GET A GRIP WRAP UP

So, over the past week, we’ve explored the role of both the left hand and the right hand on the grip of the club (lefties, please reverse all this, OK?). I cannot stress enough how much your ball-striking will improve if you really focus on developing sound grip fundamentals. Most golfers don’t really think about it, but your hands are the only connection you have with all that technology in your clubs. If the connection is wrong, good things just cannot happen with regularity.

Only with your left hand on the grip in a power position and the right hand on the grip in a passive position, can your wrists can hinge/unhinge and rotate back and through in the proper manner. The key is to get the hands to work together. And the basic principle of that is to have your two palms facing each other every time you grip the club. It really doesn’t matter if you feel more comfortable with a strong (rotated slightly to your right) or weak (rotated slightly left) grip, your hands can work together ONLY if they are aligned with each other.

As you practice your left- and right-hand grip independently, those positions will become more familiar. But when you put both hands on the club together, simply open them up flat and make sure the palms are on the same plane. A stronger grip will have the left palm facing downward some, toward the up-facing right palm. A weaker grip will have this plane formed by the palms to be more vertical.

I suggest the best angle for the majority of golfers is where that plane of the palms is in line somewhere between your right cheek and your right shoulder. Do your experimenting within that range and see what delivers the most desirable shot pattern for you.

Finally, when you are practicing – and playing – focus your attention on your grip pressure, and the relative control assigned to the two hands. You should feel most control of the club in the last three fingers of the left hand, with a lesser degree of firmness in the middle two fingers of the right. You should feel as little pressure in your right thumb and forefinger as possible. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, it is great practice to hit shots of all kinds – from short chips to full swing drivers – with your right thumb and forefinger completely off the grip. It will feel “weak” and funny to you, but I’ll bet dollars to donuts you will be amazed at the smoothness and rhythm this exercise brings to your swing . . . and to your results.

So, there you have “The Wedge Guy’s” take on the importance of a sound grip and the way to get one for yourself. What would you guys like me to tackle next?

Terry Koehler is "The Wedge Guy" and President of SCOR Golf- The Short Game Company.

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