The OS Golfer's Thread!

[ASB37]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Is it strange that when I go to the range, I absolutely can not hit my drive to save my life, yet when I go out and play a round I hit it pretty well?

I had a range session yesterday that made me contemplate getting a new driver with a stiffer shaft because it felt to whippy to me at the range, but a few weeks earlier I played a round and hit my driver fine. Yesterday I wasn't getting the ball in the air at all, and when I was I was hitting massive slices.

I think it might be the tees/mats at the range but that doesn't seem to make much sense, so at the time I attributed it to the flex of the shaft thinking that I might be swinging too fast for a "medium-firm" shaft.

Thoughts?

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Any thoughts on using a grip without interlocking fingers? I was playing yesterday and was hitting it terribly with my normal grip, during which I interlock my right pinky and left pointer finger. At the 9th hole I said **** it and went to a grip with my fingers not interlocked and wound up hitting better than I had all day. My 6 iron went nearly 150 yards which hasn't happened pretty much ever.

[JODYE]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

What do I need to do/know in order to get me some custom clubs? Can I have my current set re-shafted or do I come out better starting from scratch and getting whole new clubs?

If you're going to invest that time/money, then definitely go to a place that knows what they are doing.

Find a place that specializes in club fitting. They'll analyze your swing speed, swing angle etc. and fit irons to your body/swing type.

[ubernoob]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Any thoughts on using a grip without interlocking fingers? I was playing yesterday and was hitting it terribly with my normal grip, during which I interlock my right pinky and left pointer finger. At the 9th hole I said **** it and went to a grip with my fingers not interlocked and wound up hitting better than I had all day. My 6 iron went nearly 150 yards which hasn't happened pretty much ever.

Most people I know don't interlock their fingers. It's purely a personal decision.

[JODYE]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Any thoughts on using a grip without interlocking fingers? I was playing yesterday and was hitting it terribly with my normal grip, during which I interlock my right pinky and left pointer finger. At the 9th hole I said **** it and went to a grip with my fingers not interlocked and wound up hitting better than I had all day. My 6 iron went nearly 150 yards which hasn't happened pretty much ever.

I used to use an interlock grip long ago, but switched to overlap because it felt more natural to me.

From what you're describing, it sounds like your issue is not the grip, but grip pressure. While neither grip is right or wrong, amateurs who use the interlock grip, tend to put additional pressure on the left index finger knuckle and right pinky knuckle and can hinder your hands from releasing as quickly, and result in the club "getting stuck" or not getting square at impact. Obviously this is easily remedied by relieving pressure on your grip, but switching to overlap in your case, might be a more natural way to achieve that. If it is working for you, I would say stick with it.

Were most of your misses with the interlock to the right?

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I used to use an interlock grip long ago, but switched to overlap because it felt more natural to me.

From what you're describing, it sounds like your issue is not the grip, but grip pressure. While neither grip is right or wrong, amateurs who use the interlock grip, tend to put additional pressure on the left index finger knuckle and right pinky knuckle and can hinder your hands from releasing as quickly, and result in the club "getting stuck" or not getting square at impact. Obviously this is easily remedied by relieving pressure on your grip, but switching to overlap in your case, might be a more natural way to achieve that. If it is working for you, I would say stick with it.

Were most of your misses with the interlock to the right?

Pretty much all of them...making good contact was also a problem.

[JODYE]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Pretty much all of them...making good contact was also a problem.

That's what I figured.

A majority of the feeling of "good contact" comes from the club being as close to square as possible through impact. Obviously something in your grip was preventing you to getting to that position.

Now, I've never seen your actual swing, so there could be other things at work that are contributing to your ball striking woes, but mastering your grip and having the club rest in your hands gently, is definitely one of the more important parts of the golf swing.

Are you a scooper, or you do you take a divot when you hit the ball?

[gopher_guy]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I don't interlock on my grip, doing so feels weird for me.

As far as actually gripping the club goes, I've been told that your left hand (for a righty golfer) should be the one doing almost all the work. The right hand is pretty much along for the ride.

I used to try to load up too much, using my right hand/arm to push the club, which caused the club face to open up and gave me a wicked slice. Ever since I started visualizing my left hand/arm guiding the club, my slice has gotten a lot better.

[JODYE]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

Loading up your right hand can cause you to come over the top and can alter your swing path to come across the ball.

While yes, your left hand should be guiding the club through impact, really your arms and hands should be following your hips through the impact zone.

Like Chubbs said, "It's all in the hips"

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

That's what I figured.

A majority of the feeling of "good contact" comes from the club being as close to square as possible through impact. Obviously something in your grip was preventing you to getting to that position.

Now, I've never seen your actual swing, so there could be other things at work that are contributing to your ball striking woes, but mastering your grip and having the club rest in your hands gently, is definitely one of the more important parts of the golf swing.

Are you a scooper, or you do you take a divot when you hit the ball?

Depends on the day...I'll either top the ball and hit it thin or dig 6 inch holes in the ground. I'll try to get a video of my swing up when I can afford to get out to the range.

[Koolie G]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I don't interlock or overlap. I use the old baseball grip. I've got smaller hands and I just felt comfortable with that grip. I did try the interlock for a while and I didn't hate it, but I just found the baseball grip to fit better for me.

I've got a 2 man tournament on Sunday at my club and then I've got another 4 man scramble out of town on Monday. I need to get my game in shape real quick.

[ubernoob]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

When you say overlap, does that just mean your palm overlaps your front thumb?

[JODYE]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

When you say overlap, does that just mean your palm overlaps your front thumb?

No.

Depending which is your dominant hand, your right hand pinky, laying in the groove of your left hand index finger.

Your right palm should overlap your left thumb whether you use interlock or the overlap grip.

[ubernoob]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

No.

Depending which is your dominant hand, your right hand pinky, laying in the groove of your left hand index finger.

Your right palm should overlap your left thumb whether you use interlock or the overlap grip.

Ah, gotcha. So it's just on top of your hand instead of interlocked.

I get confused thinking about hands and hand placement sometimes because, while I am right handed for 99% of everything, I bat and golf left-handed.

I know I should just reverse everything, but somewhere in the process my mind gets lost and I forget what I was even reading

[NYJetsfan]

Re: The OS Golfer's Thread!

I'm an odd one...I use interlocking for my irons and an overlapping for my woods. I think it's the steel vs graphite shaft difference.