Different grips for different shots
By Kim Jeong-kyoo
A golf swing is comprised of a series of actions and reactions. The two most critical elements of solid, powerful strikes are the grip and takeaway. Provided that you hold the club properly and take it away from the ball correctly, all good things will take care of themselves without having to think about them.
It's important to be clear about the necessity of different grips for different shots. No one grip is perfectly correct for all the different golf games. To be a top-notch player you need to adopt different grips depending on what you are after ― power needed for the driver and long irons, control required for the short game, or accuracy necessary to hole putts.
The full-swing shots you make with the driver, fairway woods and long irons are aimed at power and distance. When you hit them, you are better taking a tad strong grip so that the “V” created by the thumb and forefinger of each hand point to a spot somewhere between the right ear and right shoulder.
A strong grip gives the hands and forearms a better chance of releasing through the ball for increased clubhead speed and distance. It also presents a better chance of returning the clubface square to the target or slightly closed, setting the scene for straight shots or powerful draws that travel farther than crooked shots.
In the short game, for chips, pitches and bunker shots, extra distance is the last thing you want. When the situation calls for control and accuracy rather than distance, take a neutral to weak grip. This rids your swing of unwanted power at impact.
For a neutral or slightly weak grip, take hold of the club with the hands so both Vs formed by the thumb and index finger of each hand point toward the chin or to its left. That keeps the hands and wrists remaining quiet through the ball, making it easier for the clubface to reach impact in the same position every time.
A neutral or weak grip paves the way for the use of big muscles that enhance consistency and accuracy. Your first priority from somewhere inside 100 yards is to hit the ball precise distances and to accomplish this you need to use big muscles. Indubitably, the same is true for putting.
Finding yourself in a situation that calls for a higher trajectory, turn the left hand counterclockwise a little bit more, which allows the clubface to stay open through impact, getting the ball to soar higher into the air.
Remember that a strong grip encourages you to take the club away from the ball on a more inside path and a weak grip a more outside path, setting the scene for lower trajectory and higher ball flight respectively.
Crucially, a proper grip opens the way for a good setup position, which spawns a good takeaway, which in turn sets up a good backswing that clears the path for a good downswing and solid strikes. This principle makes no exceptions no matter what club you use including the putter.
For a putting grip, be sure that the palms are parallel to each other and to the putter face. For accuracy and consistency it's essential that the hands mirror the position of the putter face.
Also crucial is to hold the putter so both thumbs are on top of the grip. That prevents the hands from twisting during the stroke, encouraging square contact.
Of equal importance is to make sure that the palm of the right hand looking at the target at address. This encourages the putter head to move back and forth along the ball-target line, perfecting directional control.
Similarly, be sure the putter shaft is in line with the right forearm, which helps the putter swing on the correct swing plane.
Most importantly, set the hands so the grip runs through the lifelines of the palms and you mostly hold the handle of the putter with the fingertips.