Left hand thumb position

[ReefBoy]

Hi guys,

I was at the range on the weekend with a mate and I noticed the left thumb position he had was funky. He was a very good tennis player and his left hand grip was similar to the way he would grip a racquet, with the left thumb wrapped around the right side of the handle. I told him that wasn't the way to grip it, and his reply was "Why?"

Well I thought about it and had to confess that I didn't know, it is the only way I have ever been told to do it and read about. So my question is why is the thumb in the 12:30-1:00 position on the handle(Righty). What does it do being there? and is there a problem with the way my friend was gripping it?

Christopher

 

[dbl]

Good question...I'd like to hear too. I bet it has something to do with control at the top of the backswing.

However, I wonder if there is some variance on what a teach would say based on the golfer's hand size.

 

[natep]

I think it has to do with supporting the weight of the shaft at the top and applying pressure on the shaft at the appropriate time on the downswing.

 

[SteveT]

Gene Sarazen used this kind of grip. He had an interlocking finger grip and wrapped his left thumb around the handle. Apparently he did this because of his short fingers.

With this kind of gripping, you would have to support the club at the top of the swing with your right hand acting as the fulcrum. Your left thumb doesn't need to be the fulcrum, particularly if you grip with a 'long' thumb.

Golfers just resolve the forces between the hands according to their hand anatomy and their golfswing habits.

 

[natep]

I wonder what effect moving the fulcrum from the left thumb to the right hand has on leverage and mechanical advantage. Any thoughts?

 

[SteveT]

I wonder what effect moving the fulcrum from the left thumb to the right hand has on leverage and mechanical advantage. Any thoughts?

I think a right hand fulcrum creates more stability for swing reversal and also establishes PP#3 going into the downswing. It's not a matter of MA as much as it is of stability.

Why in God's name would you want to absorb the backswing momentum on your left thumb when your right hand is available and the right forearm is directly under the shaft for a perfect Class I Lever assembly??!!!!

 

[natep]

LOL I have for a long time. I have only recently been employing a long left thumb. Up until about a week ago I had always used a very short left thumb. It only allowed ~135* angle between left arm and clubshaft. Now it's closer to 90*.

I have picked up a few yards without any noticeable decrease in accuracy.

I still use the short left thumb on partial finesse shots. I feel like it offers better control.

 

[SteveT]

Oh, natep ... now you've found an additional 45º of downswing lag starting at Reversal ... unless you were adding lag from your ~135º - 3/4 backswing in desperation ... and now the ugly truth emerges ....

Re your edit: Now that's interesting ... so you revert back to a short thumb on reduced backswings and presumably using short irons and wedges. Does that mean you don't fully engage PP#3 in your rear right hand in Release, and you just sorta pull and drag the clubs with your left arm? How do you achieve control ... unless you mightily grip with your left hand?

 

[natep]

Never added lag.

I like to swing back, stop, and swing down without things working in opposite directions.

Re your edit: I'm talking about shots inside of 60 yards. I use firm grip left and right hand. I'm left-handed but play right-handed so my left hand is always dominate.

 

[SteveT]

A lagless swing ??? ... Heresy !!!!

You must be sustaining the torque and not the lag ... or something ...