Do you choke down on your clubs?

[schooner44]

Thank you for posting that link... It was a very interesting read.

In a recent lesson, I was asked if I always cooked down on my club and never realized I was doing it. I now try to be more consistent with where I place my hands but I will still choke down on chip shots. I do remember seeing a video of Jahn Daly talking about how many players would be better of if they went up a club but cooked down a little and did a 3/4 swing so it all makes sense.

[atmikeyp]

Around the greens, I choke down almost unconsciously. Sometimes my leading hand index finger will be on the shaft and not the grip... but I never think "where should I put my hands" it just kinda happens at this point. As for taking distance off... that always seems to backfire on me. I'll take the less lofted club, choke down, then wind up hitting it 15yds over the green because of course.

I generally find it amusing/entertaining/interesting when playing with folks who are relatively new to the game, and don't yet have the nuanced feel to make those types of adjustments. It comes naturally to me at this point, and seeing someone with a pitching wedge in hand from just off the fringe and not choking down makes me wonder what other habits (mostly bad) I have picked up over the years.

Kind of a similar thing I've noticed to new players who use the club "designed" for the shot. Last summer I saw one of my playing partners hit his sand wedge from a fairway bunker 300yds away from the green. I asked what he hit, he told me, and I asked "why a sand wedge, you had 300 yards to the green?" "Well... because i was in the sand, and that's what the sand wedge is for."

[Steve F]

I'm always at the end of the club and in fact the meat of my hand rests on the end of the grip. I grip down if the lie calls for it or if I'm in close to the green. 

[DymnDog]

I only consciously choke down for my (patent pending) punch out shot from under the trees with my 4hy and a basic chip shot move to reliably shoot the ball out low and straight about 100yds to get back on the fairway. I practice it at the range and it's saved my bacon more times than not.

["Mr. 72"]

On 5/6/2024 at 10:14 PM, AverageSizedDog said:

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

I do both. I choke down AND do half swings with my wedges.  Also with longer clubs for punching under tree limbs.

Edited May 24 by "Mr. 72"

[EnderinAZ]

Um.... No. Not because it doesn't work. Because I do not practice it and have no idea how, and  how far the ball will fly.

[Mr Lundt]

Sure.

Most irons I have a full and partial AKA choked down.

Wedges 3 positions: top, middle,bottom

Obviously depends on the shot I'm trying to pull off

Edited May 24 by Mr Lundt
Didn't swear

[Sixft9]

I occasionally will choke down on my driver if I need a fairway finder. I choke down a little and hit a "bunt fade". It seems like I always make good contact on this swing and not only find the fairway but get decent distance as well.

[Shankster]

I used to, but now there isn’t enough room at the end the grip.  My left palm partway off the club.  Even with longer clubs I do this, not sure where it came from, but if I choke down on a club the change in swing weight really screws me up. 

[Tmakris]

I am a choker for sure and have 3 levels per club that give me about 10 yards difference per club, for this reason I am only carrying 13 clubs and have not jumped on the hybrid train.  I especially do this with the wedges around the green for different feel.  The one club I will not choke down on is my putter.....not sure why just does not feel right to me.

[Mike grosdidier]

I only choke down when I am trying to hit the ball with less spin and taking an extra club, mostly into the wind

[B_Cdn]

Always a 1/2 inch down froim the butt to ensure I have full control of the grip (from a lesson many years ago) and so ensure when fitted they acomodate that in shaft length.  When the driver gets leaky, i'll choke down a little more to settle it down.   

Once upon a time i had 3 positions on my wedges, but abandoned that years ago, but I don't remember why?  Maybe i need to work on that again?

Edited May 24 by B_Cdn

[a802313]

Oddly enough I actually choke down more.on wedges than I do anything else. Obviously for some stinger or under tree shots there a choke down situation. On the norm I use all the club I can. 

[David Leighton Reid]

I also choke down on my clubs to reduce the distance and lower the ball flight.  For me, choking down an inch reduces the distance by approximately 10 yards.  

Edited May 24 by David Leighton Reid

[Beakbryce]

Choke down to take yardage off. It works most of the time. I have "nuked" a few but it always comes as a surprise. Others in this thread have reported some other standard choke up times I use like ball above the feet and in bunkers. I also choke up into high winds either front or behind to control yardage. 

Regarding the article, using the results of a limited testing pool of lowish handicap golfers to push back on golf "myths" is hardly scientifically valid. They reported some trends for those golfers but drawing any real conclusions seems problematic. Interesting though. One could wonder that by choking up, the grip is marginally smaller, particularly with the lower hand. Maybe it's as simple as we all are using a grip to large. This would account for the slightly better result for choking up a 1/2 inch as opposed to a 1/2 inch shorter club, and the similar results from choking up on a longer club.

I think it would have been more believable if they robot tested.

 

[Henri-Martin]

Choking down help me to gain better control, especially for shorter shots, or when I am between clubs for shorter irons.  It will help me to reduce the distance the ball travels. Furthermore, it’s also useful in various situations such as hitting into the wind, navigating tight fairways, or playing from awkward lies.  Finally, shorten the club makes my swing more controlled and accurate.

[bcancelliere]

I choke down on all woods for control and on the irons and hybrids for a little less distance.

[jperlin]

I choke down when I am between clubs for distance. I also choke down on wedges near the green as well as with any club when I am hitting an uphill lie.

[CsBear]

I find it awkward to choke down on my clubs which I know is my issue.  I was having trouble with consistency with my irons and my pro determined my clubs were too long for me.  So I worked on choking down on my clubs and my consistency and contact significantly improved.  I got new shorter irons and the difference was amazing.

I completely agree about making sure you are fitted with the proper length or making sure to choke down on the club if the clubs are a bit long or if you are lacking good contact.

[KINGWinston]

I choke down about a half inch or so on every club just to improve striking consistency and accuracy. I used to never but over the last couple years I've done it and noticed a huge difference. It's made me more comfortable when I need to maybe take some off a club, if I want to flight one down, I choke down a little. when it comes to short game, you HAVE to choke down on the club so everyone's answer should be yes but to what extent. 

A little drill i'll even do is to choke way down on say a 7i and work on little half and 3/4 shots. I've found those helpful trying to get the ball back in play but also put a good shot on it. If there is someone out there who doesn't choke down at all, lets hear it! We'll have to debate it haha

[poprocksncoke]

I don't normally choke down on my clubs except for wedges or trying to hit a different shot other than a normal full swing.  

[Hacker Milt]

Into the wind I almost always choke down half way with my driver.  I also tee the ball lower.  Much better accuracy!

[Douglas Stefanson]

Choke down on club from normal grip to hit it 1/2 club less distance.

 

[mrmatt2you]

Oh certain shots I will choke down.  Usually out of the woods when I am doing a punch shot.  Now that I look on my round, I would say about half my shots are punch shots.  LOL.  

Sometimes will choke down on some wedge shots so I do not dig into deep.  Maybe it is a mental thing about taking to big of a divot and I just choke down so I do not do it.  

[mpfund]

Yes on evey club. Not for accuracy or distance. I'm 5'7" & have never been fitted for clubs. The clubs I use are a standard length set soo a little too long. I'm a 9.2 handicap & would love to be fitted just always feel I'm not striking the ball good enough to get fitted 

[JBlacker]

I choke down to adjust the yardages by club and / or to tighten up my game when I am off.

[Haro]

great topic!  been thinking about it this week as I trying single length irons and arm lock putter

The choked up feeling with the putter feels very good actually 

The single length irons , the 5 /4 irons feels like I choked up cause its shorter to 6 iron length  and awkward cause I usually choke up with those club to hit a punch under the tree   

The 7/8/9 feels really odd full length and I has to choke up on the clubs to make it feel normal swing ,

Still working on the single length irons  only been on the course twice with it  but have not given up on those 

The wedges I played as standard length , I generally dont choke up unless its a shorter shot and only 1/2 inch to 1 inch  to take some yards off 

[TJ Hall]

Yes!  Situational, chipping around the green is always choked down.  If I need to take a little off a shot for a certain distance, I will also choke down and take a normal swing.

[Mike Bowgren]

Choke down on every club all the time. It’s a comfort thing. Got fitted for new irons (Callaway Ai Smoke). Got them cut 1/2” short and still choke down an inch or so. 

[braveheart]

Yes, I choke down iron shots when in between distances and around the green with wedges. I don’t practice or play enough to gauge distances with half or three quarter swing from distances not around the green. Prefer to swing fully and trust the choke down. I can maintain tempo better too.

Edited May 24 by braveheart