Strong to Neutral Grip - Worth It?

[Lefthook]

I bet there are almost as many definitions of neutral here as there are posters.

[pinhigh27]

Way more good players with grips on stronger end of spectrum than weak. Can match parts to make either work but strong better for most.

[IamMarkMac]

> @pinhigh27 said:

> Way more good players with grips on stronger end of spectrum than weak. Can match parts to make either work but strong better for most.

 

Yeah, I keep hearing people say that the pros you see with strong grips are professional athletes and I wouldn't have their same athletic ability to move and time my swing but I do see plenty of good, casual golfers who use a strong grip without being particularly athletic.

Again, I don't really have any data to back that up other than what I personally see. I guess there must be some reason why most instruction, both IRL and online, are geared towards the neutral grip.

[elthrill]

I believe youll swing to match your grip. And rotation is necessary to play the game well. So you need to look at your rotation/pivot before you mess with your grip.

 

I changed mine because i was a stall flipper and once i learned to pivot correctly i couldnt matchup with my strong grip. The ball was going left of left.

[IamMarkMac]

> @elthrill said:

> I believe youll swing to match your grip. And rotation is necessary to play the game well. So you need to look at your rotation/pivot before you mess with your grip.

>

> I changed mine because i was a stall flipper and once i learned to pivot correctly i couldnt matchup with my strong grip. The ball was going left of left.

 

In my case, when I pivot correctly that's the only time the strong grip works. If the body is lazy at all, the hands cast and I'm looking at a straight left turn hook. That's actually one of the positives of the neutral grip for me. It seems to eliminate wild left as a possible shot shape.

[BB28403]

You could try Interlock in a strong grip. Strength and stability .

[farmer]

Years ago, I read an article in some magazine that addressed grip strength. The author, a well known teacher at the time, said to stand naturally with your arms hanging relaxed at your side. Look at your left hand, however many knuckles are showing is how many should show in your grip. The theory was that this was the natural way your hands would be at impact.

[howellhandmade]

Good thread for me. I’ve been “fighting” a strong grip for a while. Today I just scratched where it itched and hit the ball pretty solidly.

[gsrjc]

Can you get to a point that the grip is too strong that you actually hold off the club and the ball starts to go right so you don’t allow the toe to turn over?

[thepinkbomber]

If mechanics are sound why don't you let ball flight tell you what to do?

 

Hit balls and look for a pattern then adjust. Stop when you get the desired shape you want.

 

Each person is unique with a grip. If I took a strong grip with either hand it would hook off the planet. But take someone that has trouble closing the face then strong may help them quickly.

[JAMH03]

I think it's time for pics

[NoTalentLefty]

For me, a strong grip can work but I'm inconsistent. Get some great draws but overall my preference is the neutral grip to slightly weak grip. That is a personal preference since my start back in the 1970s and probably have problems switching. Golf is an interesting game. Look up golf grips, and what most of consider what is a proper golf grip is, more of a finger palm with top hand, all fingers in both hands, something in between. No one agrees and no one agrees on strong vs Neutral vs. in some cases a weak grip. No one way to swing a club. Love it.

[Djmc25]

On 3/26/2019 at 12:06 AM, IamMarkMac said:

So I see a lot of instructors dissuading players from a strong grip. Even single handicappers are made to weaken grips for consistency. For those who had a successful strong grip and then went to neutral, was it worth it? Or did you end up going back to strong, perhaps?

I’m also being told that a strong grip is better when you’re older. I’m almost 47 so this might be the best time to effect a “rest of my life” grip change.

For my part, I can hit good shots with a neutral grip. They are straighter and less wild for me but also at least a club in distance loss. They also don’t feel as good (solid) as a nice, full of lag, strong grip rip. But again, maybe this changes with commitment to a new grip? Thoughts anyone?

Late to this post. Switched to neutral last year after a lesson (was a struggling 6 at the time). Went to a 10. Fought the shanks. My release pattern and path didn’t match a neutral grip. 
 

I fought for 6 months to make the new grip work. Learned a ton about the swing. switched back to 2-3 knuckles ish and am ripping it again. 
 

just my experience. 

[Dwayne Williams]

My natural way of gripping a golf club is neutral. I believe mostly because I started golf by putting and took somewhat of a putting grip with all of my other clubs. I used to hit the ball fine, but was susceptible to external feedback of playing partners who encouraged me to grip the club stronger for more distance. I did that for a few years and I did hit the ball longer by about 40 yards. But everything went left. I wasn't making the greatest contact as every shot felt harsh. Last year I decided to go back to my neutral grip and it felt so great, like returning home. I have lost some distance, but my impact with the ball feels sweet again. My short game has improved and my accuracy has also improved. I should have never switched to a strong grip. Gained a lot strokes on the course over the years because of that decision.