Glove Wear

[raymo]

What's up with my grip?

Recently I noticed that my gloves tend to wear out on the bottom of my thumb. I have had my instructor look at my grip and he didn't see anything odd. I recently switch to cord grips but can someone have a look at these picks and tell my why my gloves are only wearing out under the thumb? I have short thumbs if that matters

Thanks!

[gvogel]

The club is slipping out of your hand. I used to have the same problem.

Make sure that your left hand grip is neither a palm grip or a finger grip - it has to be in between. The butt of the club should fit under the heal pad of your left hand, and you should be able to lift the club up with your left hand, with only the forefinger and the heal pad controlling the grip. I think that there is a good illustration of this in Hogan's book.

I used to get blisters on my left thumb.

My grip is a lot better now, and I don't, and I do not wear a glove. Making good ball contact will also minimize club twisting in your grip, so if your grip is good, and your ball contact is good, you will not wear out the glove, or you will not need a glove for that matter.

So, you might want to practice without a glove, to see if you can hit balls without tearing up your hand.

[raymo]

[quote name='gvogel' date='24 March 2010 - 08:33 PM' timestamp='1269488036' post='2339252']
The club is slipping out of your hand. I used to have the same problem.

Make sure that your left hand grip is neither a palm grip or a finger grip - it has to be in between. The butt of the club should fit under the heal pad of your left hand, and you should be able to lift the club up with your left hand, with only the forefinger and the heal pad controlling the grip. I think that there is a good illustration of this in Hogan's book.

I used to get blisters on my left thumb.

My grip is a lot better now, and I don't, and I do not wear a glove. Making good ball contact will also minimize club twisting in your grip, so if your grip is good, and your ball contact is good, you will not wear out the glove, or you will not need a glove for that matter.

So, you might want to practice without a glove, to see if you can hit balls without tearing up your hand.
[/quote]

Hmmm?

I did start having more of a left hand grip in the fingers. I started out with Hogan's book so I might need to review it. It's odd because I have been striking the ball well lately.

Do you try to place your left thumb down the right side of the grip or more just slightly right of top?

Thanks for the feedback

[tony_teetime]

Hold the grip in your left hand like you are holding an umbrella. For your right hand , then it should be held more in the fingers.

[raymo]

OK Guys,

I had to post a follow up because this is driving me nuts. I looked at Hogans book and several golf grip guides. I had my instructor look at my grip and he said it's ok and I need to hold the club more with my last three finger of each hand. I can definitely feel my left thumb sliding on the grip, near the top of my back swing. Almost like my right hand is coming off my left thumb because of too much hinge or my swing is just breaking down there. If I make poor contact I finish with my left thumb way to the right of the grip or almost off it. It also feels like no matter what I do to my grip this is happening still.

I tried to go hit balls with 3/4 swings and this felt OK but anything longer than that felt really awkward. Especially if I really concentrate on keeping my top hand on my left thumb. I still hit a lot more good shots than bad but I know this shouldn't be happening. I also changed to cord grips this season if that matters.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

[stone71]

Is your left thumb extended down the shaft at all?

I had glove wear in the same area, I always gripped with my left thumb extended down the shaft a little, and a strong right hand grip.

I've since brought my left thumb back so it sits snugly with the base of my left forefinger, and as a consequence my right hand grip has weakened a little so that my hands fit together on the grip properly.

No more wear in that area of the glove for me.

[raymo]

That picture I posted is a little misleading cuz my thumbs are pretty short. I did try working on more of a short left thumb grip though. It almost feels like something I am doing is pulling my top hand of the left thumb if that makes sense.

[raymo]

Update #2

I did notice that my right thumb was more along the shaft at 11:00 position and not diagonal closer to 10:00 and by making that change I seem to cover my left thumb better at the top.

Right now I think it is more ingrained bad habit of breaking down a bit at the top that I need to work on.