GRIP IT AND RIP IT!

SwingFit’s Pierre van Vuuren differentiates between the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’ grip

This month we’re back on the range with PGA Professional and Pearl Valley-based SwingFit coach, Pierre van Vuuren, and we’re discussing how the grip influences the shot we hit.

“Our grip plays a very important role in how we swing the club” says Pierre. “It is the only part of our body that connects us to the club (and ultimately the ball) so it has to be 100% right. Having a bad grip will negatively influence the outcome of the shot we hit and lead to inconsistency.” 

We first look at the two most popular grips – the Interlocking (where you interlock the pinkie of your right hand into the first finger of your left) and the ‘overlap’ where the pinkie just overlaps. The 10 finger – or baseball grip – is not recommended because the hands don’t get to work together well.

The grip can also be considered either ‘weak’ or ‘strong’. “Having a weak grip is where the left thumb favours left side of the shaft and the ‘V’ formed between your thumb and first finger of the right hand points to the left shoulder. The clubface lies open at the top of the swing and the result is a fade that has the wrong type of spin
and lacks distance.” Clearly a ‘no go’ set up.

A strong grip is when we have our left hand favouring the right side of the grip. “This shuts the club face at the top of the backswing and, although might result in more distance, can flip the club over and hook the ball” says Pierre.

A neutral grip, where we can see about two knuckles of the left hand, is ideal. “The club sits more into the fingers, the ‘V’ points to the right shoulder, not the left, and the result is a better, more consistent, golf shot” says Pierre, who proves his point by hitting one straight down the middle.