The Caveman’s Golf Essentials: Grip Part 1

So you got a new club and that didn’t help yer shot, eh? Better check yer grip. You won’t have a good game without a good grip; it’s that important. You also won’t have a good game during a raptor swarm, but that’s another story. Yer grip is yer only connection to the club. To be simple, and cavemen like simple, the grip allows you to square the club face. If you’ve been hitting a lot slices and hooks, the first thing to do is to take a look at yer grip. While there is a classic grip, you may need to make adjustments to correct yer specific problems. I’ll tell you about those changes in the next part of this series.

Caveman’s Note: Place the club more in the fingers than in the palm to increase the amount of wrist hinge, which results in longer tee shots and more feel.

Let’s go back to the basics. These steps from About.com will help you determine if you’ve been grippin’ yer club right. These steps are for right-handed player. If you’re a lefty, just reverse the hands.

The Lead (Top) Hand

 

The dots on the glove show the position the club should take in the grip. The club should be held more in the fingers than in the palm.

Hold the club about three feet in the air, in front of your body. With the club face square, place the club at an angle through the fingers, following the line of the dots pictured in Step 2. The club should touch the base of the little finger and rest just above the first joint of the index finger (along the line of the dots).

With the club at an angle and in the fingers, place your left thumb (for right-handed players) toward the back side of the shaft.

In the address position, looking down at your grip, you should be able to see the knuckles of the index and middle finger of your lead (top) hand.  You should also see a “V” that is created by the thumb and forefinger of the lead hand, and that “V” should be pointing back toward your right (for right-handed players) shoulder (the 1 o’clock position).

The Trailing (Bottom) Hand

 

Identify the three sections of the ring, middle and index fingers (noted as sections 1, 2 and 3 in photo).

Holding the club with a perfect lead-hand grip (the lead hand is your top hand), set the last joint (between Sections 2 and 3) of the index finger of the trailing hand directly under the shaft. The hand should be set at a slightly downward angle. Place the club handle so it touches the dots (the dots are illustrated in the photo on Step 2). This places the club handle between Sections 1 and 2 of the right (for right-handed players) ring finger, directly on Section 2 of the middle finger, and between Sections 2 and 3 of the index finger.

Cover your lead-hand (top-hand) thumb with the lifeline of your trailing palm.

Make sure that the “V” formed by the thumb and forefinger of your trailing (bottom) hand points toward your back ear/shoulder area (the 1 o’clock position). This “V” should be parallel to the “V” on your lead hand (as illustrated by the double arrows in the photo).

All right, rock heads, next time I’ll tell ya’ll about alternate grips and adjustments.

One thought on “The Caveman’s Golf Essentials: Grip Part 1

  • August 20, 2012 at 2:45 pm
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    magnificent points altogether, you just gained a new reader. What might you recommend in regards to your submit that you simply made a few days in the past? Any positive?

    Reply

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