Question:
I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately. Thanks! Brent Hutto
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately.
I would do the same (normal for 1,2,3 & putting grip for 4,5), except for maybe a slightly more neutral grip for #3. JL
Response:
1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway
Normal 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat
green Normal 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green
Normal 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green
Normal 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt
Are you kidding me? I use the CLAW. What else would you use?
Response:
I have a hard enough time making consistent golf swings with one grip. I can’t imagine how much more I would complicate matters if I was always changing the type of grip I took. I have two grips — the one I use on clubs with grooves, and the one I use on my putter. KISS. Randy RSG-ATLANTA Information: http://www.YouGoGolf.com/rsg-atlanta.htm Charter Member, RSG "Clique" Night Watchman, FIAC My RSG Roll Call profile: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/brownr.htm RSG FAQ: http://ttsoft.com/thor/rsggolf.html Voiceovers/Narration/Production Services: www.RandyBrownProductions.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately. Thanks! Brent Hutto
Response:
Brent, I use only two grips: one for my irons and woods, and one for my putter. You will find that different pro players and teachers will sometimes advocate slightly altering the grip to hit different shots (a fade, a draw), but this is for advanced players. I agree with Randy in that it’s best to keep it simple until/unless you’re very proficient. A draw and fade can also be promoted by altering your stance while keeping the same grip. Michael
<lead-in to grip question snipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately. Thanks! Brent Hutto
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately. Thanks! Brent Hutto
If you use the same strength grip for your driver that you do for an iron shot played more to the right of where you tee your drives, you will probably duck hook your drives, since the further-forward ball position of the drives naturally closes the arms more to the left by the time the arms get to impact. Driving requires a weaker grip for the clubface to be square if the ball is forwarder than for irons. Putting is a different animal entirely. Since chippng usually places the ball further back in the stance, a STRONger grip is needed there in order for the face to be closed for impact, or it will stay wide open if not manipulated shut. Just a geometrical reality of the amount of rotation of the arms which is a function of ball position/impact position. FWIW George Hibbard www.perfectimpact.com
Response:
I use only two grips: one for my irons and woods, and one for my putter. You will find that different pro players and teachers will sometimes advocate slightly altering the grip to hit different shots (a fade, a draw), but this is for advanced players. I agree with Randy in that it’s best to keep it simple until/unless you’re very proficient. A draw and fade can also be promoted by altering your stance while keeping the same grip.
I asked my teacher once about working the ball. His immediate comment was, "Yes, I want to see you work the ball all right. I want to see you work it into ahigh draw on every shot". He went on to say that most of the changes to make the ball fade or draw were mostly alignment and not grip. He also pointed out that when you want to open the club face (for instance on a bunker shot with a wedge) you don’t want to weaken the grip itself relative to your body and the target line. Rather, you use the usual strong grip but rotate the club so the club face is open to the target line while the back of you hand points down the target line in the usual way (I didn’t make that very clear but hopefully you know what I mean). It doesn’t matter, though. I’m still working on getting that high draw on every shot. That’ll probably take another 10 years at the rate I progress… Brent Hutto
Response:
If you use the same strength grip for your driver that you do for an iron shot played more to the right of where you tee your drives, you will probably duck hook your drives, since the further-forward ball position of the drives naturally closes the arms more to the left by the time the arms get to impact. Driving requires a weaker grip for the clubface to be square if the ball is forwarder than for irons.
I’m usually with you on the things you post; some fit my swing some don’t (that’s golf 8]), but are you sure??? I’ve seen quite a few players that slice the CR*P out of their drivers but hit their irons fairly well. Are you basing your statements on any path, or just inside out? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Putting is a different animal entirely. Since chippng usually places the ball further back in the stance, a STRONger grip is needed there in order for the face to be closed for impact, or it will stay wide open if not manipulated shut. Just a geometrical reality of the amount of rotation of the arms which is a function of ball position/impact position. FWIW George Hibbard www.perfectimpact.com
Thanks, Tony Should have been easy, but its golf "A day without hitting golf balls, is a day longer to getting better" – Hennie Bogan "Hogan was really talkative today. Yeah? What’d he say? You’re still out!"
Response:
I use three different grips. I putt with my left forefinger pointing down and overlapping the fingers on my left hand; I hit my normal shots (woods, longer irons down to the wedge) with a somewhat strong grip; and I hit my Pelz finesse shots (less than full swing short game shots) with a dead-neutral grip. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m curious about how people grip the club for different shots and would like to do an RSG poll. Imagine the grip you would use to hit a 5-iron with the ball teed up on a medium-length Par 3. No wind, flag is in the exact middle of a large green, no special difficulties. Just a straightforward shot that you want to hit your nominal 5-iron distance. Let’s call that your "normal" grip. In which, if any, of the following situations would you use your "normal" grip as defined above? No wind or other complications to worry about, you just want to hit a good-quality straightforward shot at the target in each situation. 1) Hitting a tee shot with a driver aiming right down the middle of a wide, level fairway 2) Hitting a full pitching wedge to a flag in the middle of a large, flat green 3) Hitting a pitch and run shot with a wedge that flies 30 yards to land on the green and then rolls 10 more yards to a flag in the back of the green 4) Hitting a chip shot (with an iron or wedge) to a flag 50 feet away from good, clean lie 10 feet off the green 5) Stroking a 20-foot putt My answer is that I use my "normal" grip for situations 1, 2 and 3 and use my "putting" grip for situations 4 and 5. Or at least that’s my intention. I have realized recently that I have an "abnormal" version of my usual grip that I tend to use in situation 3 and occasionally in situation 2. Not surprisingly, I’ve been mis-hitting shots in those situations lately. Thanks! Brent Hutto
– Mike Dalecki RSG-Wisconsin 2001 Info: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis I do not patronize spammers! Help keep RSG clean. Expect the same etiquette from me on RSG as on the golf course. RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm
Response:
He also pointed out that when you want to open the club face (for instance on a bunker shot with a wedge) you don’t want to weaken the grip itself relative to your body and the target line. Rather, you use the usual strong grip but rotate the club so the club face is open to the target line while the back of you hand points down the target line in the usual way (I didn’t make that very clear but hopefully you know what I mean).
I’m really confused. If I use a weak grip, that means, I think, that I turn my hands towards the target while aligning the clubface, so that when I come through square, the clubface will be open. It adds up to rotating the club. So I don’t quite understand what the distinction is between what I’m saying and what your pro said. Also, while I’m up: What’s his advice on hitting off of damp sand? That’s been giving me a lot of grief lately. TIA, Peter
Response:
I putt with my left forefinger pointing down and overlapping the fingers on my left hand
I sure hope you mean overlapping the fingers on your right hand. Otherwise, this staggers the imagination!
Response:
I’ve got a REALLY long left forefinger! Nah, you’re right, I screwed up. Mike I putt with my left forefinger pointing down and overlapping the fingers on my left hand I sure hope you mean overlapping the fingers on your right hand. Otherwise, this staggers the imagination!
– Mike Dalecki RSG-Wisconsin 2001 Info: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis I do not patronize spammers! Help keep RSG clean. Expect the same etiquette from me on RSG as on the golf course. RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm
Response:
Mike Dalecki – "RSG Proctoligist"… — Joe Cartpath – www.joecartpath.com Basic Golf Clubmaking & Memphis Area Golf Course Guide and….The Memphis MG Page…
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve got a REALLY long left forefinger! Nah, you’re right, I screwed up. Mike I putt with my left forefinger pointing down and overlapping the fingers on my left hand I sure hope you mean overlapping the fingers on your right hand. Otherwise, this staggers the imagination! — Mike Dalecki RSG-Wisconsin 2001 Info: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis I do not patronize spammers! Help keep RSG clean. Expect the same etiquette from me on RSG as on the golf course. RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm
Response:
He also pointed out that when you want to open the club face (for instance on a bunker shot with a wedge) you don’t want to weaken the grip itself relative to your body and the target line. Rather, you use the usual strong grip but rotate the club so the club face is open to the target line while the back of you hand points down the target line in the usual way (I didn’t make that very clear but hopefully you know what I mean). I’m really confused. If I use a weak grip, that means, I think, that I turn my hands towards the target while aligning the clubface, so that when I come through square, the clubface will be open. It adds up to rotating the club. So I don’t quite understand what the distinction is between what I’m saying and what your pro said.
At one of my earliest golf lessons, my teacher wanted me to hit some shots from the bunker. He was showing me the setup to use and told me to open the face of the wedge. At first, I tried to do it by starting from a normal grip and alignment and then rotating my forearms to make the face (which really is strengthening the grip). That doesn’t work. So my next impulse was to use a really weak grip by rotating my forearm the other way and then address the ball with the club face pointed to the target but my grip weakened until no knuckles were showing. That doesn’t work either. So the correct thing is to have the same strength grip as usual (however many knuckles are usually showing) but with the club face pointing open to the target line (left of target for left-handers like me, right of target for you right-handers). The idea is that your swing will automatically try to bring your hand through impact at its usual orientation no matter how you start out. So arrange the club to be open when that happens. Sorry, I’m doing a terrible job of explaining what I mean. He had to show it to me several times to get me doing it right. And I still have trouble getting a consistent address position with an open club face. Also, while I’m up: What’s his advice on hitting off of damp sand? That’s been giving me a lot of grief lately.
I don’t know what my teacher would say. If the sand is just a little damp I use a pitching wedge (almost no bounce) and proceed like a normal bunker shot. If the sand is packed down to hard pan I just chip the ball out. Don’t know what the preferred technique is for good bunker players. Brent Hutto
Response:
If you find a 5-iron up there…we know whose it is. And: read the card, read the card! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike Dalecki – "RSG Proctoligist"… — Joe Cartpath – www.joecartpath.com Basic Golf Clubmaking & Memphis Area Golf Course Guide and….The Memphis MG Page… I’ve got a REALLY long left forefinger! Nah, you’re right, I screwed up. Mike I putt with my left forefinger pointing down and overlapping the fingers on my left hand I sure hope you mean overlapping the fingers on your right hand. Otherwise, this staggers the imagination! — Mike Dalecki RSG-Wisconsin 2001 Info: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis I do not patronize spammers! Help keep RSG clean. Expect the same etiquette from me on RSG as on the golf course. RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm
Response:
Nope, not a terrible job at all. I got it now. So, at address, my hands are in their usual position, but the club face is pointed (for a right-hander) way off towards the right. That’s the effect of weakening the grip by turning the hands towards the target while keeping the clubface square. Then, when the hands come back in the downswing, the clubface will be open as the hands come through square. Thanks. I think I’ve been turning my forearms also in the bunkers. Funny I never thought of that at the time, since when I want to hit a draw, I have no problem strengthening my grip while keeping the clubface square. But in the bunker…hmmm, I dunno. But now I’ll pay much more attention to it (if, that is, I ever get into a bunker again! :) ) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – He also pointed out that when you want to open the club face (for instance on a bunker shot with a wedge) you don’t want to weaken the grip itself relative to your body and the target line. Rather, you use the usual strong grip but rotate the club so the club face is open to the target line while the back of you hand points down the target line in the usual way (I didn’t make that very clear but hopefully you know what I mean). I’m really confused. If I use a weak grip, that means, I think, that I turn my hands towards the target while aligning the clubface, so that when I come through square, the clubface will be open. It adds up to rotating the club. So I don’t quite understand what the distinction is between what I’m saying and what your pro said. At one of my earliest golf lessons, my teacher wanted me to hit some shots from the bunker. He was showing me the setup to use and told me to open the face of the wedge. At first, I tried to do it by starting from a normal grip and alignment and then rotating my forearms to make the face (which really is strengthening the grip). That doesn’t work. So my next impulse was to use a really weak grip by rotating my forearm the other way and then address the ball with the club face pointed to the target but my grip weakened until no knuckles were showing. That doesn’t work either. So the correct thing is to have the same strength grip as usual (however many knuckles are usually showing) but with the club face pointing open to the target line (left of target for left-handers like me, right of target for you right-handers). The idea is that your swing will automatically try to bring your hand through impact at its usual orientation no matter how you start out. So arrange the club to be open when that happens. Sorry, I’m doing a terrible job of explaining what I mean. He had to show it to me several times to get me doing it right. And I still have trouble getting a consistent address position with an open club face. Also, while I’m up: What’s his advice on hitting off of damp sand? That’s been giving me a lot of grief lately. I don’t know what my teacher would say. If the sand is just a little damp I use a pitching wedge (almost no bounce) and proceed like a normal bunker shot. If the sand is packed down to hard pan I just chip the ball out. Don’t know what the preferred technique is for good bunker players. Brent Hutto