The purpose of the grip is to guarantee control of the club without squeezing it to death. A good golf grip activates the correct muscles of the upper hand and forearm. But since there are no muscles in the fingers (just tendons that clench/unclench the hand), when you attempt to control the club with your fingers, the squeeze is on via the muscles of the forearm. It's the heel pad of your target hand that anchors the club, relieving you of the need to apply a death grip.
You should take your grip in the following manner: Extend your arms and hold the club at a 45-degree angle in front of you with the heel pad of your lead hand on top of the handle. This places the club across the top joints of the fingers (where the fingers meet the hand). Golfers who sole the club behind the ball and then take their grip, run the risk of positioning the club too much in the palm of the hand.
Use a medium-long thumb to promote the setting of your wrists and close your left hand (opposite for lefties) around the club handle. You should find that your left thumb falls slightly to the right of the top of the handle. This places your wrist square to the clubface, which is important because when centrifugal force straightens your arms through impact, your wrist joint, elbow joint and shoulder joint seek alignment. Therefore the clubface must be set at address to prepare for the inevitable alignment of those joints. (Ignore the markings on the grip; they are not meant as guides for your hands).
Place your right hand on the club so the palm faces your left palm. Your left thumb fits in the channel formed by the heel and thumb pad of your right palm.
Takeaway: When your grip is correct, you'll have the club firmly in your control without squeezing. On a scale of one to 10, the pressure used on normal shots should be in the five range.
Dr. T.J. Tomasi is a teaching professional in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Visit his website at tomasigolf.com.
You should take your grip in the following manner: Extend your arms and hold the club at a 45-degree angle in front of you with the heel pad of your lead hand on top of the handle. This places the club across the top joints of the fingers (where the fingers meet the hand). Golfers who sole the club behind the ball and then take their grip, run the risk of positioning the club too much in the palm of the hand.
Use a medium-long thumb to promote the setting of your wrists and close your left hand (opposite for lefties) around the club handle. You should find that your left thumb falls slightly to the right of the top of the handle. This places your wrist square to the clubface, which is important because when centrifugal force straightens your arms through impact, your wrist joint, elbow joint and shoulder joint seek alignment. Therefore the clubface must be set at address to prepare for the inevitable alignment of those joints. (Ignore the markings on the grip; they are not meant as guides for your hands).
Place your right hand on the club so the palm faces your left palm. Your left thumb fits in the channel formed by the heel and thumb pad of your right palm.
Takeaway: When your grip is correct, you'll have the club firmly in your control without squeezing. On a scale of one to 10, the pressure used on normal shots should be in the five range.
Dr. T.J. Tomasi is a teaching professional in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Visit his website at tomasigolf.com.
.jpg) |
| By placing the grip under the heel pad, you free your wrists to hinge properly throughout the golf swing. |
.jpg) |
| The right-hand placement begins with a finger wrap. |
You should take your grip in the following manner: Extend your arms and hold the club at a 45-degree angle in front of you with the heel pad of your lead hand on top of the handle. This places the club across the top joints of the fingers (where the fingers meet the hand). Golfers who sole the club behind the ball and then take their grip, run the risk of positioning the club too much in the palm of the hand.
Use a medium-long thumb to promote the setting of your wrists and close your left hand (opposite for lefties) around the club handle. You should find that your left thumb falls slightly to the right of the top of the handle. This places your wrist square to the clubface, which is important because when centrifugal force straightens your arms through impact, your wrist joint, elbow joint and shoulder joint seek alignment. Therefore the clubface must be set at address to prepare for the inevitable alignment of those joints. (Ignore the markings on the grip; they are not meant as guides for your hands).
Place your right hand on the club so the palm faces your left palm. Your left thumb fits in the channel formed by the heel and thumb pad of your right palm.
Takeaway: When your grip is correct, you'll have the club firmly in your control without squeezing. On a scale of one to 10, the pressure used on normal shots should be in the five range.
Dr. T.J. Tomasi is a teaching professional in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Visit his website at tomasigolf.com.
|
| By placing the grip under the heel pad, you free your wrists to hinge properly throughout the golf swing. |
|
| The right-hand placement begins with a finger wrap. |