Grip - EDUCATED HANDS
Get a Grip and Save Strokes
The great Ben Hogan once said: “Good Golf Starts With a Good Grip”.
The Hands are the only connection between you and the golf club. Your grip must be correct. Never take your grip for granted.
Remember that there is no one-way to hold the golf club. In the following context covering the grip I will be discussing the Overlap Grip as this is the grip that I would personally recommend to the majority of golfers but not every one.
There is no one set of rules for everyone as we are all individuals. Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods use the Interlocking Grip. Henry Cotton used a two knuckle grip yet Max Faulkner said he wish he had five knuckles.
Sewsunker Sewgolum won the Dutch Open with his hands upside down (left hand below his right hand). Greg Norman used the Overlapping Grip (as shown in the image to the right) and Russell Claydon overlaps three fingers and Dai Rees and Arthur (Art) Wall used the Baseball Grip.
Although I would recommend the Overlapping Grip for golfers I know that by understanding grip variations, I would have no hesitation in recommending a certain grip type which may be more beneficial too a player.
LEFT HAND GRIP
With the back of your left hand facing the target and the clubface aligned to the target, place the club in your left hand so that the end of the grip is placed under the muscular pad at the inside heel of the palm. The club shaft lies diagonally across the middle joint of the index finger, and just above the crease of the little finger.
Fold fingers around the club, the pad of the left thumb must be positioned on the top right side of the grip of the club. The “V” formed by the thumb and index finger should point to the right eye, allow one cm of the end of the club to extend through the left hand for better control.
The grip end of the club rests under the heel pad of left hand. All the fingers are close together. The grip of the club sits on middle joint of the left index finger.
RIGHT HAND GRIP
The picture above quite definitely shows that that the grip is positioned in the fingers of the right hand. The palm of the right hand must be parallel to the leading edge of the clubface and must face the target. The grip of the club must be placed through the middle joints of the first three fingers of the right hand.
The little finger of the right hand is hooked between the index and middle fingers of the left hand. The right hand rides high on my left hand so that both hands have melded together. Notice the gap between my right index finger and the next finger.
The ‘V’ formed between the thumb and index finger on the right hand is in line with the centre of the shaft. Two to three knuckles are visible on the left hand.
Grip Pressure is light for Swingers and tight for Hitters
The Overlapping Grip
grip variations
Overlapping Grip
Overlapping Grip
Overlapping Grip
Any number of the last fingers of the right hand may overlap any number of the first fingers on the left hand. Increasing the amount of overlap diminishes the leverage of the right hand
Interlocking Grip
Overlapping Grip
Overlapping Grip
The last finger of the right hand interlocks with the first finger of the left hand. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are two players who use the Interlocking Grip.
Baseball Grip
Overlapping Grip
Baseball Grip
Increasing the distance between the hands increases the right hand support during impact . Bob Rosberg and Arthur Wall were two great players who used a Baseball Grip
Positioning The Hands On The Club
At first it is tempting to move the Left Hand to the right to get the Left Thumb in the desired position in line with Pressure Point #3 (first joint right index finger). I overcame this temptation by not positioning the Left Thumb till I had both hands on the shaft.
Then the last thing I do is open the Right Hand slightly and then move the Left Thumb without changing the Left Hand from the Vertical to the ground position.
If you try to position the Left Thumb as you position the Left Hand it is tempting to also move the Left Hand to the right to far and loose the Vertical to the ground position.
There will be a very noticeable “GAP” between the Left Thumb and the Forefinger. It will no longer be a closed “V”. At the TOP of your backswing, you will no longer have a feeling of having the Left Thumb "under" the shaft supporting the shaft.
Keep your hands where they are but place the Left Thumb “AFT” of the shaft and see how bad it feels at first, then keeping it there hit balls getting used to it.
From the very beginning all golf professionals preached PLACING THE LEFT THUMB ON TOP OF THE SHAFT TO OFFER SUPPORT AT THE TOP OF THE SWING. What we actually want was “Support at and through Impact” not at the top of the swing.
With the Left Hand Vertical then placing the Left Thumb “AFT”, the “V” between the Thumb and Forefinger will open and the thumb will be on the same line as the Pressure Point #3 “AFT” of the shaft. If the Left Hand is Vertical then you reach across with the Thumb to get it aft on the same line as Pressure Point #3, I promise, it will not feel right at first.
The Thumb must be placed “FLUSH” on the shaft. Do not put the Thumb on so the side of the Thumb is on the shaft.
Place the Left Thumb on top of the shaft then I open my hands just enough to then reach across with the Left Thumb and place it with the “FAT FLUSH” part of the Thumb where it belongs. The "V" will be “OPEN” between the Thumb and Forefinger of the Left Hand.
Here are a Few Thoughts on the Grip
The Pressure Point #3 and Left Thumb be in the same Alignment “AFT” of the shaft. For years it has been said that the Left Thumb be on top of the shaft. This did nothing but support the shaft at the top of the swing. If it were in Alignment with Pressure Point #3, it gave the strongest support for impact during release.
Another point that I would like to make is to be very sure that the “HEEL” of the Left Hand is above or on top of the shaft.
Most golfers are guilty of placing the little finger of the Right Hand on first and then curling the rest of the fingers around the grip. This produces many bad Alignments. I want the Palm of the Right Hand placed on the Left Thumb being sure the Left Thumb in located in relation to the Pressure Point #3, not down the top of the shaft as the old timers used to preach. The Left Thumb and Pressure Point #3 must be aligned together.
At the finish of the stroke you want your students to hold the Finish Position of the swing with the left thumb under the shaft. The left thumb should be in line with the Pressure Point #3 and if it is the thumb cannot be under the shaft at the finish but aft of the shaft. The left thumb and Pressure Point #3 remains in the same position on the shaft regardless at what point it is viewed in the swing.
I encourage all golfers to keep a Flat Left Wrist at all times from Start-Up to Finish.
This is the Precision Destination from the Top of the swing to the Finish.
Placing the Right Hand on the Club
pressure points
Clubhead Control
There are THREE PRESSURE POINTS in the hands that monitor the position the clubhead and the speed of the Clubhead.
PRESSURE POINT #1
The First Pressure Point is a sense of extending or stretching your left forearm with slight pressure from your right palm. The left thumb extends down the rear of the shaft slightly toward the rear of the grip.
You fit the life line of your right palm over the left thumb with this sensing point pressing very lightly, in a straight line extending outward from the left shoulder, through the grip, down the Clubshaft, and through the centre of gravity of the clubface.
When your right palm exerts this slight pressure against the left thumb extending the grip away from your left shoulder, you will not need to have any tension in your left arm to help it remain straight and your left arm will have the same radius around your left shoulder from start up, through your backswing, downswing, and through impact.
PRESSURE POINT #2
The last three fingers of your left hand. This Pressure Point feels the motion and force of your swing, as your fingers rest softly against the back of the grip. No pressure with these fingers is needed since the grip is held in place by the heel and forefinger of your left hand. These fingers sense the cocking and uncocking of the left wrist, but they do not add or contribute any force to this motion.
The number two Pressure Point has another function as well, it monitors the cocking and uncocking of the right elbow. It only feels this hinging motion and should never add or contribute to the actual cocking or uncocking of the right elbow.
PRESSURE POINT #3
The THIRD SENSING POINT is the first knuckle of your right index finger. (your "Trigger Finger") The inside of the knuckle on your right index finger presses into the rear of the grip and senses the direction and flexing of the club shaft.
The number three Pressure Point is critical to your control of the club as it monitors the position and the speed of the Clubhead.
REMEMBER. Only hold onto the club as firmly as needed to keep it from falling out of your grip. Both left and right hand grip pressure must be light to allow for a sensitive feel and to prevent tension in your arms and body.
TOLD BY HOMER KELLEY to alex sloan
The Importance of a Sound Grip
I am certain that all golfers and students of The Golfing Machine will appreciate the following words by Homer Kelley.
AS TOLD BY HOMER KELLEY TO ALEX SLOAN
The following Article was forwarded to me by Mr. Alex Sloan (USPGA, GSED, LM).
This information was discussed and explained in detail while Alex attending the First Authorized Instructors Course in The Golfing Machine conducted by Mr. Homer Kelley.
We are extremely fortunate to have this information and to pass onto golfers of all levels.
Note: All Reference numbers and their description can be located and explained in the 7th Edition of The Golfing Machine.
At first it is tempting to move the Left Hand to the right to get the Left Thumb in the desired position in line with Pressure Point #3. I overcame this temptation by not positioning the Left Thumb till I had both hands on the shaft. Then the last thing I do is open the Right Hand slightly and then move the Left Thumb without changing the Left Hand from the Vertical to the ground position.
I must admit, in the beginning it felt weird to do this. If you try to position the Left Thumb as you position the Left Hand it is tempting to also move the Left Hand to the right to far and loose the Vertical to the ground position.
There will be a very noticeable “GAP” between the Left Thumb and the Forefinger. It will no longer be a closed “V”.
At the TOP of your backswing, you will no longer have a feeling of having the Left Thumb "under" the shaft supporting the shaft. This was a very strong No-No from Homer.
Keep your hands where they are but place the Left Thumb “AFT” of the shaft and see how bad it feels at first, then keeping it there hit balls getting used to it.
We spent quite a bit of time talking about this and from the very beginning all golf professionals preached placing the left thumb on top of the shaft to offer support at the the top of the backswing. Homer laughed at this and said what we wanted was “Support at and through Impact” not at the top of the swing.
I can see him now in my mind as he stood in front of us and showed us the Left Thumb position on the “AFT” side of the shaft and I said, "I cannot do that." He laughed at me. He then asked me, "How many of your students have said that to you?"
With the Left Hand Vertical then placing the Left Thumb “AFT”, the “V” between the Thumb and Forefinger will open and the thumb will be on the same line as the Pressure Point #3 “AFT” of the shaft (Refer to image). If you have a closed "V" of the Left Hand, it tells us you have moved the Left Hand to the right a bit to have the same feeling with the Thumb and Forefinger of the Left Hand.
If the Left Hand is Vertical then you reach across with the Thumb to get it aft on the same line as Pressure Point #3, I promise, it will not feel right at first.
This was why I told Homer I could not do it and as I looked at him, I was amazed with him. The Thumb must be placed “FLUSH” on the shaft. Do not put the Thumb on so the side of the Thumb is on the shaft. This takes some getting used to doing.
I do this, I get the VVA (Vertical, Vertical, Aft, 10-2-B) with the Left Thumb on top of the shaft then I open my hands just enough to then reach across with the Left Thumb and place it with the “FAT FLUSH” part of the Thumb where it belongs. The "V" will be “OPEN” between the Thumb and Forefinger of the Left Hand.
You need to work on this on the range till it becomes natural.
