clubhead speed - will a Gripmaster work??

[birdieman]

Recently played a +2 handicap player in a scratch matchplay knockout tournament and being off four handicap and playing at his course thought I did ok to take him to the 16th green. However I was extremely impressed by the distance he was knocking it effortlessly. It was an amiable match so I quizzed him about his technique along the way. He drove the par 4 second at 365 yards with a tail wind, he was also generally hitting 2 less clubs than me. I've never hit it past 300 yds ever with driver. He was 5'11" or 6' and slim/skinny, not at all muscly like TW. He said it is all in the wrists, an extremely late release of the hands through impact. In my efforts to do something vaguely similar I have invested in a 'gripmaster' hand and finger exerciser to strenghten wrists and hands. Has anyone out there in cybergolfland ever used one to any effect? Can certainly feel the burn after 100 squeezes each hand. Used to try and use a powerball gyroscope but am so one sided I couldn't work it properly with my left hand so packed that in.
Anyone any good tips for extra distance through hand speed and good late release of wrist cock?? Ta

 

[madandra]

Birdieman, I don't need to spend money on a Gripmaster.

I have been married 13 years, my wrists are extremely strong.

 

[OOB]

I can't see a grip master being any use for increasing the strength/speed of the release. They will only increase strength in the fingers and hand muscles- the clubhead release comes from muscles in the lower arm, near to the wrist. There will be plenty of exercises to increase power from here based upon resistance training over all of the free moving joints in the wrist (Hold your fist out in front of you and move it from the wrist left, right, forwards, backwards & through 360 degrees) -These are all the movements which you can exercise against some form of resistance)

I have no idea whether this will help a golf swing though- it will be interesting to see.

 

[birdieman]

OOB, a 1 handicap player I know swears by the gripmaster relating strength to hand speed, I feel I could do with some more length so will give it a try. Although I am physically strong obviously my clubhead speed through the ball could be faster and I wondered the best way to achieve this. As a guide I hit 6 iron about 160, 5 iron about 170 etc. A good drive for me will get to 270 so not bad but not great either. Watching the golf channele earlier Dana Quigley had 156 and hit an 8 iron with what looked like no more than a flick, I know Florida heat helps distance but I'd have been hitting a full 7 on that yardage.

 

[madandra]

Birdieman, I am sure Dana hit it with a little 5 cos the temp was down and there was a wind. I watch guys swing like the Tazmanian devil and it goes nowhere and I hit 150 with a 9 iron. I think it is keeping power thro' the strike.

 

[birdieman]

madandra, I would like to hit 9 iron 135, currently hit it on the fly about 125 (yes I have measured my iron distances). 150 is a big 9 iron in my book, is that 150 on the fly, are you 6'+?

 

[madandra]

150 carry, and 200 with a 5 iron but I play with cavity backs not blades. I once had a tin cup moment when some tumshy bet i couldn't hit a long par 3 (230 yards) with a 6 iron. I knocked it to 18" ...............


After puting 3 OB
;0)

I am off 10.5

 

[OOB]

OOB, a 1 handicap player I know swears by the gripmaster relating strength to hand speed, I feel I could do with some more length so will give it a try.

I honestly can't quite see how the clubhead release can be improved by increasing grip strength, but I am always willing to revise opinions.

Good luck with the exercises.

 

[OOB]

From the gripmaster website:

There are many paths to golf’s promised land, and there’s no shortage of gurus or gizmos. However, every pro from Ben Hogan to David Leadbetter agrees that grip is essential.

The best grip is both soft and strong. It consists of soft and flexible hands enhancing a fluid swing combined with powerful wrist action contributing important additional power to the swing.

The patented Gripmaster is the only hand exerciser available today which enables you to isolate and develop each finger individually. And because each finger is operated by a completely separate system of muscles & tendons in the hand, wrist, & forearm, the only way to achieve optimum conditioning of the hand is with Gripmaster.

Hands are critical to golf excellence because they stabilize the shaft for a smooth, consistent swing while the wrists multiply the acceleration of the clubhead toward impact.



For the right-handed golfer, the left hand is critical for power and follow-through. Only Gripmaster isolates & strengthens the ring-finger and pinky on the left hand.

The bold part there suggests to me that the gripmaster will not help this. -What do you think?

 

[John_Findlay]

Hi Birdieman,

Late release? Here's a good drill from one of the best teachers in the UK- Ian Butcher. No joshing this time. Know you're a good golfer.

Irons- place a golf ball about a foot behind the one you're hitting, about two ball widths towards you. Avoid hitting it. Been a great drill for me over the last few months. Am off 8/9 handicap - 10.5 stone, 5"9 and carry 9 iron 135 best, 4 iron 190 best. Sceptical about the figures previously posted as I practice with a laser rangefinder and I think you know my thoughts on yardages claimed.

3 effects.

1. You hit the ball on the downswing as you should, ball first every time
2. You keep your hands ahead of the ball (in the Hogan style- pronation)
3. Your left shoulder is rising as you hit the ball. Correct

You're a better golfer than me, but I can swear by it as a drill which happens to promote a late release and better power. I'm sure you'll have noticed how all the best low handicappers seem to have a late wrist cock release which this ensures if you're to hit the ball at all.

Interested in the results if you try it.

Cheers

John

 

[RGuk]

I can't see how any device that strengthens your hands can help you create more clubhead speed. Clubhead speed is in the lag and the action of the hands. If I turn my driver upside down and swoosh it a dozen times trying to get the best speed at or after impact (as opposed to pre-impact) and then hit a normal shot, I'm way faster, but it doesn't last long. In the past I tested myself on a machine that measures speed through impact. If I deiberately left the hit late, my speed would be up 5% or so, but trying it on the course is dangerous, as it messes up your tempo. Also, everone should practice extending both arms to the max after impact, collapse through this area and, well, you'll lose any stored speed. You don't need to max your clubhead speed to play well, a clean strike with the correct angle at arrival (i.e. using the natural loft) can give 250 yds with only a 90 mph swing speed.

Confused....you will be....

Dave

 

[par_par_par_treble]

150 carry, and 200 with a 5 iron but I play with cavity backs not blades. I once had a tin cup moment when some tumshy bet i couldn't hit a long par 3 (230 yards) with a 6 iron. I knocked it to 18" ...............


After puting 3 OB
;0)

I am off 10.5

just for the record, im about the same distance with my irons, probably due to strong grip, which im sure is also the reason im not so hot with my driver some days....

150 with a 9, which stops where it lands (depending on the green of course) off 14

230 with a 6 iron tho!! maybe down a road or off a cliff. rescue club (3 iron) for me i think

 

[Dave3498]

It's interesting that a good drive for birdieman, a 4 handicapper, is 270 yards, which is the average driving distance on the LPGA tour. I'm sure that birdieman could easily wrestle and member of the LPGA tour to the ground, (Oh, for the chance) which only goes to prove that strength is a but a small factor in achieving distance. Look at the stature of Lorena Ochoa. It appears to me that she and her fellow players achieve their driving distances my making a full shoulder turn on the backswing, creating the largest possible arc for the clubhead, and releasing the wrists late after the body has turned through towards the target. It's technique we all have to work on, not strength. Strength only counts when the technique is perfected, a la Tiger Woods. Does it matter anyway, whether your playing partner is 20 yards ahead of you with his drive and playing a 9 iron into the greeen as opposed to your 8 iron? What matters is who is closer to the pin, and who sinks the putt.

 

[birdieman]

The LPGA courses get at least 40 yards roll, we get about 2 yards roll up here! The new irons I have have regular shafts having played stiff flex for years. I think this is allowing me to hit a bit longer than I used to.
Wouldn't mind a wrestle with one or two of the LPGA stars -just to test your theory of course, nothing else!
The gripmaster is increasing strength already so I'm confident it will help my golf. I need to work on cocking wrists fully and fuller turn as you suggest, better flexibilty would help too I'm sure.
I know distance isn't everything but I'd rather hit 8 than 6, closer you are to target the bigger the target becomes.

 

[madandra]

In response to my previous post about hitting a 6 iron 230, it was a Callaway x16 which was always a big hitting set of irons and I only got the green after popping 2 balls downtown. I am not a fantastic player but I can hit the ball well. My average driving distance is about the same as birdieman and as my teaching pro would testify I would be a good player if I had a short game from 100 yds and in. I know my distances are accurate as I to have a rangefinder and our range markers get checked 3-4 times a year.

 

[Dave3498]

You're quite right birdieman, roll is a large part of distance and the American courses seem to have plenty. The game is of course, all about confidence, and if you have a training aid which you think is going to improve your game, then by all means go for it.

Aye, there's the rub madandra. It's the 2 balls dowtown that is the important thing here. I occasionally play with my son who can easily carry the ball in the air for 200 yards from a 7 iron, but he was once a pro' and he has the technique, plus the fact that he is 6'-5" and 16 stone. However, his handicap is now 6 and he has difficulty playing to that simply because he only plays about 6 time a year, and never practises. The reason he can't play to 6 is because his 300 yard plus drives are not on the fairway and many times OB, and his 200 yard 7 irons are miles off line too. Accuracy is much more useful than distance when tha scores are added up at the end. Although I bet you got a hell-of-a-kick out of hitting a 230 yard 6 iron. I know I would dine out on that.