Do you choke down on your clubs?

[Javs]

Found an interesting article on choking down on your clubs. This jumped out at me because I am one that likes to choke down on my clubs. I often have three distances for each of my clubs. Full, slight choke and half way choke. Also, on the days I am struggling I will immediately switch to choking down and shortening my swing to help find consistent contact. This article seemed to confirm my experience and thought I would share:
https://pluggedingolf.com/does-choking-up-improve-ball-striking-golf-myths-unplugged/

Edited April 19 by Javs

[Josh Parker]

Great little read!  I choke down if I'm in between clubs and need to gap the distance.  I will choke down on wedges to flight the ball lower and have also done it on the woods at times.  

[Javs]

12 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

Great little read!  I choke down if I'm in between clubs and need to gap the distance.  I will choke down on wedges to flight the ball lower and have also done it on the woods at times.  

Makes sense, I choke down a lot. I am a feel player. I see a shot in my mind and then take the club and set up as to how I see it going. Choking down has been a big part of how I play. It’s a carry over from baseball for me. 

[mongo312]

Was fitted for +1/2 inch length but always seem to strike the ball better when I choke down.  Probably has more to do with movement in my swing than the club length.

[Subdiver1]

There are so many directions this conversation could go during a post round stop in the bar.

Aside from that, very interesting article. I never really noticed much change based on choking up/down; I used swing lenght.

[buckpillar]

I choke down normally around the greens, usually down to the shaft or even on the shaft. This helps control length of backswing and provides excellent distance control.  Full swing depends if between clubs or a specific type of shot. 

[Javs]

51 minutes ago, Subdiver1 said:

There are so many directions this conversation could go during a post round stop in the bar.

Aside from that, very interesting article. I never really noticed much change based on choking up/down; I used swing lenght.

Agree, I found it interesting because I do it a lot. I also use swing length as well. Like I said I’m a feel player and like to play what I see in my mind. Plus, I color outside the lines so, I do a lot of unconventional things. Big part is I can replicate it so, it works for me. Sort of like using a hybrid off the green on a bad tight lie and “putting” it up close. Many ways to play this crazy game. That’s what keeps it interesting!

[RoverRick]

I’m not 100% on with it is always shorter. I chock down on the driver often on number 7. I find that feels faster off the club face, launches lower, and draws. By chocking down it changes the swing weight and may increase the ball speed. 

[Javs]

6 minutes ago, RoverRick said:

I’m not 100% on with it is always shorter. I chock down on the driver often on number 7. I find that feels faster off the club face, launches lower, and draws. By chocking down it changes the swing weight and may increase the ball speed. 

That was actually mentioned in the article 

[Rob Person]

Yes

 

, if I'm using a longer club to gap the distance (ie an 8i vs a 9i) but don't need full distance, it's easier to choke down for me then take a 3/ swing. I still want that flight path,  just not at a sacrifice on distance. (Easier to take a club than to try to blast one with the shorter club)

Also for higher lofted chips I do

[Shlax]

11 hours ago, Javs said:

Found an interesting article on choking down on your clubs. This jumped out at me because I am one that likes to choke down on my clubs. I often have three distances for each of my clubs. Full, slight choke and half way choke. Also, on the days I am struggling I will immediately switch to choking down and shortening my swing to help find consistent contact. This article seemed to confirm my experience and thought I would share:
https://pluggedingolf.com/does-choking-up-improve-ball-striking-golf-myths-unplugged/

Very interesting.

I’ve always instinctively gripped down about 1/2"-3/4" on all my clubs for as long as I can remember (think Tommy Fleetwood for example). It’s probably because I learned swinging a golf club as a kid using my father’s old clubs that were too long for me at the time and it stuck.

After reading myth #6, I realized that I still grip down on my irons despite the shaft already being 1/2" shorter than standard length (they’re the Caley 01CBs that I tested last year and they were delivered that way). I’d say this myth is indeed very plausible! There is no reason for me to choke down on these clubs (5’10" and I’ve always played standard length irons in the past) and yet, I find myself consistently doing it and I’ve never hit my irons as good as these Caley.

Edited April 20 by Shlax
Tommy* Fleetwood not Timmy

[Erin B]

I’ve been choking down on clubs for years depending on the shot I need.

[Jmikecpa]

I choke down on every shot as my clubs are technically half an inch long for me.  I have tried having them built half an inch short and couldn't adjust so I have stuck with having them longer for the last 20 years.  With my wedges I have three different positions that I use with my hands to vary the shot.

[Bobos101]

Great article and very interesting. I personally will only really choke down for 3 reasons:

1. The lie is above my feet - I do this to help with with the strike and it means I don't have to adjust my posture.
2. In a fairway bunker - This really helps to prevent me taking too much sand, this is always better than fat out of a fairway bunker.
3. In to wind - I will choke down in to the wind and club up. This helps take spin off the ball and keep the trajectory in a flight window that I want to see.

[Shifty]

full swings no.  But on wedge matrix I choke down for all partial shots.  If I want carry 3 less yards I choke down more, for 3 yards more choke up.

So my 97 yard 50 degree shot is only to 10:00 keeping my arms stiffer than full shots.  It results in around 6000 spin instead of 10000.  I find approach shots much easier than in the past since incorporating this into my game.

Edited April 22 by Shifty

[fozcycle]

I have a number for each wedge Full, Half & Quarter for PW, GW, SW & LW.

This suits my game pretty good.

[Javs]

1 hour ago, Shifty said:

full swings no.  But on wedge matrix I choke down for all partial shots.  If I want carry 3 less yards I choke down more, for 3 yards more choke up.

So my 97 yard 50 degree shot is only to 10:00 keeping my arms stiffer than full shots.  It results in around 6000 spin instead of 10000.  I find approach shots much easier than in the past since incorporating this into my game.

So, you carry 5 wedges?

[Shifty]

19 minutes ago, Javs said:

So, you carry 5 wedges?

Quite a bit yes. On my home course yes.

To get to 14 clubs I have to pick 2 out of 62, 2 iron, 3 wood, 5 wood. So course dependant. 

At my home course I usually take 62, and wind dependant on the other as hole 1 is a pretty short par 4 if you go over lots of trees but only need about 235 carry. Easy 150 lay up. I always go for it and I'd say 5 wood is in my bag the most. 62 is in unless really windy at home. 

[Javs]

29 minutes ago, Shifty said:

Quite a bit yes. On my home course yes.

To get to 14 clubs I have to pick 2 out of 62, 2 iron, 3 wood, 5 wood. So course dependant. 

At my home course I usually take 62, and wind dependant on the other as hole 1 is a pretty short par 4 if you go over lots of trees but only need about 235 carry. Easy 150 lay up. I always go for it and I'd say 5 wood is in my bag the most. 62 is in unless really windy at home. 

Interesting, but makes sense!

[Mike10487]

I might not choke down 4- or 5-times a round. I don't like a full swing (with any club) unless I am straight down wind. I tend to strike my irons better with a slightly choked grip. I am far more accurate with driver when fully choked down. I might give up 7-10 yards. I would certainly rather be in the fairway hitting a 8 instead of a 9. I personally like to flight most if not nearly all of my PW, GW and SWs. For me distance control all starts with the amount of choking down. 

[Iamsecond116]

I don’t think enough people have this concept in their arsenal of shots. When I’m between clubs I’ll choke down with the less lofted club and tend to hit the target distance. It does feel different than a “normal” swing but it’s also consistent. Great topic. 

[AverageSizedDog]

On 4/22/2024 at 4:55 PM, fozcycle said:

I have a number for each wedge Full, Half & Quarter for PW, GW, SW & LW.

This suits my game pretty good.

I appreciate this more than choking down and swinging fully. I feel more comfortable full grip and either clubbing down or half-swinging. 

[Cmra1]

I will grip down on a club to knock a couple yards off and want to keep flight down

[Cuzy51]

Yes I do

for me I am more accurate without much distance loss

[LWD]

Absolutely!  I choke down just a tad for accuracy.  I choke down more (to a specific spot on my grips, related to the placement of the logo), to take 5 yards off.  BUT, I also move my grip back almost to the butt of the shaft, when I need to "cut" the ball a bit.  If I have a severe dog leg right, I'll alter my stance just a tad, too, but that doesn't always work out well, as I have overdone it on more than one occasion!  

[edbmac]

I’ve taken to “choking down” on all of my clubs to increase control. I feel that I get better accuracy and consistent distance. In fact, I am getting more distance by doing this. I’m developing more tongue in the hitting zone. 

[JaredC]

I learned to choke down from a local pro I play with. I can honestly carry less clubs  but just choke down on the others to fill all my gaps. It works really well for me.

[StrikurJim]

  I am one who likes to choke down on my clubs. Not just for chipping or pitching, but for many different shots.  I have to admit I need to be swinging good so I know my yardages.  So, it’s not generally something I do early in the Season.  I find it helps mostly with distance control and a little with loft control.  It definitely has its advantages, and I don’t see the disadvantages to doing this as long as I am striking the ball really well.

[Willie T]

Much like the rest here - shot dependent.  Most of it is wedge related around the greens for up and down situations.  Others it’s for punch outs when in the trees and I’m just working to get back to the fairway.  Choking down is a great tool to help fine tune the game.  With that said - we’re talking hybrids down to wedges are up for a good choking down from time to time.  

[That’s Mr. Dirt]

Honestly, the only time I choked on the club is if I have to punch out of the woods, pine straw, or somebody’s backyard. If I need to dial back the distance, I’ll take a shorter backswing. Other than that, the only part of my game that I choke on is pretty much putting, short game and driving.