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.

 

[Klimski]

I was taught recently by a pro that I happened to be playing with that the thumb should almost touch the index finger (I had it right on top of the grip). This helps me te prevent hooking the ball by flipping over the club with my right hand. I don't know if I've done a good job explaining what I mean. I strive for a neutral grip. Coming from field hockey I can tend to be too active with the hands.

 

[Orikoru]

I was taught recently by a pro that I happened to be playing with that the thumb should almost touch the index finger (I had it right on top of the grip). This helps me te prevent hooking the ball by flipping over the club with my right hand. I don't know if I've done a good job explaining what I mean. I strive for a neutral grip. Coming from field hockey I can tend to be too active with the hands.

I tried gripping with my thumb wrapped around the grip instead of straight down, and it feels like I have less control over my wrist and it ends up cupping more. So I've kept the thumb going straight down in the end.

 

[Klimski]

I think getting 'less control' was the goal of the pro who taught me to wrap the thumb round. As in, I was steering the club too much with the thumb on the grip. So, its another case of horses for courses!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

When I coached beginners I used to tell them to imagine they were gripping a claw hammer in each hand hanging down at arms legnth.
Move hands forward so right hand [or left for lefties] hand is below the left.
Natural grip and hand position...simples.

 

[harpo_72]

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

My grip is very similar to this. I would say the my left hand is strong from playing hockey as the stick control comes from the top. My right hand is just support or guide, but actually it’s angle affects elbow position and right shoulder position.. but I have kind of just started investigating this. What I want is comfortable.. the left hand for me dictates the club face rotation. My opinion is that if you learn on no offset it’s highly likely that you will develop a strong left hand. If you have offset irons you may tend to the weaker grip .. but everyone talks about offset giving more height not face closure rates. All of which is valid because ball position and shaft lean all impact this.
It’s a massive rabbit hole to go down, I just play what’s suitable for me .. as in what allows me to deliver the head to the target. The simulator session taught me a lot and what not to fiddle with and what to fiddle with.
My understanding of flight curvature is more to do with swing plane and then face angle .. so neutral -2 to 2 degrees swing plane should be the target, then looking at the clubs and grip strength to deliver a square ish face is next step .. but comfortably because you will time it better and be more consistent.
But I am no pro, so I am just a nerd who self medicates .. so you can do as you please I am happy with my settings.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

On gripping the club.

My coach has me focussing on the alignment of back of left hand to clubface. I do that setting by picking up the club with left hand on the handle and right hand holding the shaft about half way. With left arm and shaft set as I’d want at impact I then bring my right hand up to meet my left hand and take whatever grip feels comfortable - and don’t release at all as I move to address the ball. When I started doing this the ‘baseball’ grip felt very comfortable and so that is what I’ve adopted.

This is a total change from the overlapping grip I learned from Hogan’s book and with which I’ve played for 50yrs…yet it feels right. All the fiddling about weakening/strengthening grip, thumb position, forefinger position etc etc…always felt awkward and manipulative, yet this, seemingly massive, change feels perfectly comfortable.

What I’ve been taught is to grip the club whatever way feels comfortable, as all I am trying to do is deliver the clubface to the ball with club shaft and left arm in a good strike alignment. I have no thoughts on the ‘technicalities’ of my grip…I just grip it.

 

[Orikoru]

I've noticed recently that I have a pain in my right thumb now. I'm guessing it must be from this grip change I've done. Don't really want to change again so I'll probably just power through and hope it goes away.