Matt Fitzpatrick driver grip. ( WTH )

[MARC223]

What’s going on here?

[TheBiles]

He uses it as a training aid. 

[tatertot]

Are we ignoring the Flava Flav necklace?

[Fairways_and_Greens]

30 minutes ago, TheBiles said:

He uses it as a training aid. 

So crazy that it's a question. Couldn't put it in play if he wanted to.

[urjc22]

Why couldn’t he put it in play?  While grips need to mostly be round, with the advent of the align and ribbed grip, has anyone actually tried something like this and been called out?  Would be interesting to hear the USGA rational.  

Edited August 19, 2023 by urjc22

[tatertot]

1 minute ago, urjc22 said:

Why couldn’t he put it in play?  There is nothing that precludes you from playing a putter grip on another club. 

Actually, there is ... All other grips have to be round.

[urjc22]

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

[tatertot]

7 minutes ago, urjc22 said:

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

I was actually wrong ... The wording does not say round, but "circular" ... Even with the reminder ridge, these grips are clearly circular.

[ShAMbotay]

5 minutes ago, urjc22 said:

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

It has to do with having a non-uniform flat or shaped portion of the grip. A rib is uniform, and could be considered a part of a normal grip structure or cosmetic. Would you ban the CPX? or perhaps the SuperStroke swing grips? Maybe even any sort of leather swing grip from Gripmaster or Best Grips? Because those all fall in the same category as a ribbed grip. They're not technically quite round. Putter grips have a flat "paddle" to them, and then you get to weird training aids that are sculpted.

There's a certain amount of leeway given into what constitutes "round" but any sort of flat paddle portion is off limits outside of a putter. That Flat Cat grip is pretty unhinged. Imo, I wouldn't ever want to put it on a putter, and it definitely is way out of line to use on anything other than a putter.

[TheBiles]

30 minutes ago, urjc22 said:

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

It’s pretty clearly defined. 
 

 

[urjc22]

If you think that is clear…haha.  It shouldn’t need a paragraph to explain.  It is either round or it’s not.  Pretty simple. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

While that's not necessarily a grip trainer.... Grip training aids are quite useful. Every golfer should have one in the bag for periodic use at least on the range. I'll use them every now and again during a round when I feel like I'm unable to get a good grip. Obviously, I couldn't do that if I were competing, but range time almost always involves a grip trainer for the driver and as needed for correction on other clubs.

It helped me today immensely with my 5-Iron as I noted I was getting poor contact. It helped get my index finger and thumb on the right hand in the right position by memory so I could get pure strikes. Amazing how that one little thing can make or break a swing; but it can.

 

It won't magically fix other flaws, but it'll help you eliminate the flaws that show up due to a poor grip.

People use alignment sticks; why do grip trainers make golfers feel like lesser golfers? Maybe now after seeing this they won't. 😄

Edited August 19, 2023 by Mikey_HACKilroy

[mkidding]

Hmm so the Golfpride "Align" series is actually just visual?

[grm24]

2 hours ago, Mikey_HACKilroy said:

Every golfer should have one in the bag for periodic use at least on the range.

 

I'll use them during every now and again during a round when I feel like I'm unable to get a good grip.

 

Obviously, I couldn't do that if I were competing,

 

So you freely admit to breaking the ROG by using a training aid during your rounds of golf competing or not? Note that your actual words are quoted above.

 

Are you penalizing yourself for breaking the ROG? Are you accurately recording those scores (requisite penalties included) for your index purposes under the ROG? Or are you just keeping a vanity handicap index?

 

Hmmm. Points to ponder. Care to further explain/justify your rule breaking since you must have an accurate index for "competing" no? 🤣

Edited August 19, 2023 by grm24

[BURKMI19]

10 hours ago, tatertot said:

Are we ignoring the Flava Flav necklace?

Haha yea for sure.  I actually use this training aid, it's really good.  Tuck that ball in between the arms and keeps them perfectly spaced through the swing.  You can actually hit driver with it.  Really good to use for wedge practice, forces you to properly use the body together for rotating.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

8 hours ago, grm24 said:

 

So you freely admit to breaking the ROG by using a training aid during your rounds of golf competing or not? Note that your actual words are quoted above.

 

Are you penalizing yourself for breaking the ROG? Are you accurately recording those scores (requisite penalties included) for your index purposes under the ROG? Or are you just keeping a vanity handicap index?

 

Hmmm. Points to ponder. Care to further explain/justify your rule breaking since you must have an accurate index for "competing" no? 🤣

 

Maybe I should have not posted that so late,  because it implies implied that I suggested using it in some official round. That wasn't my intention.

 

I don't compete, and I don't post those rounds. I believe the rules allow such things when in practice,  but not regulated competition. If I'm wrong, I'll be fair about it.

 

I meant to say every now and again, not every round if that's what you read. It could have used some editing before posting. I don't post aided rounds that I consider practice. I realize that looks like cherry picking, but I'm not trying to cheat the rules.

 

I just meant that people should consider using it in practice to improve their NON-aided game.

 

I hope that clarifies.

 

But I won't apologize for trying to improve an aspect of my game.

 

Edit: And frankly, if golf has a problem with the way I am trying to improve my game to a point where I am skilled enough to reliably compete, then I guess that might explain why Pickleball is more popular than golf.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Mikey_HACKilroy

[QuigleyDU]

I thought the legal grip discussions were well behind us and pretty understood..

[Red4282]

Yea i thought this was just common knowledge at this point. Cant put a putter grip on anything other than a putter. However i do think you can tee off with a putter….

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

You can do anything you want in practice at a driving range.

 

Hell, I just forgot I was in a golf forum with a bunch of serious professional golfers. 😁

[raywutang]

9 hours ago, BURKMI19 said:

Haha yea for sure.  I actually use this training aid, it's really good.  Tuck that ball in between the arms and keeps them perfectly spaced through the swing.  You can actually hit driver with it.  Really good to use for wedge practice, forces you to properly use the body together for rotating.

same here, the tour striker is a great training aid!

[Valtiel]

On 8/18/2023 at 7:54 PM, urjc22 said:

Why couldn’t he put it in play?  While grips need to mostly be round, with the advent of the align and ribbed grip, has anyone actually tried something like this and been called out?  Would be interesting to hear the USGA rational.  

 

On 8/18/2023 at 7:59 PM, urjc22 said:

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

 

On 8/18/2023 at 8:48 PM, urjc22 said:

If you think that is clear…haha.  It shouldn’t need a paragraph to explain.  It is either round or it’s not.  Pretty simple. 

In 1/4 of the time it took you to pontificate here you could have done one basic google search, as linked above, with the basic synopsis being "you can only manipulate the roundness of a round grip a certain amount":

- Any "ribs" or reminders on the grip can't alter the diameter by more than 1mm (easy to measure)
- They must be a straight line
- They must run at least 80% the length of the grip. 

So yes this has been clearly defined, as it has since the rule and its interpretations were written, and that is why reminder/ribbed/align grips are manufactured within these specs so the player doesn't have to worry about it. 

Putter grips on drivers have been used by various instructors for years to ingrain face alignment awareness as training aids. 

Edited August 20, 2023 by Valtiel

[bladehunter]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:59 PM, urjc22 said:

The definition of round is not defined.  The align grips are not at all round, there is a clear ridge sticking out. I would love to see the USGA explain the difference.

Ask this question in the rules forum.  They’ll tell you why not. 

[GolfTurkey]

16 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Ask this question in the rules forum.  They’ll tell you why not. 

 

Or go for a swim in a shark tank, much safer.

[bladehunter]

59 minutes ago, GolfTurkey said:

 

Or go for a swim in a shark tank, much safer.

Lol. Exactly. It was an evil deed wasn’t it !?   I just wanted to see what would happen 😇

[Shilgy]

9 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Lol. Exactly. It was an evil deed wasn’t it !?   I just wanted to see what would happen 😇

They would have told him to look it up.  THEN when he continued to blast them with a “rules are stupid” tirade they would have dropped the hammer on him.🤣

[fred faldo]

so is that a back up driver or shaft or does that have to be removed daily and the driver re-gripped? I am confused by this

Edited August 22, 2023 by fred faldo
more info

[youngun87]

On 8/19/2023 at 2:32 AM, grm24 said:

 

So you freely admit to breaking the ROG by using a training aid during your rounds of golf competing or not? Note that your actual words are quoted above.

 

Are you penalizing yourself for breaking the ROG? Are you accurately recording those scores (requisite penalties included) for your index purposes under the ROG? Or are you just keeping a vanity handicap index?

 

Hmmm. Points to ponder. Care to further explain/justify your rule breaking since you must have an accurate index for "competing" no? 🤣

Man, you sound like a lot of fun…. The percentage of weekend golfers that play strictly by the book is quite low. I don’t have a problem with that and neither should you. Most are just out there to have fun and he explicitly stated he wouldn’t do that in a competition 

[Glock917]

2 hours ago, fred faldo said:

so is that a back up driver or shaft or does that have to be removed daily and the driver re-gripped? I am confused by this

He has two of the exact same spec drivers with one of them having the putter grip. 
 

just look at it as more expensive medicus or lag shot trainer hah

[MountainKing]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:48 PM, urjc22 said:

If you think that is clear…haha.  It shouldn’t need a paragraph to explain.  It is either round or it’s not.  Pretty simple. 

 

It's perfectly clear, you seem to be the only person who isn't able to grasp the wording.

 

 

On 8/19/2023 at 1:32 AM, grm24 said:

 

So you freely admit to breaking the ROG by using a training aid during your rounds of golf competing or not? Note that your actual words are quoted above.

 

Are you penalizing yourself for breaking the ROG? Are you accurately recording those scores (requisite penalties included) for your index purposes under the ROG? Or are you just keeping a vanity handicap index?

 

Hmmm. Points to ponder. Care to further explain/justify your rule breaking since you must have an accurate index for "competing" no? 🤣

 

Or this is a practice round he's using to work on his swing/game, possibly scouting the course for an event that he wouldn't post so a perfect time to use a training aid?   You must be fun to be around in life.

[swgolf12]

On 8/19/2023 at 2:32 AM, grm24 said:

 

So you freely admit to breaking the ROG by using a training aid during your rounds of golf competing or not? Note that your actual words are quoted above.

 

Are you penalizing yourself for breaking the ROG? Are you accurately recording those scores (requisite penalties included) for your index purposes under the ROG? Or are you just keeping a vanity handicap index?

 

Hmmm. Points to ponder. Care to further explain/justify your rule breaking since you must have an accurate index for "competing" no? 🤣

 

You do realize not every time a person is on a golf course they have to play by all of the rules of golf, correct?  You can go out and play random holes and do whatever you want and not have to enter a score.