How hard do you grip the club?

[StrokerAce]

I was browsing around on youtube the other day and looking for things other than TXG videos (haha!) and ran across this one by Shawn Clement.

 

 

He talks about grip pressure and actually gripping the club tighter....which made me think. 

I've heard all of the "don't grip the club tight as it causes tension in the swing and that's not good" talk...and that is fine when you have a precise (note: 100 yards and in) shot but when you want to give-it-all-you-got it makes sense to grip it a little harder.

 

So.... have you tried varying your grip pressure?  Have you tried gripping the club harder for longer shots? 

 

I tried it and was actually quite pleased with the results.  I felt I had better control of the face and could make firm contact with the ball.

If 10 is strangling the club and 1 is letting it fly out of your hands I was probably at a 9 from 150 and out and about a 6 inside of that.

How about you?  Have you tried it?  What is your scale?

 

 

 

 

[Canucklehead]

I like to think I have a firm grip (5-6/10) on the club. When my grip is too light, it feels like the club is slipping around in my hands a bit. With partial shots, I try to lighten it a hair, but still have a pretty firm grip

 

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[PlaidJacket]

I like Clement and have watched many of his vids. It's interesting to me Stroker that you brought this up today. Recently I have been experimenting some which a lighter grip pressure. And, I'll say I have had mixed results going lighter. Normally I'd guess I grip at about an 8 on most fulll irons and my driver. If anything my tendency would be to use too much pressure I believe. But playing with a pressure of 8 I have been consistent and played well. It's when I get too tense and tight in the grip where things can go wrong.

 

I think I actually like a lighter feel holding the club - more relaxed hands. I also think I gain some distance being more relaxed. However and at this time I'm not producing reliable shots for the most part. I think it's mostly due to being slightly uncomfortable knowing that I'm trying something different. Too me I think being able to use less grip pressure relieves tension and offers better release. As we all know... you're not going to fling the club out of your hands using lighter grip pressure. You mind won't let that happen.

 

Interesting topic put up by Stroker. Perhaps each of us finds a different grip pressure that works. As we all know; one size does not fit all in this game.

[Shankster]

I'm probably a 5 out of 10 with my left hand, and a 2-3 with my right. If I'm hitting a stinger or punch (fades only) I'll grip a little tighter. Like 8 and 5.

[PlaidJacket]

I was looking for that video Topline....

I've seen Tom demonstrate this many times. That's exactly what came to mind when I posted my comment above.

I have been a 10-finger/full finger grip guy for the past few years. Even so... you can still lighten your grip pressure. Doesn't matter how many fingers you hold the club with IMO.

[tony@CIC]

I used to have a 'white knuckle' grip which had disaster out results. Now I'm probably a 5 or 6 depending on the club.

 

 

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[Gg Owen]

Normally very firm.Easily 8/10, and when I rough or bunker 10/10.My teacher Don Trahan really pushed a strong pressure grip on me at his clinics.Was an odd change from the norm.But was able to feel the club face throughout the whole motion this way.A minor change that really did wonders for my game

[HardcoreLooper]

Fairly light for me. Like 5/10. Any tighter and there's too much tension in my forearms to release the club. Short shots about 3/10.

 

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[PING Apologist #9]

Good stuff all. I watched the vids and actually integrated a 100% "death" grip today like Shawn Clement, and it actually showed dividends with driver, FW & even irons! I was working on other aspects of my swing at the same time, but it sure seemed to help on the times I used it. Keep it coming out there!

[russtopherb]

I got into Shawn's teaching a few years back, bought 2 of his DVD sets but not a lot clicked for me in the end. I did, however, like the strong grip with firm pressure and integrated that, and when I found Sam Goulden's stuff he advocated the same. 

 

When I took lessons, I was told not to think about doing anything with my hands and wrists, to just let the club set naturally. The less moving parts, the better So a firm grip works well for me. It may cost me distance, but I've found over time that it leads to more consistent shots. 

[palvord]

My first lesson I took, my teacher commented on how hard I was gripping the club and how hard I swung the club. Probably too much life in other sports where finesse wasn't a complete necessity.

 

Now I'm about 6-7 on my grip pressure and have combined that with my new swing and am trying to actually understand how finesse and relaxation helps rather than being tense through the swing.

 

 

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[perseveringgolfer]

Topical post

 

I'm a light pressure grip guy for short irons and putter.

 

I am a poor short irons and putter user.

 

Just last week I gripped tighter on both as it feels natural and results are so much better, I feel I control the head rather than the other way around lol

 

I've always heard, and its been drummed into me for years, light grip, soft hands etc etc but I think you should use whatever feels natural to you. Would you grip lightly with a hammer or an axe chopping wood or with anything you swing hard with? doubt it! so why grip softly and lightly swinging a lump of metal at 95mph into the ground?

[perseveringgolfer]

SC in OPS video goes from 260yd carry to 282yd carry with the same swing but gripping tighter- I dont buy it, def doesnt look like even a 262 carry. Couldnt see his SS but maybe the quad is set up for altitude.

[HeathS16]

I honestly don't even think about grip pressure just whatever comes naturally that day. I know for a fact I am certainly on the firmer grip side.

 

 

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[Charli]

I think it varies with the type of shot I'm trying to

Hit. And I'm not even sure it's on purpose. I can tell on the wedges if I'm too strong of a grip I'll pull the ball.

[StrokerAce]

I think that is one of the great things about golf - it is a sport in which there is no right or wrong way....just "your" way.  For every Adam Scott there's a Jim Furyk....For every Louis Oustheizen there's an Arnold Palmer.

It seems that whenever someone says do it "this" way you can find someone that does it the opposite way and has some level of success.

My question wasn't how hard should I grip the club it was more to get a pulse on how hard others do.  

As was stated - do what you do ... no right or wrong way!

[russtopherb]

Counterpoint - professional golfers practice sometimes 8 hours per day 5-7 days per week. Using them as a base may not always be the best method for someone who plays 3-4 rounds per month.

 

Many of us are not built like tour players, nor do we have access to their swing coaches. Sometimes an “unorthodox” setup grip or swing allow golfers to get around the course enough to have fun and enjoy themselves.

 

Looking at the grips of various tour players run the gamut from extremely weak to extremely strong. Likewise with pressure. So there is really no “correct” or preferred grip if you look at it from that perspective. If you look at Bryson, he grips the club in the palm of his hand which many consider a no-no. Yet he's playing quite well. So what's the fundamental there?

 

 

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[StrokerAce]

Yes and no.

It is true there have been and continue to be a few successful Tour players using unorthodox technique.

However, the overwhelming majority of Tour players use time honored traditional sound fundamentals, such as grip-posture-alignment, as the foundation for all their golf shots.

Lee Trevino readily admits that his unorthodox style requires much, much more practice time than that someone using sound fundamentals.

The reason it's worth learning sound fundamentals is that they make an effective swing much easier to learn and maintain.

 

@Topline - I think we'll just have to disagree on this one.