Clean contact?

pakman

Hi All,

I have been taking lessons to try and get my swing in order and get a cleaner contact with the ball and can only seem to achieve anything when I take the 'hold the club like tube of toothpaste' type of grip.

I was wondering what was the best hold as I am reading loads of different stuff out there.

The problem is I can't get any extra distance with loose grip without tensing up and running the risk of mis-hitting. How gently should I be gripping the club?

The other thing is breaking the wrists early seems to help me but wondering if that's bad practice too.

Paul

ForeRight

I try hold the club like a child's hand crossing the road

pakman

I just find it really difficult to have confidence in the shot when taking it so lightly. Its easy on the range with no consequences but a lot harder to go with out on the course.

Slicemeister

Swing as hard as you can around your hips upright and loosen your grip until you feel you can hold onto the club without leaving go. That's at full pelt. Bring this grip to your ball.
That's what worked for me until I didn't question my grip pressure any more.

PokeHerKing

Why would you ever grip a golf club lightly? I strangle the life out of it!

pakman

Slicemeister wrote: »

Swing as hard as you can around your hips upright and loosen your grip until you feel you can hold onto the club without leaving go. That's at full pelt. Bring this grip to your ball.
That's what worked for me until I didn't question my grip pressure any more.

I'm guessing that approach is best tried when driving range is empty so I can go collect my club when it flies out of my hand .

Cheers, I'll give it a go and see how I get on. Looser does seem better as I was always hitting the ground before hand but needing more club to get where I want to. Suppose its probably just a tempo thing.

GreeBo

Unless you consciously let go you won't lose the club, you will tighten your grip subconsciously at impact.

John Divney

The pressure is different for all players, the point is you need to grip it firmly enough that the pressure is constant.

It also can 'to be springing loose at the top or slipping at impact.

The best reason for constant pressure is the hands aren't triggered and the club releases under the turning forces naturally, not the hands manipulating a release.

agusta

pakman wrote: »

I'm guessing that approach is best tried when driving range is empty so I can go collect my club when it flies out of my hand .

Cheers, I'll give it a go and see how I get on. Looser does seem better as I was always hitting the ground before hand but needing more club to get where I want to. Suppose its probably just a tempo thing.

I wouldnt be inclined to use the term "loose" as the club can break down in your hands on the top of your swing.The best grip instruction i think is the chapter on the grip in ben hogan five lessons book.minimal pressure in the right forefinger and right thumb.

On a scale on 1 to 10 ,1=superlight 10=supertight . grip pressure should be 4 or less

dan_ep82

I find I'm gripping the club looser compared to when I started.

The difference was a correct grip for me, when I had a bad grip I had to hold on more as it didn't feel like it would stay in place.

SaveOurLyric

In one of Sam Snead's books he describes holding the grip as if you were holding a small bird - tight enough not to let if fly away, but gently enough that you wouldnt hurt it.
Its a good analogy I think.

ForeRight

SaveOurLyric wrote: »

In one of Sam Snead's books he describes holding the grip as if you were holding a small bird - tight enough not to let if fly away, but gently enough that you wouldnt hurt it.
Its a good analogy I think.

That's exactly what I mean when I say I hold the club like is hold my child's hand crossing thd road.
Hard enough that they can't run away but soft enough that you are not hurting them.

PokeHerKing

SaveOurLyric wrote: »

In one of Sam Snead's books he describes holding the grip as if you were holding a small bird - tight enough not to let if fly away, but gently enough that you wouldnt hurt it.
Its a good analogy I think.

Ben Hogan said "what Sam Snead didn't tell you is that the baby bird is a hawk."

Strong grip and soft wrists/arms is the advice I follow but Im crap so never mind...