Quick Grip Question - Right Thumb Position

[Orikoru]

Just a quick question regarding right thumb position in the grip. It comes from a Reddit comment I saw so could easily be nonsense, I just wanted to check what other people thought.

I've strengthened my grip slightly, to good effect - I'd say my right thumb is more-or-less right on the top of the grip, pointing down the shaft. The Reddit comment I refer to said this was bad - saying it 'destroys the release, saps speed, steers the club head and messes up your timing'. Is this true or just total waffle? He didn't really advocate whether he meant the thumb should be more on the left side or right side of the grip, or whether either of them is better for some unknown reason. I can't really see why it would be the case.

So, truth or nonsense?

 

[pendodave]

Just a quick question regarding right thumb position in the grip. It comes from a Reddit comment I saw so could easily be nonsense, I just wanted to check what other people thought.

I've strengthened my grip slightly, to good effect - I'd say my right thumb is more-or-less right on the top of the grip, pointing down the shaft. The Reddit comment I refer to said this was bad - saying it 'destroys the release, saps speed, steers the club head and messes up your timing'. Is this true or just total waffle? He didn't really advocate whether he meant the thumb should be more on the left side or right side of the grip, or whether either of them is better for some unknown reason. I can't really see why it would be the case.

So, truth or nonsense?

I am not a doctor but...
I reckon it should sit just to the left of centre. This is where most good players seem to have it. No idea about the biomechanics of it.

One thing I've often noticed, is that many (bad) players shift their hands considerably between address and the moment they take the club back, so even if the thumb position is just OK when you set up, it might be worth a video to check that you don't move it even further round in the takeaway.

 

[The Squirrel]

One thing I've often noticed, is that many (bad) players shift their hands considerably between address and the moment they take the club back, so even if the thumb position is just OK when you set up, it might be worth a video to check that you don't move it even further round in the takeaway.

OTOH, both Scheffler and Schaufelle seem to set up then recheck and adjust their grip multiple times.

Have no idea with the original question though - sorry. In incredibly oversimplistic force generation terms as your strongest digit it would seem to be better for the thumb to sit to the right of centre and push the club forward along its arc, than for it to sit wrapped over the club to the left of centre where any force it produces acts as a brake? (RH player)

 

[Orikoru]

OTOH, both Scheffler and Schaufelle seem to set up then recheck and adjust their grip multiple times.

Have no idea with the original question though - sorry. In incredibly oversimplistic force generation terms as your strongest digit it would seem to be better for the thumb to sit to the right of centre and push the club forward along its arc, than for it to sit wrapped over the club to the left of centre where any force it produces acts as a brake? (RH player)

Really strong grips look so ugly though. I used to play like that, but I worked on neutralising my right hand, while the left was still strong. But recently when trying to reduce slice I went back to a slightly strong right hand and hit driver so much better. Maybe having my thumb a couple of millimetres right of top-and-centre would be ideal. A stronger grip just seems to have a good knock-on effect, like keeping the club face closed and keeping my right elbow in.

 

[Springveldt]

Just a quick question regarding right thumb position in the grip. It comes from a Reddit comment I saw so could easily be nonsense, I just wanted to check what other people thought.

I've strengthened my grip slightly, to good effect - I'd say my right thumb is more-or-less right on the top of the grip, pointing down the shaft. The Reddit comment I refer to said this was bad - saying it 'destroys the release, saps speed, steers the club head and messes up your timing'. Is this true or just total waffle? He didn't really advocate whether he meant the thumb should be more on the left side or right side of the grip, or whether either of them is better for some unknown reason. I can't really see why it would be the case.

So, truth or nonsense?

r/golf and r/golfswing are full of 30+ handicap choppers, I wouldn't be taking any advice from anyone on there. r/golfswing are more obsessed about how a swing looks than if it's functional or not.

With that said, my right thumb is left of centre, no idea if this is good, bad or normal.

 

[Orikoru]

r/golf and r/golfswing are full of 30+ handicap choppers, I wouldn't be taking any advice from anyone on there. r/golfswing are more obsessed about how a swing looks than if it's functional or not.

With that said, my right thumb is left of centre, no idea if this is good, bad or normal.

Yeah I know, it just gave me something to think about really. Many years ago I was playing a very strong grip I think, but then I worked to make the right hand pretty neutral - as you say, thumb maybe just left of centre. But this year I've actually gone slightly stronger again and I think I prefer the feel. I don't have to work to release the club head, it just feels like I can hold it where it is and hit small fades with it.

I think maybe I'm back to wanting to play what feels right rather than what's supposed to be right. If the feller from Golf Supply can apparently be off +1 with the strongest grip you've ever seen in your life, then it can't be that bad.

 

[Springveldt]

Yeah I know, it just gave me something to think about really. Many years ago I was playing a very strong grip I think, but then I worked to make the right hand pretty neutral - as you say, thumb maybe just left of centre. But this year I've actually gone slightly stronger again and I think I prefer the feel. I don't have to work to release the club head, it just feels like I can hold it where it is and hit small fades with it.

I think maybe I'm back to wanting to play what feels right rather than what's supposed to be right. If the feller from Golf Supply can apparently be off +1 with the strongest grip you've ever seen in your life, then it can't be that bad.

My mate who is off +2 has the strongest grip I've ever seen, he comes over the top and hit a fade every time. As Bob keeps saying, the ball doesn't care how you grip it and how you swing, it just cares about clubface and swing path at impact.

Watch some of Shawn Clement's video's on YouTube, ridiculously strong grip but hammers the ball, especially for a guy that is 58.

 

[pendodave]

A strong grip doesn't necessarily mean that the thumb is on top of the grip though - there's lots of pics online of proper golfers with a strong grip, but the thumb is still on the lead side. The fingers are wrapped right under though.
Paul Azinger has a really strong grip, but illustrates the point :

 

[Orikoru]

A strong grip doesn't necessarily mean that the thumb is on top of the grip though - there's lots of pics online of proper golfers with a strong grip, but the thumb is still on the lead side. The fingers are wrapped right under though.
Paul Azinger has a really strong grip, but illustrates the point :

View attachment 58141

Hmm, I wasn't thinking about it that way. I wonder what effect simply moving the thumb would have? Might have a play around at the range tonight.

 

[jim8flog]

I always think of it as being like holding in a gun, the thumb will go round the grip and the first finger will be on the trigger.

Grip training grips will all have the thumb going round the grip and not on top of it but grip training grips are aimed at a neutral set up.

 

[garyinderry]

The grip was seen as a fundamental but its quite clear that good golf can be played with a very weak grip and also a crazy strong one.

Everyone's hands are differnt sizes and lengths so it makes sense that no one grip fits all.

If you are hooking, weaken it, slicing strengthen it. Adjust one hand. See what it does. Adjust both. Find out what works best for you.

 

[Orikoru]

A strong grip doesn't necessarily mean that the thumb is on top of the grip though - there's lots of pics online of proper golfers with a strong grip, but the thumb is still on the lead side. The fingers are wrapped right under though.
Paul Azinger has a really strong grip, but illustrates the point :

View attachment 58141

I tried this but the club felt really loose in my hand with the thumb across it like that. Basically like the thumb was just resting there and not actually doing anything. Maybe that's optimum for some people but I didn't like it. Thumb going down the grip feels more stable.

 

[rulie]

Grip principles- left hand, grip with last three fingers; right hand, grip with middle two fingers, left thumb on lead side of shaft.
The hands are not the engine of the swing, merely the transmission and hold the club in position.