

[quote name='TheCityGame' timestamp='1405005279' post='9673177']
This is my favorite idea about grip pressure. . .

You know how you don't think about how hard you grip a baseball when you throw it. You just know that you don't grip it so tight that you can't throw it or grip it so loose that it falls through your fingers.

Grip your golf club like that.
[/quote]

Amen. If people are actively thinking about this lord only knows how many other pre-shot thoughts are going on.

[NoTalentLefty]

[quote name='Metalfab' timestamp='1404853103' post='9661713']The thing that really helped me is watching Tom Watson say to hold the club out in front of you and let it slide through your hands. Then get the feeling right before it will slide through your hands and using the same grip pressure, lower the club down to waist level, holding it in front of you and that is the perfect grip pressure for you. In case the way I worded this doesn't make sense, I believe it was on one of the recent "playing with the pros" episodes. This thought really helped me. I especially tend to grip the club tight because I am missing the end of all my fingers on my left hand and don't want to throw the club at someone.[/quote]

A year ahead of me. Dam.. Great post

[parmark]

[quote name='joeunc' timestamp='1404393981' post='9629515']
I too have found that when I am so into "position golf" that my hands seem to squeeze a little too much as I am so mindful of is the wrist flat, is the plane right, are the arms in front etc...This always feels like I am trying to put the club into a certain spot.

[b][i]If I take a deep breath, relax the shoulders and arms and lighten the grip, I seem to have effortless power as opposed to powerless effort.[/i][/b]
[/quote]

The Saturday course I have played for a number of years is not long, but rather tight. Usually I'm all over the place, missing both Left and Right. (it's the course we played for Monte's Chicago on course lesson earlier this year)

Using this nugget above from Joe - had one of my best three rounds at this course in the history of mankind. Hit 12 out of 14 fairways, only misses to the greens was due to taking too much club. Have gained some new found power with this thought on all clubs - not just driver.

Thanks to both Joe for this insightful info last summer and Diam for resurrecting this.

[HackerD]

I tried relaxed grip pressure, shoulders, and arms for Day 2 of senior club championship. Improved score by 12 strokes over Day 1. Even doing it on putts and putting better.

[BillyZ2]

[quote name='Tony772' timestamp='1404388094' post='9628961']
A good deal of the clubhead speed (which is directly related to distance) comes from hinging the wrists. It's very hard to hinge your wrists if your hands and forearms are tense from gripping the club too hard. I grip at 3/10 at most.
[/quote]This post says it right, gripping too tightly doesn't allow for the wrists to hinge, thus stealing club head speed and power.

[Batwing1978]

Saturday Morning i was having my coffee before our weekly round and just randomly googled " why do i pull my drives " i came across a video about grip presure, went out to the range and tried it before our t off..... WoW what a huge differance all of a sudden i feel confident in my swing, the tension is gone. The distance gain was remarkable, using my 3wood ( no confidence in the driver ) i hit 11/14 and the misses were small. Managed a 256m drive on the 18th ( hard fairways and at 1550m above sea level ) confident going into tomorrows round ! Great thread

[toad37]

This was truly a Eureka! type of a discovery for me as well. Surprising that it is not brought up more.

[TurnHard Langer]

I so wish I was capable of a light grip. I have the sweatiest palms known to man. Georgia summers are constantly sunny, 90+ degree, 90+ humidity weather plus my natural sweatiness.... that means anything less than 7/10 grip pressure and my club goes farther down the range/fairway than the ball. I've even had the club slip straight down at the bottom of the swing and stick straight out of the ground. I go through around 10 gloves per round.just to keep any grip at all. I've tried every sweat reducing spray, powder, etc on the market and nothing helps. I'm considering surgically attaching the club to my fingers.

 

Have you ever heard of Tommy Two Gloves sir? He should be a legend down there in your parts. Wear two rain gloves, f it.

 

 

I struggle with maintaining control of the club when I grip the club really lightly. It's not a "feel" that resonates with me that well, but I know it is supposed to work so I want to give it another try. I have heard that gripping the club firmly enough to have a good hold of it, but focusing on keeping the forearms, biceps and shoulders relaxed is one way to do it. Any truth to this? It seems like when I try and take a really light grip, I don't square the club face up like I should, resulting in unpredictable errant shots.

 

A light grip doesn't mean you have to be super sloppy.

[unK]

This was a biggie for me too. Personally, I had more success focusing on how 'contained' the club feels inside my hands (working almost against each other). i.e - The lightest pressure I can apply to feel the club totally locked in throughout the motion.

[DonCarnage]

The grip pressure ! It hit me like a ton of bricks on the range today, 3 on 10 max for me from now on.

[TurnHard Langer]

It's hard to drive with the parking brake on.

 

Sam Snead

[cyr67]

I wonder what the correlation between grip pressure and overall arm/torso/shoulder flexibility is? I'm not flexible and my backswing ends somewhat abruptly. If I hold the club at the 1/10 "holding a baby bird" pressure, the clubhead/grip moves all over the place at the top of my backswing. Those with greater flexibility would likely not have this problem, and could get away with lighter pressure.