Part 3: A good grip helps control the club, without compromising speed

Control and speed: two key elements in any elite golfer's swing, and a good grip is vital to achieving this desirable combination.  In today's blog, we look at how a good grip helps control the club, without compromising speed...

Plenty of golfers set their grips in a way that gives them control, but they do so in a way that limits their potential for creating clubhead speed. This is where a golfer grips the club too much in the palms of his hands, rather than more into the fingers. The club feels secure in the palms, but the wrists will not be able to function effectively in the swing-therefore it becomes hard to create speed.

And, without the wrists functioning effectively, often golfers will instinctively try to use other ways to generate power; which will generally involve trying to use a lot of upper body movement.

To illustrate this, imagine (or try if you like) to throw a ball under-arm with your wrist locked. Obviously, it would be hard to throw a ball with any speed. Also, if you try it, you’ll feel how the rest of your body instinctively tries to make up for it, and you’ll work extra hard with your upper body to throw the ball. It becomes a lunge. That is effectively the golf swing that we see so often.  

Now throw again but this time, let your wrists do what they want to do naturally. It will be much more effective, but will also feel much easier. Your upper body will work, but not excessively. That is what we’re wanting in an efficient golf swing. 

And, you may have noticed too how you instinctively held the ball-In your fingers, not the palm!

So, if your grip is giving you control, but not allowing your wrist to hinge and unhinge naturally, then try to get your grip out of the palms and feel it a bit more through your fingers. You’ll be amazed at what that will unlock.  

This blog is a 4 part series on The Grip.  You can view Part 1 here or Part 2 here.  Watch out for Part 4, coming next week.  

Good Golfing!