Weaker Grip = Less Draw

bigpopper81 · November 7, 2006

I was reading the new Golf Digest today and was reading the article about Chris DiMarco. I found it very interesting that he mentioned that he uses a weaker grip to reduce draw. Is this accurate? For some reason I thought the opposite was true, that a stonger grip promotes a slice.

Gozz · November 7, 2006

Weak = slice Strong = hook

If you look at his take a way in the pictures you will see that the club face is slightly closed. His weak grip allows him to have a slightly closed club face without hitting a big hook.

mikpga · November 7, 2006

Assuming you are right handed...

The further you turn your hands to the right, the stronger the grips becomes...

The stronger the grip is, the easier it is for the hands to 'pronate' and close the clubface at impact...

If you turn your hands to the left, you create a weak grip...Discourages any pronation, and encourages an open clubface...

Hope this helps...

bigpopper81 · November 7, 2006

This may be something that I need to try. I have recently got my swing mechanics down fairly well, but now I am hitting a very consistent draw/hook... but it's consistent. I also have a strong grip with probably too much right thumb pressure on top of the grip (yes I am right handed) which may be closing my clubface. I am thinking that I am very comfortable with my left hand position and want to leave it where it is (not overly strong) but weaken my right hand and allow my right thumb tip to come off the grip and have essentially no pressure on top of the grip. Looking through some pictures I am noticing most pros have their right hand that way, e.g Sergio, Ernie, Leadbetter, etc...

mikpga · November 8, 2006

From my observations, most tour players favor a stronger top hand and a neutral bottom hand...

I believe this would be a good recommendation for most amateurs as well...

I am not too familiar with any tour players who favor a weaker grip...I am sure there are a few...

larrybud · November 9, 2006

Assuming you are right handed...

The further you turn your hands to the right, the stronger the grips becomes...

The stronger the grip is, the easier it is for the hands to 'pronate' and close the clubface at impact...

If you turn your hands to the left, you create a weak grip...Discourages any pronation, and encourages an open clubface...

Hope this helps...

In the book "The search for the perfect golf swing" they talk extensively about the bones in the hands and how they react. While it's generally true that a stronger grip will cause a draw or hook, they talk about how you can go too far and it will actually have a negative impact because it will limit the movement of your hand and release, causing a slice.

bigpopper81 · November 9, 2006

I'll find something in the middle that is comfortable and helps out my ball flight. Probably a more neutral lower hand. I'll start there and see how it goes. Thanks for all the help.

mikpga · November 9, 2006

Yes, you can overcook too strong of a grip, and then it becomes difficult to actually square the clubface...

I have rarely seen that occur, however...

taylormadefan · November 10, 2006

Has anyone else found it interesting that guys with very strong grips on tour - like Fred Couples and Paul Azinger tend to be predominantly left to right players?

Any ideas as to why? I've never been able to come up with a really good reason for that.

IMAGOLFER · November 10, 2006

Has anyone else found it interesting that guys with very strong grips on tour - like Fred Couples and Paul Azinger tend to be predominantly left to right players?

Any ideas as to why? I've never been able to come up with a really good reason for that.

Freddy sets up EXTREMELY open, which is why he plays left to right. As for Zinger and any others this may be the case as well or else they would definitely hit it right to left.

Jim_0068 · November 10, 2006

Has anyone else found it interesting that guys with very strong grips on tour - like Fred Couples and Paul Azinger tend to be predominantly left to right players?

Any ideas as to why? I've never been able to come up with a really good reason for that.

A weaker and more neutral grip encourages an opening clubface on the backswing and a full closing of the clubface on the downswing which, when done correctly, equals a straight to ever so slight draw.

If you perform the above with a stronger grip you impact the ball with a face that is either square or slightly closed. During the impact interval the face is closing more and then is even more closed when the ball leaves the face roughly 3/4 of an inch later and it's FORE LEFT.

Thus most strong gripped players tend to "figure out a way" to "hold off" this rapid release due to their strong grip and the face doesn't close entirely. This will lead to a fade.

NicholasP · November 10, 2006

Very well stated.

bjackson · November 10, 2006

some examples that come to mind...

strong grip--Double D. David Duval had an EXTREAMLY strong grip in his prime

weak grip--Hogan for sure, and i know pelz recomends it for short game. pretty sure vijay favors a weak grip too.

bigpopper81 · November 10, 2006

Well I went a played a round today with my new grip having no practice on the range and am happy to say I posted my best round ever! The irons were much straighter with slight controlled draw. I did have a couple of hooks but those bad shots were the result of rushing my tempo. I am very excited about my game right now and ery glad to have resources to find fixes for my swing. Thanks for all the help everyone.