gripping the club 1 inch shorter, hitting much better

[jenhaoyen]

Is it a band aid? The ball flight seems much straighter and higher.
I tried to bend down more with regular grip, but I always hit it fat. I got so sick of hitting the ground I grip 1 inch shorter and I hit it much better. I'm 5'8 and from what I see on the chart I should be hitting standard length, however I feel like I hit so much better with 1 inch down and the distance seems to be the same if not further with 1 inch shorter.

 

[dannyc]

works for anthony kim

 

[teacherfitter]

Effective lie angle change

Is it a band aid? The ball flight seems much straighter and higher.
I tried to bend down more with regular grip, but I always hit it fat. I got so sick of hitting the ground I grip 1 inch shorter and I hit it much better. I'm 5'8 and from what I see on the chart I should be hitting standard length, however I feel like I hit so much better with 1 inch down and the distance seems to be the same if not further with 1 inch shorter.

Gripping down 1" changes the effective lie angle of the club by 2 deg.

 

[Kevin Shields]

Is it a band aid? The ball flight seems much straighter and higher.
I tried to bend down more with regular grip, but I always hit it fat. I got so sick of hitting the ground I grip 1 inch shorter and I hit it much better. I'm 5'8 and from what I see on the chart I should be hitting standard length, however I feel like I hit so much better with 1 inch down and the distance seems to be the same if not further with 1 inch shorter.

Cpuld very well steepen out a reverse tumbler such as yourself. Helps keep you bent over and fit the butt end lower thru impact

 

[rogerdodger]

All my clubs are 1/2 inch shorter than standard. My game has improved since I did that two years ago. Look at some old photos of Johnny Miller, with irons, he usually gripped down an inch at least.

 

[SteveT]

Maybe you should install thinner grips on your clubs and then you could use their entire length. Alternatively, have you tried gripping your clubs say 2" lower to see what happens??

 

[jenhaoyen]

Maybe you should install thinner grips on your clubs and then you could use their entire length. Alternatively, have you tried gripping your clubs say 2" lower to see what happens??

hitting very good gripping down.

I even tried my cousin's 7 years old club for youth. I had to bend down so much but i hit it so well and pure

 

[SteveT]

Could you post photos of your Address stance with your clubs gripped at the end and 1" down, as well as the junior clubs?

I bet the position of the club sole will reveal your true problem.

 

[jenhaoyen]

Could you post photos of your Address stance with your clubs gripped at the end and 1" down, as well as the junior clubs?

I bet the position of the club sole will reveal your true problem.

don't have the club with me, so i'm using my wife's club
Regular Stance

Choked down

junior club stance

 

[SteveT]

don't have the club with me, so i'm using my wife's club.

Nice photos, but I can't see the club sole to determine if the club goes more toe-up as you lower your hand grip position. Maybe somebody from the Manzella Acadamy can comment on your Address stance.

What I do see is your spine hunching round as you lower your Address ... not good. I suggest you go back to your original stance with a proper S-shaped spinal orientation. Your problem is not resolved by hunching over.

 

[Bigwill]

Nice photos, but I can't see the club sole to determine if the club goes more toe-up as you lower your hand grip position. Maybe somebody from the Manzella Acadamy can comment on your Address stance.

What I do see is your spine hunching round as you lower your Address ... not good. I suggest you go back to your original stance with a proper S-shaped spinal orientation. Your problem is not resolved by hunching over.

The hunch may be due to him trying to fit the rest of the grip in between his belly and his hands. Would probably have to see him actually holding a junior club to be sure.

I once tried the same thing as you, Jen, with similar results. I once gripped down to the steel on an 8 iron (don't ask why). I hit it flush, and I swear it went normal distance. And I'm nearly 6'3", so I don't know why it worked; you'd think I'd have trouble staying down on it.

 

[jenhaoyen]

The hunch may be due to him trying to fit the rest of the grip in between his belly and his hands. Would probably have to see him actually holding a junior club to be sure.

I once tried the same thing as you, Jen, with similar results. I once gripped down to the steel on an 8 iron (don't ask why). I hit it flush, and I swear it went normal distance. And I'm nearly 6'3", so I don't know why it worked; you'd think I'd have trouble staying down on it.

i feel like i"m too short, it shouldn't be a problem for you to bend down haha

 

[jenhaoyen]

i was using the junior driver, the 7 iron...man did I hit that thing straight.

7 iron went about 120 yards hahaha

 

[jenhaoyen]

i wonder if people get mad if i start using that 7 iron for short pitches, it's so much easier to hit than my 56 degree

 

[Bigwill]

i feel like i"m too short, it shouldn't be a problem for you to bend down haha

 

[SteveT]

i feel like i"m too short, .... haha

jenhaoyen ... perhaps your hand grip is too soft and you are losing control of the club handle in the downswing, or even the backswing. Do you feel secure with the regular club in your hands, or do you feel like you will miss-hit the ball..??

Do you feel more secure and under control with the junior club?

Another possibility is that the club handle portion above your hands is acting like a counterweight and causing the club to quickly flip around into Impact.

Have you been fitted for your clubs? I recall a PING Color Chart for fitting clubs based on your height and wrist-to-floor distance. Does anybody have the .pdf link for jenhaoyen ..??

 

[softconsult]

Looks to me like you are fitting your stance to the club. The point of fitting is to
fit the club to an optimized stance.

Stare at that picture of yourself and think about where your weight is centered.
Your weight is too far toward your heels. Easy solution is use a little more knee
flex. You need to feel sort of springy, like playing defense in basketball. Front of
knees over balls of your feet.

If you do that your hands may be closer to the ground. You may be better off with a
flatter club. Go find a Ping cart and try 2 degrees flat.

That's just my gut reaction to your photos.

 

[odpeus]

J,
"i wonder if people get mad if i start using that 7 iron for short pitches, it's so much easier to hit than my 56 degree"


You are playing golf - it is so much fun ...