You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase “strengthen your grip” before. It doesn’t tell you to tighten or loosen your grip on the club. In fact, what it’s referring to is the way you place your hands on the club.
The golf grip is probably the most important choice an amateur golfer will make at the beginning of their training. The tiniest alteration to the posture of the hands has a big influence on whether the ball finishes in the forest or in the center of the fairway.
GOLF GRIP – A “V” THAT CHANGES THE GAME
The placing of the thumb and index finger of each hand on the club will indicate if you normally handle it in a strong or weak fashion (Vs). There are three different kinds of grips: strong, neutral, and weak. Just like a handshake, certainly appropriate for a gentleman’s game of golf.
Today, we will cover all three of them, why they are unique, as well as how they could assist you in correcting a problem you’re having with your swings.
Keep in mind that the following directions are created for right-handed players. In case you are left-handed, the opposite will be true for you.
‘STRONG’ GRIP
With this kind of V placement, thumbs and hands are forming shapes that point somewhere on the right side of the shaft.
Visual cue: The knuckles of the left hand are visible.
Advantages:
- Curing over the top swings and troubles with slicing the ball.
- The club face closes more during the impact phase, resulting in an improved in-to-out swing.
- This grip makes hitting shots that spin from right to left much easier.
- It is considerably simpler to strike shots that spin from right to left.
Great for: Amateurs with fast hips and players who struggle with slices and weak fades.
Using a strong grip lowers the likelihood of pushing or slicing the ball during play. With it, the club face will close, allowing for a natural draw to be achieved. The stronger your grip, the simpler it is to flex your wrists at the peak of the backswing.
‘NEUTRAL’ GRIP
The Vs are down the center line of the shaft, pointed up towards the player’s nose.
Visual cue: You can see three knuckles on each hand.
Advantages: Helps a player in “shaping the ball”.
Who should implement it: For someone who hits the ball pretty straight or perhaps prefers to play both shot shapes on the course, this grip would be an excellent choice for them. It is also suitable for the player who has good swing mechanics and does not have a lot of trouble dropping strokes in one direction or the other when playing.
It is usually recommended for players with medium hip speed.
‘WEAK’ GRIP
The Vs are positioned left of the shaft’s center.
Visual cue: The knuckles of your right hand are visible.
Advantages:
- In addition to promoting a less closed club face through contact, this style of golf grip would also promote a more out-to-in swing path.
- Players who struggle with hooked shots may benefit from a weaker grip because it promotes a club face that closes more slowly during the impact phase.
Recommended for: This grip can also help to neutralize a swing that is too much from the inside. If you are currently fighting a hook, try weakening your grip a bit and see how that changes things. For those who swing too much from the inside, this grip might assist. When battling a hook, consider loosening your grip and see how that affects things.
BALANCED GRIP EQUALS BETTER SHOTS
The most crucial thing to remember is that each grip has a distinct effect on the task at hand. It can easily become unbalanced, resulting in inconsistent shots. The grip is the first thing coaches look at while teaching, so if you’re having trouble controlling your strokes, give yourself some space to experiment with different grips.
It allows you to feel the differences, and even change your style of play for the better!
TAKEAWAY
It is critical to your performance on the golf course that you grip your golf club in the manner that best matches your swing. Gripping the golf club with a strong, neutral, or weak grip is a vital step in developing a solid swing foundation. When you book your time on the practice range, you will have to put in some time and effort to figure out which grip is ideal for you. Once you have discovered what works best for you, you will see lower scores in the future.