Split handed shot

[richart]

I heard an excellent tip the other day,which i am happy to pass on in the knowledge that it actually works!( well for me!) It may not be new to you all but i had never heard it before.

If you have a restricted backswing, up against a tree, fence etc, and can only take the club back a short distance, grip the club with split hands. You will be able to make a harder strike at the ball by hitting more with the bottom hand. A normal vardon grip,interlocking grip restricts the power you can generate with a short backswing.

I practised most of the different types of escape shots when i was a kid, and am not too bad at playing reversed wedges left handed, and one handed shots backwards, when there is the need. Never heard the split hand shot before,but with all the trees on our course and my erractic driving i can see that this one will come in handy.

If you have all heard it before i apologise.

 

[JustOne]

Very good advice provided you can avoid the air shot

One worth practicing.

 

[DCB]

Was shown a practice drill using a 3/4 swing using a split handed grip. It was to make sure you fully turned your body through the shot. If you didn't turn then it was a duffer. If you turned properly then it was possible to connect well and hit a good shot.

Must have looked really daft to someone walking past though

 

[Pip]

I use this on the range quite a bit. It's particularly good for feeling what the right hand needs to do to get the club vertical with the hands at the 9 'o clock position, the shaft pointing approximately at the ball and helping you get a good swing plane. It has worked quite well for my driver practice, I start off with the hands separated by the full length of the grip and end up hitting balls with them separated by an inch or so.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Dave Pelz has a relatively new book out which deals with all sorts of problem swings and how to get the ball into play

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dave-Pelzs-Damag...8727&sr=1-2

As usual for Pelz its quite scientific but it does make some good points.

 

[richart]

I seem to remember tip came from Richard Boxall. To be played when backswing limited to a couple of feet. A standard baseball grip is fine,no need to play like a hockey shot !

 

[TonyN]

Spin the club round and play it backwards