What makes a grip a good one?
A good golf grip is key to developing a repetitive swing that has the correct amount of power and control of the clubface.
If you write into a search engine search “how to grip a golf club” you will come up with millions of results, each with differing opinions and advice.
Weak, strong, neutral Vs pointing this way, thumbs straight down etc etc etc.
I want to add to this myriad of advice, but I want it to be a little more straightforward and personalised to each golfer that is reading this article.
My own golf grip was dismantled and “rebuilt” by my golf coach some 20 years ago to my dismay I went from a good single figure golfer with potential to a player that looked like they had just begun the game.
The reason for the change was my grip was deemed to be a “weak” right hand and a “strong” left hand, but the result of the change was far from acceptable.
I quickly returned to my grip and became a professional golfer, playing on the satellite tours, before an injury halted my progression and my attentions where turned to teaching.
I continue to have the same belief in my philosophies regarding the golf grip, believing that the grip must follow the natural tendencies of the person with whom I am working.
Let me expand on what I mean. If you are “forced” to hold the club in a certain way that is contradictory to the way your hands naturally fall, then you will be “forcing” your swing.
You need to hold the club in the way that your hands are most natural, this is the position from which they will work to their most efficient.
I do not use the knuckles or where the Vs point to judge whether a golf grip is suitable or will work for an individual.
Instead I take the client and ask them to take their posture as normal.
Remaining in the posture position I ask them to drop their club on the floor and allow their hands to hang naturally underneath their shoulders.
From here I can get a truthful reflection of how they “hold” their hands, which we will then mirror in the way the club is laced into their hands.
It is so important to remember that as amateur golfers we are looking to hit better shots, become more consistent and holding the club in such a way that is unnatural will not help us achieve the goals we desire.
Take a look for yourself and see how your hands hang naturally and try to recreate this when you grip the golf club, unlike normal changes to your grip which feel horrible, this change should just feel different, rather than awkward.
Try it for yourself and see how it feels.
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