All hail Sir Nick - the man's a genius!

[Billysboots]

Whatever your views on Faldo the man, I am of the opinion the man is a genius - my saviour.

The weak point of my game has always been my driving, with my bad shot an all too frequent block. Very expensive at the moment with the thick rough! I have tried everything for years - lessons, instruction books, various drivers with different flex. Nothing has worked.

On Sunday evening I was watching the PGA Tour on Sky. During one of their (frequent) breaks in coverage, they had a brief instructional piece with Faldo focusing on driving. "Is your bad shot a block?" Yes, Nick, I thought. "Try this tip - release all the grip pressure in your right thumb, and see the difference in clubhead release."

I have been out twice since and gave this piece of wisdom a try. The result? Not a single block, no drives in the thick stuff, and the highest percentage of fairways I have hit in donkey's years. A quick look at the tell tale mark on the bottom of the club left by the tee reveals that for the first time in living memory I am squaring the club face at impact. And all because of my poxy right thumb. Should have had it amputated years ago.

What is the most insignificant looking piece of advice you have ever picked up which has made the most difference to your game?

 

[thecraw]

I still wouldn't buy him a pint of water!

 

[Stub]

I posted on the Ask THe Experts Forum about this very same tip. I have also tried it with success in terms of increased power and distance but with less control at present (working on that). Agree that it is a simple tip that had not been given in any of my previous lessons.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Isn't not gripping too tight one of the fundamentals of the grip. Is there really anything new here?

 

[Billysboots]

Isn't not gripping too tight one of the fundamentals of the grip. Is there really anything new here?

He wasn't talking about grip pressure in general. The advice specifically related to the right thumb, which he said should barely be in contact with the grip, regardless of overall grip pressure.

 

[Stub]

I don't think it was put across as being 'new' and I didn't understand it as being so. It simply struck me as a simple piece of advice that had immediate beneficial effect.

 

[Val]

I still wouldn't buy him a pint of water!

Neither would I

Have you tried the tip

 

[Doon frae Troon]

My dad could not stand him.

Then....for the 1987 Open he was in charge of the Champions locker room.
After the presentation he came back on his own and handed my dad the claret jug.
Faldo then had a 20 minute heart to heart with him and was interested in his life. eg, he was marker for Jack Nicklaus's Walker Cup match in 1959. He had also practiced with Gary Player.

He said the the old saying of not telling a book by it's cover was pretty true with Faldo.

 

[macca64]

love the man, (not in the biblical sense you understand)

 

[Ethan]

All famous people have good days and bad days. Faldo was famously difficult with the press and sometimes the same with mere mortals. I met him once at a corporate do and he was charming and engaging. I have also encountered him in other circumstances, when he was not being paid to perform, which gave me a very different impression, and one which has overwritten the former. That view will be very difficult to change.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have met him a couple of time including walking around Royal Wimbledon with him and Sandy Lyle. Me, the caddies and several others. Engaging, encouraging and approachable. I saw the tip too but have been busy trying to work on the changes from my last lesson on Friday