Right hand grip

[socky]

Can a weak right hand grip really be the difference between hitting straight shots and hitting weaker cut/push/fade type shots?

If I strengthen the right hand would it make a difference?

How important is the grip?

 

[CMAC]

Tom Watson says "...the right hand is on just for the ride.."

 

[One Planer]

Tom Watson says "...the right hand is on just for the ride.."

Does that mean its position isn't important?

 

[Darlophil]

I've always thought the relationship between the left and right hands is similar to other sports where you are swinging a bat/club.

The left hand (if you are right handed) is there to keep the bat/club on the desired swing path

The right hand is there to apply the desired amount of power.

If the right hand dominates the left you will pull the shot, and if the left hand dominates the shot will push to the right.

 

[JustOne]

Tom Watson says "...the right hand is on just for the ride.."

I would agree. The right hand should always be neutral, it's the left hand that is important and to that extent I prefer to see a slightly strong left hand grip, but not obscene. And DON'T have your right thumb pad on the grip.... ever! The club sits in the 'V'.

 

[Curls]

When you say strengthen do you mean by turning it to s stronger rotation on the grip or the literal meaning i.e gripping it with more force?

The way a lot of folk learn how to grip a club is to stand with your arms hanging and let the club fall into you left hand. Grip it and hold the club out in front of you (pointing away from you horizontal to the ground). Now put your right hand on the club as if you were about to shake hands with someone. That should give you a neutral grip - any rotation so that the right hand clockwise or anticlockwise around the grip creates a strong/weak right hand. Perhaps that is what you are reading about?

 

[socky]

So my right hand probably has the V pointing towards by left shoulder. Thumb pad of the right hand covering the left hand thumb.

When was doing a very slow motion swings i noticed i seemed to be returning the club face to the ball very open.

Not talking about grip pressure.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Simple test.
Tap two nails into a piece of wood, not all the way. 12 to 18 inches apart.
Take two hammers, one right handed one and one left handed one.
Hold the hammers in each hand and try to finish tapping in the nails.

Look down and there is your left and right hand grip.

Grip pressure should be the same as holding your car steering wheel.

 

[gdc]

How important is the grip?

Grip is important as is everything in the setup.
In fact I would say most swings faults are a result of incorrect and inconsistent setups.
That said I don't believe there is perfect way to setup as everybody is different, but there are definitely important fundamentals you should try to get right.

Weak cuts stem from swinging across the ball (out to in) usually due to a poor transition from the top of the back swing into the down swing. It is probably the most common fault of amateur golfers and really really hard to change (IMO having had to do it) - but not impossible.

 

[Darlophil]

Simple test.
Tap two nails into a piece of wood, not all the way. 12 to 18 inches apart.
Take two hammers, one right handed one and one left handed one.
Hold the hammers in each hand and try to finish tapping in the nails.

Look down and there is your left and right hand grip.

Grip pressure should be the same as holding your car steering wheel.

I tried asking for a left handed hammer once, apparently its on the same aisle as the sky hooks and tartan paint.

 

[CMAC]

I tried asking for a left handed hammer once, apparently its on the same aisle as the sky hooks and tartan paint.

that's nonsense, they are beside the shelf of spirit level bubbles, 3 for 2 this week at B&Q :whoo: