From the putter to the driver to the irons, the grip is the most important thing you need to worry about. You might as well have the best clubs in the world that won’t make a big difference with an incorrect grip. Some golfers sometimes tend to neglect this aspect of their game. Yet, the impact of a good grip on your hitting balls will be directly felt.
This is why I suggest you here correct the 3 most frequent grip errors in the golfer.
From beginner to seasoned golfer, it never hurts to get back to the basics. A little technique can make a big difference on the course. A good grip allows you to gain distance with your driver, precision with your irons, and efficiency inputting, so why go without.
Table of Contents
1# Problem: Left-Hand Position
If I have to give one piece of advice to average players, especially those who are slicing or lacking distance, it is important to place the left hand on the grip. The left hand is the first point of contact between the golf club and the player. It is the essential assembly to be able to arm the wrists and swing correctly. The problem is that a good grip can be misleading, which is correct may be faulty.
You can’t tell without opening your fingers and taking a look inside your hand or, more precisely, your glove. Take a good look at your left-hand grip. Take the golf club, as usual, open your hand and check the position of the club. If the handle crosses your palm, I bet your left wrist is having a hard time arming properly.
This defect costs both distance precision. Evidence of your mistake often results in rapid wear of the glove on the fleshy part of the palm. No one wants to change gloves constantly.
Solution: A Good Grip For A Good Swing
Take a relaxed position, lean forward with your arms naturally relaxed. You will find that the palms of the hands are facing slightly inward.
Take a golf club and place it along with the left hand’s fingers, with the clubface parallel to the forearm’s back. At the same time, place your thumb directly on top of the grip or slightly to the right without extending it over the grip. To get good leverage during the swing, a “short” thumb is more effective than a thumb lying on the grip.
With this new grip, hold the golf club in front of you. You should only see two or three joints of the fingers and the back of the hand. And better feel the weight of the clubhead.
But the real difference is in the inside of the hand. By opening your fingers again, you will understand better. The handle now rests diagonally, between the little finger’s base and the index finger’s middle. Although still a bit of a palm position, this better grip on the club improves wrist flexibility and allows for efficient cocking, to deliver maximum speed upon impact.
2# Problem: Right-Hand Position
In a good golf swing, both sides of the body play an equally important role. To achieve these symmetries, the hands must work together.
Indeed this is a problem for many naturally right-handed players. They tend to hold the club in the palm of the right hand as if it were a hammer. In other words, the right hand dominates the left hand. While such a club grip gives the impression of power, it creates a series of problems that effectively negate any power during the swing. The most serious thing is that the right hand tears the club off the ground, destroying the range and rhythm of the movement.
A jerky start changes the clubface’s alignment and forces you to force your upper body from the start of the descent to get back into the ball.
To effectively bring both hands together, the right hand must be placed in a neutral position to enjoy a coordinated movement of both hands and the body.
Solution: Hold The Club With Your Fingers
For better sensations and a better connection with the left hand, the right-hand grip is mainly done with the fingers. The handle rests diagonally, from the little finger’s base to the middle of the index finger. By closing the right hand, the left thumb is completely covered by the fleshy part located under the right hand’s thumb.
Also, while holding the club, check that the hands are now parallel. You should now see a slight gap between the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The index finger is thus hooked to the club in what is called a “trigger” position, its end touching that of the right thumb. Thus the index finger and the thumb will bring the maximum of sensations in the right hand. Wiggle your clubhead a bit, and you will feel what I mean.
Whether you adopt the superimposed grip, the interlocking grip, or the baseball grip (with 10 fingers), this way of handling the club greatly reduces the risk of tearing the club’s head at the start. It brings the hands to work together.
3# Problem: Loose Grip During The Swing
Have you ever felt a loosening of the club during the swing? If so, then the problem is serious. Any release of the hands instinctively leads to having to “recognize” at some point, which distorts the clubhead’s alignment before impact. Hitting the ball correctly is then a matter of chance.
Most of the time, the club’s loss of control occurs at the top of the climb. It is particularly common in players with a tendency to “overswing”. As a general rule, this defect can have origins: either the right thumb releases its pressure on the left thumb, or the left hand comes off the grip.
Solution: Pressure Points
No teacher worth his salt will advise you to strangle your club. However, to control it, some specific pressure points are needed.
So here is one of my advice: at address, the last three fingers of the left hand should firmly surround the end of the grip: their job is to ensure a constant left-hand position. Likewise, the lifeline in the palm of the right hand should lightly squeeze the left thumb. Finally, you should feel the pressure of the right index finger around the grip. The entire grip is then locked.
To check for these pressure points during the entire swing, here’s an easy way, use some long grasses. Place them between the last fingers of the left hand and the right hand (under the club), passing through the space between the right thumb and left thumb (on the club). There are plenty of videos and tips on this topic available on the web if you want to learn more.
Once the grip is in place, hit a few half strokes with your clubs, constantly maintaining pressure throughout the movement so that the blades of grass stay in place. At the end of the movement, check that the hands are still in the same position as at the address. With a full swing, you will begin to feel the benefits of good club control.
You now have the keys in your hands to correct your mistakes before heading back to the course. Remember that the club does not matter: driver, wood, irons, putter, the grip is essential in the success of your shot.
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