Grip - strong v neutral

[Big push right!]

I started playing last year after a long lay off (15 years and was never any good first time!) I took some lessons and the first thing we worked on was my grip, which, now I've being reading up on golf more I understand was made "neutral". I felt I made ok progress last year and was looking forward to a good season.

So not much golf over the winter and with a new set of clubs I was raring to go. However, my irons have been getting gradually worse and are now at the point where they can only be described as terrible! wild slices and complete miss-hits a aplenty to the point where I had no confidence when hitting them.

I was hitting some practice balls tonight and changed to a stronger grip, granted it was only plastic balls in the garden but I immediately felt I was hitting the ball much better, I felt more confident and the shots more powerful. So, what are the benefits of trying to keep my grip neutral? I'm hopefully playing tomorrow night and am strongly tempted to go with the strong grip and see how I get on.

 

[Neddy]

I'm hopefully playing tomorrow night and am strongly tempted to go with the strong grip and see how I get on.

Go with it

 

[JustOne]

So, what are the benefits of trying to keep my grip neutral?

None. Just don't go toooooo strong.

 

[Pin-seeker]

If its just a friendly game & it feels better then give it a go. Nothing to loose.

 

[Big push right!]

If its just a friendly game & it feels better then give it a go. Nothing to loose.

yeah, just a bounce game. I think my grip on the driver and fairway woods / hybrids has always been a bit stronger but I've tried to stick with what I was shown for irons. My chipping and putting have been good recently and driving has been ok(ish) so hopefully if I can improve my longer approaches I can improve my scoring. looking forward to giving it a go!

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

Don't be afraid to go back to your old grip. I've gone back to mine for the last 2 rounds and I'm playing better than the last few months so I'll be sticking with it

 

[thecraw]

Another whk plays with a strong grip. No such thing as a perfect grip and swing. It's individual and what works as far as I'm concerned. If it feels more natural to you I think you already know the answer!

 

[chrisd]

I think strong is definitely better than weak for most people. None of us are likely to turn pro so getting round, enjoying it, is the most important thing you can tweak your grip a bit weaker during the round if things go wrong.

 

[CMAC]

strong left is good with neutral right:smirk:

 

[Pin-seeker]

I think strong is definitely better than weak for most people. None of us are likely to turn pro so getting round, enjoying it, is the most important thing you can tweak your grip a bit weaker during the round if things go wrong.

Amen

 

[Big_Rick78]

Forgive me for being a bit dense but what determines strong or neutral. At work so can't google it. Pictures would help

 

[Foxholer]

None.

Does 'You've more chance of finding your ball from the hook' count as 'disagree'?

You can certainly still hook with a neutral grip. They just tend to not look quite so bad!

Just don't go toooooo strong.

Agree!

I don't believe you should ever be 'fighting' with your grip. So if, after a reasonable bedding in period, it doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't imo.

 

[CMAC]

do you hit some shots and find the club has 'turned' in your grip?

 

[One Planer]

Forgive me for being a bit dense but what determines strong or neutral. At work so can't google it. Pictures would help

It's how your hand(s) is positioned on the grip at address.

The further right the left hand is acorss the shaft (So you could see 3 knuckles as a guide) to me, would be a strong grip and vice versa. The fewer knuckles you see the weaker.

I, personally, have a neutral grip.

 

[Big push right!]

Tried the modified grip, not much better bad times!

 

[Pin-seeker]

Maybe try not to worry about strong/weak. Just go with wot feels natural. & don't grip too hard.

 

[lyden]

My coach has always made me use a strong left and neutral right hand grip, main benefit for me is I feel like I know where the club head is a lot more.