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The Gravity Grip By David Lee, Top 100 Teacher in Orlando Florida

How Important Is Your Grip?

Of all the components that make up a golf swing, few are more important than the grip.  In order for the wrists to release properly through impact, so that control and speed can be maximized, it is important that the hands be placed onto the club properly.  As a general rule, the V’s of both hands, formed by the thumbs and palms when the grip is taken, should point toward the right shoulder (right-handed player).  The club should be gripped in the fingers and not in the palms of the hands. 

As the grip is taken and the club laid across the curved fingers, the palms of the hands should stretch slightly from the fingers before the hands are closed.  Stretching the hands as the grip is taken, causes the club to be bound within the grip when the hands are closed, and the club can be held very securely without having to squeeze the grip.  This allows for total freedom in the release of the wrists through impact.  If the club is held properly, the pronation of the club-head through impact is automatic and never needs to be forced to square the club-face.

All this having been said, and with many subtle details omitted, I must tell you that when I work with a beginning student, if he/she has no glaring grip issues, I initially concentrate more on footwork and body dynamics.  A player can have a perfect grip, yet if the footwork and movements of the core are not correct, there is little chance that the golfer will strike the ball solidly.  Once the swing itself is functioning correctly, the harder the ball is struck, the more important that the grip becomes.  The hands are so sensitive, that an untrained player has great difficulty concentrating on proper body movement if the grip is being constantly manipulated.  In other words – he can’t get his mind off the grip and onto more important things.

In my opinion, the best way to develop a proper grip is to practice the “Gravity Golf” three-mode drills.  The brain will quickly figure out how to hold the club properly in order to hit solid shots in the right and left hand modes.  Once each hand is trained to hold the club correctly, they will function as a single unit when put together in a normal two-hand mode.  Study this drill and you will develop a great grip! 

4 comments:

  1. Outstanding video of how to take the grip! If you could add a comment about gripping at the base of the fingers, that would be great in some future video. I've seen instructions which indicate the club should lay across the lifeline of the hand, or more in the palm. You look like you are more in the fingers, but I can't tell if you are starting your cinch at the crease of the fingers or more along where the callouses form. Keep up the good work. I've continued to apply the lessons learned at Danny's clinic in June, and I shot my best round of the year just yesterday.

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    1. Thanks so much Danah and a big CONGRATULATIONS for all the hard work thats paying off. The grip is very much so in the fingers. You can watch at about 2:15 where he shows the fingers going around the back side of the grip and then stretching them around. You will feel that most of the grip is in your middle and ring finger. All the best bud and keep it up!!!

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  2. David,

    Can you speak to putter grip? Stan Utley says along lifelines of palms, and to place forearms in line with club viewing from rear and front of set up.

    Wonder if you teach putt grip in fingers too for easier release of right hand? JR

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  3. David-
    I am still using the split grip on my putter. Is that still the best way to swing a putter, or do you reccomend going back to connecting the hands when you putt?

    Dr.Darcy Dill

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