Grip: “weak… strong … neutral”
As simple as this may sound, most of us don’t think of it this way……The reason we position the ball where we do, stand the way we stand, hold the club the way we hold it, and swing it the way we swing it is for one sole purpose. TO HIT GOOD GOLF SHOTS, WE MUST GET THE CLUBFACE BACK TO SQUARE AT IMPACT! Many a poor or unorthodox swing can be “saved” simply by getting the clubhead back to square at impact. Have you ever heard the phrase, “anybody can groove a bad swing?” It’s all about having the proper timing of the hands to get the clubface back to square. Think of it this way. The clubface position at impact controls the direction in which the ball will travel. Our only connection with the club is with our hands. Therefore, it’s easier to understand that our hands control clubface position. What’s more important, is how we hold the club has everything to do with the position the face will be in at impact.
For most golfers, the best chance of getting the clubface square at impact is to have what is known as a “neutral grip” position. There is a “V” that forms between the thumb and index finger of both hands as we hold the club. In a neutral grip, the “V” in the left hand should point up to the right ear. From here, you should be able to see the first two knuckles of the left hand at address. The “V” of the right hand should point up the right forearm to the right shoulder or armpit.
A “strong grip” position is such where the “V’s” point further to the right, making three or more knuckles of the left hand visible. The more our hands are turned to the right (stronger position) on the grip, the greater chance the ball will fly left because the clubface will likely be closed at impact.
A “weak grip” position is such where the “V’s” point further to the left, making one or fewer knuckles of the left hand visible at address. The more our hands are turned to the left (weaker position) on the grip, the greater chance the ball will fly right because the clubface will likely be open at impact.