GRIP

Introduction

Ben Hogan, in his book [1], stated that "golf begins with
a good grip". This admonition has been echoed by
virtually all golf instructors, who uniformly emphasise
the importance of a good grip as being the fundamental
keystone of a good golf swing. Why do all golf instructors
place major emphasis on a good grip?
In the modern, total body golf swing, where the rotating
torso is the major power generator of the golf swing, the
arms and hands are flung around, and in front, of the
rotating body during the downswing. The major function
of the hands is to hold firmly onto the golf club - the hands
should be thought of as simply being "clamps" that firmly
hold onto the club while the club is swung through the
impact zone. The hands should not actively manipulate
the golf club during the impact zone. David Leadbetter
states "that one should think of the hands as conductors
through which the speed and power created by the turning
motion of your body is transferred to the clubhead" [2].
In this photo of Aaron Baddeley near-impact, note that
the clubface is approaching the ball so that it will become
square to the ball-target line at the time of impact. 

Aaron Baddeley - from reference number [3]

The primary function of the hands is to hold onto the
clubshaft in such a manner that the clubface will be
allowed to become square to the ball-target line at the
time of impact, and this feat is best accomplished if the
hands are in the neutral position (palms facing each other
across the clubshaft, while being square to the target).
Consider the fact that the clubhead may be travelling at
>100 mph at the time of impact. At such a high velocity,
the golfer cannot possibly make small hand adjustments
during the late downswing to correct for small
imperfections in the alignment of the clubface as the
clubhead nears impact, and the golfer has to rely on a
good grip that will always allow the clubface to become
square to the ball-target line at impact. One of the
fundamental feastures of a good grip is a neutral hand
position, whereby the hands are placed alongside the
clubshaft in such a manner, that they will automatically,
and passively, reach the impact position in a consistent
manner - such that the back of the left hand, palm of the
right hand, and clubface always faces the target at the
time of ball impact.

Approach to establishing a good grip

A golfer should start with the hands hanging relaxedly

alongside the side of the body. Note that they hang down
naturally from the shoulders with the palms facing the
body. That is the position that hands should adopt when
gripping the club.
In this photo, David Leadbetter demonstrates how the
palms of the hands should face each other at address. He
has tilted his right shoulder down so that the right hand
can lie slightly below the left hand (which is the normal
situation when gripping a golf club).
Leadbetter hand positioning - from reference number [4]

This is the final appearance of a good grip - note that the
palms are facing each other across the grip and that the
back of the left hand, and palm of the right hand, face the
target.
Leadbetter grip - from reference number [4]

To get to that ideal grip position, one should start off with
the left hand.
Golf instructors recommend different approaches to
gripping the club with the left hand. Some golf instructors
recommend holding the golf club directly in front of the
chest at a 45 degree angle to the ground (with the right
hand holding the clubshaft) and then gripping the club's
grip with the left hand. Other golf instructors recommend
placing the clubhead on the ground, and tilting the
clubshaft 45 degrees to the ground, and then gripping the
club.
Adopting a left hand grip - from reference number [5]

David Leadbetter [5] recommends placing the left

forearm horizontal to the ground with the left wrist level
(neither upcocked or downcocked) - the top of the left
index finger should be straight-in-line with the top of the
left forearm. The right hand holds the club at a 45 degree
angle to the ground (horizon), so that the grip lies
diagonally across the lower palm.
It is not critical which approach one adopts as long as the
club's grip is placed diagonally along the lower palm of
the left hand. The club's grip should not lie solely within
the fingers (as would occur if one gripped a vertical
flagpole with one's fingers) or across the mid-palm or
upper palm.
Here is an excellent diagram demonstrating how the grip
should be positioned in the left hand.

Hogan grip diagram - from reference number [3]

Note that the top of the grip lies below the hypothenar
muscle bulge and that it lies in the lower palm between
the hypothenar eminence and the base of the 5th finger.
Note that the grip lies diagonally across the lower palm
so that it crosses the proximal phalanx of the index finger.
When the fingers are closed, three fingers of the left hand
(3rd, 4th, 5th fingers) are primarily responsible for
gripping the club grip firmly in the left hand. The index
finger lies more loosely across the grip. Most importantly,
one should never let the grip ride high in the palm, so that
it is directly over, or inside (above) the hypothenar
eminence (along the lifeline palmar crease). One should
remember that the left hand golf grip is primarily a three-
finger grip, and not a palm grip. The left 3rd, 4th and 5th
fingers are primarily responsible for gripping the club,
and the grip pressure should be firm - it should not be
possible to pull the grip end of the club out of the left hand
if another person pulls on the clubhead end of the club,
and it should not be possible for that person to twist the
club in one's left hand if he attempts to twist the clubhead
end of the club. A golfer must maintain a firm left hand
grip throughout the swing action so that there is no chance
that the grip end of the club will twist within the left
hand's grip at any time point during the swing. Some golf
instructors state that one should grip the club lightly - as
if one was holding a live bird in one's left hand. I strongly
disagree with that advice - the left hand grip (using the
left 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers) should always be firm.
In this famous B&W photo from the 1950s, Ben Hogan
demonstrates the position of the grip in the left hand.

Hogan left hand grip - from reference number [5]

After the club's grip is placed in the correct position

across the lower palm, the left hand is closed so that the
left thumb lies slightly along the right side of the center
of the grip (one o'clock position), but a golfer should
avoid allowing the left thumb to slide too far down the
right side of the grip so that it lies fully alongside the right
side (aft side) of the grip.
This is the correct appearance of a neutral left hand grip
as seen from above.
Ernie Els' left hand grip - from reference number [6]

Note that the left thumb does not extend down the center
of the grip - it is slightly aft of the grip. Note that the left
thumb is relatively tightly opposed to the side of the index
finger knuckle, and that the "V" line (formed between the
left thumb and left index finger knuckle) points to the
right. Note that one can see 2-3 knuckles of the left hand
(left 2nd finger knuckle, and left 3rd finger knuckle).
When viewed from the side, you should note that the last
three fingers (3rd, 4th and 5th fingers) of the left hand are
primarily responsible for firmly gripping the club. The
tips of the 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers should just touch the
side of the base of the thumb (inner side of the thenar
eminence) thus effectively trapping the club between the
fingers and the lower palm. If the tips of the fingers do
not reach the thenar eminence, then the grip's width is too
large for the golfer's hand size. If the tips of the fingers
slide under the inner edge of the thenar eminence, then
the grip's width is too small for the golfer's hand size.

Leadbetter left hand grip - from reference number [4]

After the left hand has been correctly placed on the grip,
the golfer should then hold the club at 45 degrees in front
of the body, and allow the right hand to approach the grip
from the right side.
Els grip - from reference number [6]

Note that Ernie Els prefers to have his his left thumb
slightly to the right of center - which I now believe is the
optimum position for the left thumb (rather than down
the center of the grip). The left thumb should be slightly
aft of the grip end of the shaft. He then places his right
palm against the grip so that the palms face each other.
He then wraps the right palm over the left thumb so that
the lifeline palmar crease ("cup" of the right palm) rests
over the right side of the left thumb and slightly over the
top of the left thumb. This will cause part of the right
thenar eminence to lie on top of the left thumb. Placing
the right hand firmly over the left hand in this manner
helps to interlink the hands, so that they can better
function as a close-knit unit. Also, note that the right 3rd
and 4th fingers are used to firmly grasp the club's grip,
and that the grip is in the fingers and not the palm of the
right hand. The club's grip lies in a finger-channel that is
created as the 3rd and 4th fingers curl under the shaft. The
5th right finger lies on the top of the left hand's fingers,
in the groove between the left second finger and left third
finger (see Vardon grip photo).

Els grip - from reference number [6]


Note that Els separates the right index finger from the
other fingers, and that his right thumb lies over the top of
the grip and ends just to the left of center. This allows the
right index finger and right thumb to grip the club in a
pincer-like manner that offers fine control of the
clubhead's movements. I highly recommend that beginner
golfers grip the club in this manner, because it increases
one's "feel" for the weight of the lagging clubhead - one
can sense a "feeling" of pressure at the first (proximal )
interphalangeal joint of the right index finger (pressure
point #3) as one senses clubhead lag during the
downswing. Note that there is no gap between the right
index finger's knuckle area and the proximal half of the
right thumb, and that they are closely opposed to each
other on the top of the grip (a tee placed in the gap
between the right thumb and the right second knuckle
would not fall out as there is sufficient thumb side-
presssure to keep the tee in place). Most importantly,
note that the *palms of the left and right hands are
facing each other across the grip and that the back of
the left hand, and palm of the right hand, are each
facing the target -- this is a perfect example of a
neutral grip.
(* To be biomechanically precise - it is only the ulnar
half of the left palm that is truly facing the ulnar half
of the right palm. The radial half of the left palm is
lying partly over the top of the grip, and the radial half
of the right palm is lying partly over the left thumb)
A strong left hand grip occurs when the left palm slides
further to the right over the top of the grip, so that the left
palm faces more towards the ground and one can see 3-4
knuckles of the left hand when viewed from above. A
weak left hand grip occurs when the left palm slides to
the left and one can only see 1-1.5 knuckles of the left
hand when viewed from above.

Left hand grip strengths - capture image from a swing

video [7]
Point X = Anatomical snuff box. Click here to see the
definition of the anatomical snuff box.

Image 1 shows a neutral left hand grip. The anatomical
snuff box (which lies over the scaphoid bone) is at point
X - note that it is straight-in-line with the clubshaft
(yellow line). One can see 2-3 knuckles of the left hand
when viewing the left hand from above. Note that the left
thumb is at 1 o'clock and it lies slightly to the aft side of
the grip.
Image 2 shows a weak left hand grip. The anatomical
snuff box (point X) is aligned to the left of the clubshaft
(yellow line). One can see only 1-1.5 knuckles of the left
hand when viewing the left hand from above. Note that
the left thumb is at the 12 o'clock position and it lies on
the top of the grip.
Image 3 shows a strong left hand grip. The anatomical
suff box (point X) is aligned to the right of the clubshaft
(yellow line). One can see 3-4 knuckles of the left hand
when viewing the left hand from above. The left thumb is
placed aft of the grip - at the 3 o'clock position.
Note that at address, the V-angle between the left thumb
and the left index finger (green arrow) will point at the
chin when using a weak left hand grip, at the right
shoulder (or outside the right shoulder) when using a
strong left hand grip, and roughly between the right ear
and the right mid-clavicle when using a neutral grip.
However, these V-angle directions are crude and
unreliable because they depend on the specific
position of the left hand between the thighs at
address.
Another good method of learning how to adopt a neutral
grip is to follow this next-described sequence.
If a beginner golfer wants to learn how to acquire a
neutral left hand grip, then he should start with his
straight left arm straight-in-line with his left shoulder
socket. He should then bend his left elbow by 90 degrees
so that the left forearm is parallel to the ground, while
ensuring that the radial border of the left forearm faces
the sky. The left forearm should be neutral - neither
supinated or pronated. He should then stretch out the left
hand's fingers so that the back of the
anatomically/visually flat left hand is straight-in-line with
the back of the left forearm - see image 1 in the next
photo.
Neutral hand grip attitude when the fingers are actively
extended, and when at rest

Image 1 shows a neutral wrist position where the left

wrist is flat - neither dorsiflexed (bent backwards) or
palmar flexed (bent forwards). Note that the back of the
flat left hand is straight-in-line with the back of the left
forearm. A line drawn along the top of the left forearm
should also be straight-in-line with the top of left index
finger, which means that the wrist is level (neither
upcocked or downcocked). Note that the back of the flat
left wrist is vertical to the ground, which means that the
left forearm is neutral (neither supinated or pronated).
Image 2 shows how the back of the left wrist
automatically/passively becomes scooped/cupped when
the left hand (in image 1) is relaxed. This relaxed hand
position is called the anatomical position of rest
(APOR) of the left hand - and it is due to the effect of the
resting muscle tone of the left forearm muscles. When the
left hand is in its APOR, the left wrist will become
slightly dorsiflexed (cupped), and the fingers will become
slightly flexed. The left thumb will become slightly
adducted towards the palm. This fist-like appearance of
the relaxed left hand will allow one to grip a club in a
neutral grip manner - if the club is held straight-in-line
with the left forearm and left shoulder socket and the grip
end of the club is placed within the grasp of the left hand's
fist-like grip. If the clubshaft is straight-in-line with the
straight left arm and left shoulder socket, and the golfer
has adopted an APOR left hand grip, then he has created
what is called a GFLW (geometrically flat left wrist).
Here is a photo showing a GFLW - note that the left wrist
is not visually flat, and that it is slightly cupped (due to
being in an APOR state).
Geometrically flat left wrist - capture image from my
swing video lesson

If a golfer wants to practice holding a rounded object

using a neutral grip, then he should practice the motion
of reaching out in a neutral manner, with his left hand in
its APOR, in order to grasp a rounded object (eg. plastic
pipe or dowel stick) placed directly in front of his
extended left forearm (while ensuring that the radial
border of the left forearm faces skywards, and while also
ensuring that the neutral left forearm is aligned straight-
in-line with the left shoulder socket. That is the same type
of motion that he should then use to grasp the rounded
grip of his club - which is placed directly opposite the left
shoulder socket (see above photo). Once a golfer has
successfully gripped the club in a neutral manner, then he
can move the grip end of the club to an address position
between his thighs.

Neutral grip at address, neutral grip at impact, and weak

grip at address

Image 1 shows a neutral left hand grip at address (as

viewed from a golfer's normal eye position at address).
Note that the left wrist is slightly cupped (dorsiflexed)
due to the fact that the left hand is grasping a rounded
object. Note that the left thumb is placed just to the right
of the center of the top-of-the-shaft (slightly aft of the
club). Note that one can can clearly see two knuckles of
the left hand. The amount of cupping in the left wrist
depends on the position of the hands at address - there
will naturally be more cupping if the hands move closer
to the right leg than the left leg. The degree of cupping
will also increase if the clubshaft is held square
(perpendicular) to the ball-target line and not in a straight-
line relationship with the left arm - because this angled
clubshaft alignment relative to the left arm will bend the
left wrist, and increase the degree of left wrist cupping.
Image 2 shows a neutral left hand grip at impact. Note
that there is forward shaft lean (due to the hands being
ahead of the clubhead at impact). Note that the left wrist
is anatomically/visually flat and not cupped. The left
wrist is anatomically/visually flat because the left wrist is
slightly palmar flexed (which means that the clubshaft's
grip is not in a straight-in-line relationship with the left
forearm).
Image 3 shows a weak left hand grip at address. Note
that the hand has rotated counterclockwise on the grip so
that one can only see one knuckle of the left hand. Note
that the thumb is placed straight down the top of the shaft.
Note that the left wrist appears less cupped (less
dorsiflexed) - compared to image 1.
Therefore, when looking down at one's left hand at
address, note that the degree of cupping of the left
wrist will depend upon a number of factors-: i) strength
of the grip - the degree of cupping will increase when
one uses a progressively stronger left hand grip; ii) width
of the grip end of the club - the degree of cupping will
increase if the gripped object has a wider diameter; iii)
the angle of the clubshaft-at-address relative to the
straight left arm - the degree of cupping will increase if
the left wrist is increasingly bent (this will occur if the
clubshaft-at-address is held perpendicular to the ball-
target line while the left hand is moved closer to the right
thigh, rather than being closer to the left thigh).
Finally, it is important to ensure that the two hands form
a cohesive structural unit, so that they can function as a
single club-gripping agent. To facilitate that unitary-
functioning phenomenon, most good golfers
overlap/interlock the two hands in some manner. The two
most frequently used overlapping/interlocking grip
techniques are the i) Vardon overlap technique (named
after the famous British golfer Harry Vardon) and the ii)
interlocking technique.

Vardon overlap grip - from reference number [4]

The characteristic feature of the Vardon overlap grip is
the overlap of the right 5th finger over the left fingers,
usually resting in the groove between the left second
finger and left third finger. The gripping action of the 5th
right finger helps to keep the two hands together so that
they can function as a single, cohesive unit. Some golfers
prefer to rest the right 5th finger over the top of the left
second finger, rather than nestle the right 5th finger finger
in the groove between the left second and third fingers,
and that personal grip choice is a perfectly acceptable
Vardon grip variant.
Golfers with small hands may prefer to use the
interlocking grip technique, which is used by a minority
of PGA tour players (including Tiger Woods and Jack
Nicklaus).

Interlocking grip - from reference number [4]

Golfers using the interlocking grip technique interlock

the right 5th finger and the left 2nd finger as demonstrated
in the above photo. There is no evidence that the
interlocking grip is inferior (or superior) to the Vardon
grip. A golfer should choose the grip variant that allows
the hands to grip the club securely without any sense of
hand/finger discomfort or tension.

Further grip instructional insights - presented in a

question and answer format

Question number 1:
In your description of a neutral grip, you stated that a
golfer should have the palms of the left and right hand
facing each other across the grip. If a golfer decides to use
a stronger left hand grip (3-4 knuckle grip) when
performing a full golf swing, should he simultaneously
use a stronger right hand grip - as recommended by this
golf instructor in his swing video lesson - see reference
number [7]?
Answer:
No.
I think that the right hand grip should preferably be
neutral (and the right wrist should be *level and
*vertical) - irrespective of the strength of the left hand
grip. The idea of the palms facing each other across the
grip should only apply to a dual neutral grip - where both
the left hand grip is neutral (or weak) and the right hand
grip is neutral.
(* See the wrist glossary review paper to better
understand what is meant by the terms "level" and
vertical").
Consider this capture image from his swing video.
Grip patterns - capture images from a swing video [7]
Image 1 shows the conceptual idea of having the palms
of the two hands facing each across the grip - with the
back of the left hand, and palm of the right hand, both
facing the target.
Image 2 shows a neutral left/right hand grip. Presume
that the left hand grip is either weak or neutral (although
it actually looks very weak in this photo), and accept that
the right hand is placed on the grip as demonstrated in
that image - the right hand is vertical (neither rolled over,
or under, the grip end of the club) and level (neither
upcocked or downcocked). Looking at that two-handed
grip - it is obvious that the ulnar half of each hand's palm
would be facing each other across the grip. I believe that
this two-handed grip pattern represents the
biomechanically/mechanically optimum way of
holding a golf club grip when performing a full golf
swing.
Image 3 shows a situation where the left hand is pronated
so that the left palm faces more groundwards. That is the
type of motion that a golfer would perform when
adopting a strong left hand grip (4-knuckle grip) - and it
is biomechanically due to a left forearm pronatory
movement. Note that if a golfer wanted to keep the two
palms facing each other across the grip, then he would
have to roll the right palm under the grip by supinating
his right forearm. Image 4 shows the dual-hand grip
appearance if a golfer adopted that type of hand-gripping
procedure - note that the left hand grip is very strong (4+
knuckle grip) and note that the palm of the right hand is
facing skywards (because the right hand's palm is parallel
to the left hand's palm). Many beginner golfers adopt this
grip pattern - often because it is biomechanically
comfortable, or because some uninformed golf instructor
thinks that it will help the golfer "correct" a slice problem.
Some golf instructors believe that this two-handed grip
pattern will help a slicer (who has the problem of an open
clubface at impact), because they think that the golfer will
automatically/naturally perform a left forearm supinatory
action, combined with a right forearm pronatory action,
in the late downswing that will roll the hands, and
therefore the clubface, into impact. If a golfer actually
performed that dual hand roll-over action in his late
downswing, just before impact, then that dual hand roll-
over action would cause the clubface to close in the late
downswing. The clubface at impact may be square to the
target if the golfer's timing of his dual hand roll-over
action is timed correctly, or it may be slightly open if his
timing is slightly slow, or it may be closed if his timing is
too fast. I believe that a golfer should never adopt a grip
pattern that forces him to use a hand manipulatory
technique (hand roll-over technique) - which is critically
dependent on "correct" timing in order to square the
clubface in the late downswing.
I believe that a golfer should always have a sound
biomechanical reason for adopting any particular grip
pattern. I stated earlier that the right hand grip should
preferably be neutral, and the right wrist wrist should
be level and vertical, when adopting a right hand grip
- irrespective of the strength of the left hand grip. Why
do I believe that this right hand grip pattern represents a
biomechanically-sound grip pattern choice? This is
where my explanation gets very complicated, because to
fully understand my biomechanical/mechanical
reasoning, you have to have a good grasp of TGM
mechanics/biomechanics [8]. I have described many
pertinent TGM concepts in many of my review papers,
and I have visually demonstrated the most relevant TGM
concept (the concept of the LAFW) in this "live"
question-and-answer broadcast.
LAFW is an abbeviation for "left arm flying wedge".
Understanding the value of maintaining an intact LAFW
throughout the backswing and downswing is a critically
important concept for an analytical golfer, who wants to
learn the fundamental biomechanics/mechanics
underlying the performance of an optimally efficient
swinging action. Secondly, one also needs to understand
the the concept of the RFFW (right forearm flying
wedge) and learn how the RFFW has to support the
intact LAFW during the backswing and downswing.
I previously posted a photo of myself holding the
clubshaft straight-in-line with the straight left arm/left
shoulder socket and under those conditions the LAFW is
intact, and the left wrist is defined as being geometrically
flat (GFLW). Note that the GFLW has a slightly cupped
appearance - due to the fact that the left hand is in its
APOR state.
Now consider what happens to the left wrist at address
and during the takeaway.
Martin Hall demonstrating the takeaway - capture images
from reference number [9]
Note that Martin Hall has placed a door hinge on the back
(dorsum) of his right wrist - and that hinge is designed to
emphasize the fact that the right wrist should only hinge
back (dorsiflex) during the backswing. He has also placed
a door hinge on the radial side of his left wrist - and that
hinge is designed to emphasize the fact that the left wrist
should only cock upwards (radially deviate) in the
backswing (and never bend backwards).
Image 1 shows Martin Hall at address. Note that the left
wrist is significantly cupped (green angled line). The
cupping is greater than the amount of cupping that exists
for a GFLW - because the left wrist is slightly bent due to
the fact that the clubshaft and left arm are not in a straight
line relationship. Note that the right wrist is nearly flat
(yellow angle line).
Note what happens at the start of the takeaway - image 2.
The right wrist bends backwards (dorsiflexes) and this
causes the left arm and clubshaft to become aligned in a
straight line relationship - and that constitutes an intact
LAFW. The bend in the left wrist disappears and a GFLW
is established. From this point onwards, a golfer should
start to roll the intact LAFW (and its GFLW) onto the
inclined plane. Image 3 shows Martin Hall at the end-
takeaway position. Note that his left forearm and GFLW
has rotated 90 degrees from its address position. Note that
his right wrist has bent back (yellow angle line) more than
it was at address.
Now consider what happens in the mid-backswing.

Martin Hall demonstrating the mid-late backswing action

- capture images mainly from reference number [9]

Image 1 shows Martin Hall at his end-takeaway position.

Image 2 shows Martin Hall at his mid-backswing
position. Note that he has continued to rotate his left
forearm clockwise and that action allows the intact
LAFW (with its GFLW) to rotate onto the surface of the
inclined plane.
Images 3 and image 4 show Martin Hall at the top-of-his-
backswing (where his hands are opposite his right
shoulder socket). Note that his intact LAFW (colored in
red in image 4) is lying against the surface of the inclined
plane. His left wrist is still geometrically flat (yellow
angled line in image 4). Note that the RFFW (consisting
of the right forearm and bent right wrist - colored in green
in image 4) is roughly at 90 degrees to the LAFW. Note
that he has cocked his left wrist upwards by ~90 degrees
so that the clubshaft is roughly at a 90 degree angle to his
left arm at the top-of-his-backswing. Note that the
clubshaft has cocked upwards within the plane of the
LAFW. Note that his right wrist only bends backwards,
while the left wrist is only cocking upwards - and this
phenomenon, where the two wrists move in opposite
planes (left wrist is cocking upwards in its vertical plane
of motion while the right wrist is bending backwards in
its horizontal plane of motion), is biomechanically
possible because the right elbow is bending during the
backswing action. At the top-of-the-swing, the right
palm is under the left hand/shaft and it provides
maximum support for the weight of the LAFW.
Now consider what happens in the mid-late downswing.

Martin Hall in the late phase of his mid-downswing and

early phase of his late downswing - capture images from
reference number [9]
During the early-mid downswing his intact LAFW will
come down along the surface of the inclined plane -
image 1 shows him in the late phase of his mid-
downswing with his intact LAFW still on the surface of
the inclined plane. He has still retained a 90 degree angle
between his left arm and clubshaft. Note that his right
elbow is still bent to a ~90 degree angle, and note that the
RFFW is still supporting the intact LAFW (with its
GFLW).
Note that the left wrist starts to uncock, and the clubshaft
starts to release, in the late phase of the mid-downswing
and early phase of the late downswing - images 2 and 3.
Note that the left wrist uncocking action occurs within the
plane of the LAFW, and he therefore retains a GFLW.
Note how he maintains a bent right wrist even while his
right elbow is straightening in the late downswing.

Martin Hall in the late phase of his late downswing -

capture images from reference number [9]

Note how his left forearm continues to rotate and how it

causes the intact LAFW to rotate into impact thus
squaring the clubface by impact. Note that the right elbow
straightens during this time period, and note that the right
palm is aligned behind the shaft as it moves into
impact. In other words, as the right arm straightens in the
late downswing, the RFFW is aligned on-plane with the
clubshaft and it provides maximum support for the
release of PA#3 (rolling of of the intact LAFW into
impact) and maximum support for the clubshaft as it
nears impact. That's another great advantage of adopting
a neutral right hand grip (with a level and vertical right
wrist) at address. If a golfer adopted a strong right
hand grip - where the right palm is under the grip,
rather than behind the grip, at address - then it would
alter the internal alignment of the RFFW, and also
alter its alignment-relationship with respect to the
LAFW, during both the backswing and downswing.
I previously mentioned that a golfer should preferably use
a neutral right hand - even if he uses a strong left hand
grip. Consider a golfer who uses a very strong left hand
grip - *Jamie Sadlowski.
(* I have written a review paper on Jamie Sadlowski's
swing - click here to access my very detailed review
paper)
Jamie Sadlowski - capture images fom different swing
videos

Image 1 shows Jamie Sadlowski at address. Note that he

has rotated his left forearm clockwise by ~90 degrees and
that pronatory left forearm action causes the back of his
left wrist/hand to be facing outwards, and to be parallel to
the ball-target line - that action produces a very strong
left hand grip (4+ knuckle grip). However, note that he
has a neutral right hand grip (with a level and vertical
left wrist).
Image 2 shows Jamie Sadloski at the end-takeaway
position. Note that his left wrist is still facing outwards
and note that he didn't pronate his left forearm more
during his takeaway action. In other words, he doesn't
perform a takeaway swivel action. Note how his right
wrist has bent backwards (dorsiflexed in its horizontal
plane of motion).
Image 3 shows Jamie Sadlowski at his end-backswing
position. Note that his right wrist is maximally bent back
(dosiflexed). Note how his RFFW is efficiently
supporting the weight of his LAFW.
Now consider his late downswing.
Jamie Sadloski - capture images from a swing video [10]

Image 1 shows Jamie Sadlowski at the delivery position.

Note that the back of his left hand is parallel to the ball-
target line. Note that his right wrist is still fully bent back
(dorsiflexed) and his RFFW still has a ~90 degree
relationship to the LAFW.
Note how his right palm remains behind the clubshaft
while his left wrist uncocks in the late downswing
(images 2 - 4) - thus providing maximum support for
the releasing club. That is a major advantage of adopting
a neutral right hand grip at address. Interestingly, note
that the back of his left wrist is still parallel to the ball-
target line at impact (image 4) - which means that he
doesn't use PA#3, via the biomechanical mechanism of a
release swivel action, in his late downswing.
Jamie Sadlowski has a very unusual swing pattern, which
is a direct result of the fact that he adopts a very strong
left hand (4+ knuckle) grip. I think that regular golfers,
who do not want to compete in long-drive competitions,
should not routinely use a very strong left hand grip. It
makes it very difficult to fluidly/controllably perform a
horizontal hinging action in the followthrough, and
therefore it is specifically not suitable for a TGM swinger
who uses a horizontal hinging action in the
followthrough. A TGM hitter can selectively use a strong
left hand grip, because he will be drive-loading the club
through impact. A strong left hand grip can also be
selectively used for certain short game shots eg. lob
shots/bunker shots where one uses a vertical hinging
action in the followthrough. A strong right hand grip
(which requires a supinated right forearm at address) can
also be selectively used when a golfer wants to use a VH
action in his followthrough.

Question number 2:
In his swing video lesson [7], this golf instructor
describes three different left palmar locations for the grip
when executing a full golf swing. Do you believe that
these three palmar locations are all acceptable for use in
a full golf swing?
Answer:
No.
The following diagram shows the three left palmar grip
locations that can be used by a golfer.

Grip positions in the left hand - capture image from

reference number [7]

The green line represents what he calls a "distance" grip

pattern. I refer to this grip pattern as a finger grip pattern.
The red line represents what he calls a "neutral grip"
pattern. I also refer to this grip pattern as a neutral grip
pattern. However, I also call it a low palmar grip pattern,
because the grip lies across the low palm, and it is below
the hypothenar eminence (heel pad).
The blue line represents what he calls a "control" grip
pattern. I refer to this grip pattern as a mid-palmar grip
pattern, because it runs across the middle of the left palm,
and it lies across/over the hypothenar eminence (heel
pad).
Now consider each grip pattern in turn.
Mid-palmar grip pattern
Here is a photo-demonstration of how to adopt a mid-
palmar grip.

Adopting a mid-palmar grip - capture images from

reference number [7]

I think that a mid-palmar grip markedly restricts the

mobility of the left wrist. It also decreases the power
accumulator number 3 angle at address, and therefore
limits the range of movement of the clubhead during the
release of PA#3. I therefore think that it is unsuitable for
use in a full golf swing. However, I think that it is a
perfectly acceptable left hand grip pattern for putting or
short chip shots, where a golfer deliberately wants to limit
wrist motions.
Low palmar grip pattern
Here is a photo-demonstration of how to adopt a low
palmar grip.

Adopting a low palmar grip - capture images from

reference number [7]

I think that this neutral left hand grip is an ideal grip for a
full golf swing. The low palmar position of the grip
doesn't restrict wrist motions, but it also doesn't allow for
excessive wrist mobility that occurs if the power
accumulator number 3 angle becomes too large (as occurs
with a finger grip). Note the short thumb position - the
end of the left thumb doesn't extend more than one
finger's width beyond the left 2nd finger. That's also
optimum. Finally, this type of grip pattern can ensure that
the grip is held firmly within the left hand - when the left
3rd, 4th and 5th fingers grip the club's grip firmly against
the soft tissue of the lower palm - and that action prevents
the grip from slipping in one's left hand.
Finger grip pattern
Here is a photo-demonstration of how to adopt a finger
grip.

Adopting a finger grip - capture images from reference

number [7]

I think that a finger grip offers a golfer the maximum

amount of wrist mobility and the maximum amount of
clubhead travel during the release of PA#3. Those facts
mean that a golfer can increase the amount of swing
power that can be derived from the release of PA#2 and
PA#3. However, a finger grip (especially if it is
associated with a long thumb - see image 3 in the above
photo) can create a "floppy" left wrist situation that offers
added clubhead speed at the expense of control. It
therefore becomes harder to time the club squaring
phenomenon (due to the release of PA#3) and the club
release phenomenon (due to the release of PA#2) when
using a finger grip. Golfers who want to maximize
control, at the expense of maximum clubhead speed,
should preferably use a neutral, low palmar grip. Another
disadvantage of a finger grip is that it is more difficult to
securely hold the grip without the club slipping in the left
hand during the swing action.

Question number 3:
What is the difference between a long thumb grip and a
short thumb grip?
Answer:
A short thumb grip exists when the distance between the
tip of the left thumb and the left index finger's metacarpo-
phalangeal joint is less than 1 finger's width, and a long
thumb grip exists when that distance is >2-3 fingers
width.
Here is an example of a long thumb grip situation.
Long thumb grip is produced when adopting a left hand
finger grip pattern - capture image from reference number
[7]

Note that there is distance of 3 fingers width between the

tip of the left thumb and the 2nd MP joint (or 2nd finger).
If the thumb is that extended on the grip, it allows the
wrist to upcock (radially deviate) more at the end-
backswing position and it predisposes to over-swinging.
To avoid that problem, a golfer should retract the left
thumb, which closes the gap area between the left thumb
and the 2nd finger's MP joint - thereby creating a short
thumb grip scenario.
Short thumb grip - capture image from reference number
[7]

Note that there is only a distance of ~1 finger's width

between the tip of the thumb and the index finger. That
action of retracting the left thumb creates a wrist that is
less mobile - from an upcocking perspective.
A long thumb situation will not naturally occur if a
golfer adopts a low palmar grip or a mid-palmar grip, and
it's only a potential problem if a golfer uses a finger grip.

Question number 4:
How firmly should a golfer grip the club with his left
hand?
Answer:
In my first version of this chapter, I advised golfers to
adopt a non-firm left hand grip (eg. 4-5 on a scale of 1-
to-10). Some golf instructors advise a golfer to adopt an
an even looser left hand grip - using the analogy of
holding a live bird in one's hand and making sure that the
left hand grip is never firm enough to harm the live bird.
Another similar analogy used by golf instructors is the
mental idea of gripping an open tube of toothpaste, and
not gripping the tube so tightly that it will cause
toothpaste to ooze out of the tube. The primary reason for
advocating a loose left hand grip was to discourage a
golfer from acquiring a tense left wrist that doesn't cock-
and-uncock easily during the swing. I now believe that it
is a major mistake to have a loose left hand grip. I
presently believe that the grip should be firm enough, so
that it becomes i) impossible for a golfer friend to pull the
club out of your hand and ii) impossible for him to cause
the grip to twist in your left hand when he attempts to
twist the clubhead to-and-fro with his dominant hand.
That requires a firm left hand grip.
I believe that the best method of adopting a firm left hand
grip (without needing to over-tense the finger flexor
muscles) is to use a low palmar left hand grip, and to use
the left 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers to grip the club (against
the lower palmar area). The grip should "feel" locked-in
between those 3 fingers and the lower palm. The left
index finger and left thumb play no role in achieving a
firm grip. If a golfer only uses the left 3rd, 4th and 5th
fingers to firmly grip the club, then it should not create
any untoward tension in the wrist flexor muscles and it
should not negatively affect the ease-of-motion
(looseness) of the left wrist's hinging and/or cocking
motions.

Question number 5:
Why don't you recommend the baseball grip, where all 10
fingers hold onto the grip?
Answer:
A golfer who uses a baseball grip is using all 10 fingers
of the left/right hand to hold onto the grip.
Baseball grip - capture image from reference number [7]

Many golf instructors recommend a baseball grip for

children, senior golfers or female golfers. They believe
that it creates the possibility of a golfer getting greater
leverage. However, the idea of getting greater leverage in
that manner encourages a golfer to deliberately straighten
the right wrist in the late downswing in an attempt to hit
the ball further. That right hand push-action promotes
flipping in the late downswing, which is a major swing
fault. I think that all golfers should avoid using a baseball
grip. I believe that the "correct" grip is a grip where the
two hands are held togther in a closely-knit manner, so
that they can function as a single grip-clamping unit.
Nick Bradley's image of an ideal two-handed golf grip -
from reference number [11]

Note how the right hand is bonded to the left hand at PP#1
(where the nail penetrates the dorsum of the left thumb).
That's my idea of a good grip!

Question number 6:
Should the degree of left wrist cupping at the end-
backswing position be the same as it was at address - as
recommended by Jim Flick in this Golf Digest tip.
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2010-
01/jim_flick_wrist
Answer:
No.
The left wrist is bent at address when the clubshaft is held
centralised between the feet, with the clubshaft
perpendicular to the ball-target line. That causes the left
arm and clubshaft to not be in a straight line relationship,
which means that the LAFW is disrupted and not intact.

Fred Couples left wrist alignment - capture image from

the GD article

Image 1 shows Fred Couples at address. Note that he

holds his clubshaft perpendicular to the ball-target line
(yellow dotted line). That disrupts his LAFW. If his
LAFW was intact, then the clubshaft would be straight-
in-line with his left arm (red dotted line) and he would
have a GFLW (which is less visually cupped than a bent
left wrist).
Image 2 shows that Fred Couples still has a bent left wrist
at his end-backswing position (yellow angle line). That
causes his club to cross the line and point to the right-of-
the-target.
I believe that it is optimum to establish an intact LAFW
during the early takeaway (by dorsiflexing the right wrist,
which eliminates the bend in the left wrist - as described
in question number 1). A golfer should then maintain an
intact LAFW throughout the remainder of the backswing.
An the end-backswing position, a golfer should
optimally have an intact LAFW and a GFLW (which is
only slightly cupped).

Question number 7:
In question number 1, you stated that a swinger, who uses
a HH action in his followthrough, should not use a strong
left hand grip (4 knuckle grip). Could you provide more
details as to why you do not recommend a strong left
hand grip for a swinger who uses a roll-over release
action through impact?
Answer:
The advantage of a strong left hand grip is that one has to
adopt a pronated left forearm at address to acquire a
strong left hand grip (4 knuckle grip). That means that
one does not roll the left forearm more during the
backswing action via the mechanism of a left forearm
pronatory motion. There is still a small amount of
clockwise rotation of the left hand in the backswing
action to get the left hand to its end-backswing position,
but that is due to internal rotation of the left humerus in
the left shoulder socket, while the left shoulder socket
moves back-and-inside as a result of the rotation of the
upper torso. If there is no left forearm pronation in the
backswing, then one doesn't have to reverse the process
in the late downswing by performing a left forearm
supination motion (which consititutes the biomechanics
underlying the release swivel action - release of PA#3).
Jamie Sadlowski is an example of a golfer who has a very
strong left hand grip, and he therefore doesn't use a
release swivel action in his late downswing.
Jamie Sadlowski's late downswing - capture images from
his swing video [10]

Note that the back of his left hand and back of his left
forearm is parallel to the ball-target line at the delivery
position (image 1) and at impact (image 4). That means
that he doesn't have to roll his left hand into impact via a
left forearm supination action in order to square the
clubface - note that the clubface is relatively square to the
clubhead arc throughout the late downswing. Note that
his left forearm is pronated at impact - to the same degree
that it was at address.
Now consider what happens in his followthrough.
Jamie Sadlowski's followthrough - capture images from
his swing video
Note that Jamie Sadlowski still maintains a pronated left
forearm throughout the early followthrough (images 1
and 2) and that allows him to keep his clubface relatively
square to the clubhead arc for >12" after impact. In other
words, Jamie Sadlowski is not employing a roll-over
release action and a HH action in his early followthrough.
Jamie Sadlowski is employing a drive-hold release
action through impact where he keeps his clubface
relatively square to the clubhead arc through impact, and
he therefore doesn't have to time-coordinate a roll-over
release action after impact.
Now consider another golfer, who also uses a strong left
hand grip, but who utilises a roll-over release action after
impact.
JK's swing video using a strong left hand grip -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dv2suorUZw
He uses a strong left hand grip (4 knuckle grip) but he
also utilises a roll-over release action through impact.

JK's roll-over release action using a strong left hand grip

- capture images from his swing videos

Image 1 shows his impact alignments - note that his left

forearm is pronated at impact, which ensures that the back
of his left hand is roughly parallel to the ball-target line.
Image 2 & 3 shows how he starts to supinate his left
forearm, and externally rotate his left humerus, soon after
impact - which causes his clubface to roll-over very
quickly after impact. I have added two DTL images
(images 4 & 5) from another swing video, which shows
that his clubface closes by ~90 degrees within 18" after
impact. That abrupt roll-over release action creates a
timing problem, and if the roll-over occurs too soon (pre-
impact) it will deleteriously affect his ability to ensure
that he reliably squares the clubface at impact and reliably
maintains a square clubface for at least a few inches after
impact.
JK has since converted to a neutral grip, and he can now
maintain a square clubface more reliably through impact
and for many inches after impact.
JK's swing video using a neutral left hand grip -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNk8e6OyFzI

JK's roll-over release action using a neutral left hand grip

- capture images from his swing video

Image 1 shows his impact aligments - note that his FLW

is facing the target, and that his left forearm is neutral
(neither supinated or pronated). Image 2 shows that he
can maintain a clubface that is relatively square to the
clubhead arc for at least 12" after impact, and that he can
now delay his roll-over release action to a later stage of
his followthrough (image 3). When he previously used a
pronated left forearm (and strong left hand grip), he
couldn't avoid having an abrupt roll-over release action
soon after impact - primarily due to an uncontrolled left
forearm supination action immediately after impact.
The important lesson to learn is that a strong left hand
grip (which requires a pronated left forearm at
address/impact) can create a potential timing problem in
a swinger because of the high rate of clubface closure
through the impact zone if the golfer has an uncontrolled
roll-over release action through impact. A strong left
hand grip (as an optional grip approach) is more suitable
for golfers who use a drive-hold release action through
impact (eg. a swing-hitter like Jamie Sadlowski, or a
hitter like Lee Trevino), and it can (non-optimally) be
utilised by golfers who use a delayed rollover release
action where the roll-over release action occurs well after
impact.