Grip Pressure

[Bagger Lance]

I thought I would post a recent experience and see if anyone can relate.

A few days ago I put my old blades aside and purchased MP-33's set up with stiffer shafts, lower lie angles, and heavier swing weight. Couldn't wait to try them out.

Swinging by the way.

After warming up with chips and pitches, my session went something like this.

5 shots thin. Adjust aiming point.
3 slices, recheck grip, stance, plane, and right forearm alignment
2 push/cuts. Step back and think...(did I do the right thing buying these clubs???)

Recheck the above, add signficant #2 pressure at address and keep it there.

10 knife through butter...sizzle. Switch clubs
10 knife through butter...sizzle. Switch clubs

I went through another 50 balls. Dead online with plenty of distance, ball height, and sizzle. Took the same to my driver, 3 wood off the deck, etc. Same results.

I've never really thought about #2 grip pressure, but looking back, it has helped keep my left arm wedge more stable through impact and into the finish. I notice that I can keep my left wrist flat into the finish when I have more pressure on those last three fingers. For me, the pressure is about equal to a firm handshake. It would definiately kill the bird and squish the bread. But it's just those last three fingers and more specifically, the last two fingers of the left hand.
My left wrist cocking motion is not restricted in the least. There is a firmness that seems to help keep the left wrist flat through impact and into the finish.

Didn't have a specific awareness of this in my old clubs, but it's the only way the new ladies will dance.

Bagger

[Matt]

Interesting...I also use a very tight grip pressure. On a scale of 1-10 it's probably a good 8. I never did buy into the "use a 2-3 on a scale of 10" stuff. If I do that I feel like the club is going to go flying out of my hands at the top. As long as pressure is in the right places you can squeeze it pretty hard.

[tongzilla]

The only fingers that should be gripped firmly, for both Hitters and Swingers, are the last three fingers of the left hand, and the middle two fingers of the right hand (that's the middle and ring fingers). All other fingers and thumbs should just rest on the club, especially your right forefinger.

[Yoda]

... add signficant #2 pressure at address and keep it there.

Remember, the Swinger's action is all about Drag Loading the Left Wrist -- the #2 Power Accumulator -- in the Start Down. That Lag Pressure Loading is sensed through the associated #2 Pressure Point -- the last three fingers of the Left Hand. It is no coincidence that the #2 Pressure Point is the first listed (Item #14) in Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum of 12-5-1.

Despite his huge Pivot Motion, Sam Snead was never one to stress the Body in his Stroke. In fact, he was once quoted as saying "I haven't thought about my legs for five minutes in my whole life." He was, however, acutely aware of his Hands, and he always said, "I start my downswing by pulling down with the last two fingers of my left hand."

But what did he know?

[Bagger Lance]

Remember, the Swinger's action is all about Drag Loading the Left Wrist -- the #2 Power Accumulator -- in the Start Down. That Lag Pressure Loading is sensed through the associated #2 Pressure Point -- the last three fingers of the Left Hand.

From an application standpoint, is it correct to assume that the "firmness" being applied at address and startup should not overwhelm the sense of lag loading at startdown? Or should at least be equal?

I don't have any trouble delaying release with the firm pressure. It does not inhibit wristcock. This is all very interesting to me because the awareness has come from having new tools in my hands to work with.

[EdZ]

Bagger - I have at times used the same sensations to get my left wedge back. My trend is to get too light with all of my fingers, and getting those last 3 fingers firm does indeed help a lot.

As a swinger, PP#2 is a great place to focus your feel - especially in putting.

[Yoda]

This is all very interesting to me because the awareness has come from having new tools in my hands to work with.

Bagger,

The Tools are not new.

They have been there.

Waiting...

Patiently...

For your Incubator to complete its processing and give them to you.

Rest assured...

Given all you have done...

You could not have rushed this process.

Enjoy.

[Bagger Lance]

A tad more awareness. Grip pressure is a significant factor in the new setup. Reverified it tonight along with a few more additions.

Tongzilla - I'll need some more time on the right middle and ring finger pressure to determine their role in the swing. I've always felt they helped sense lag pressure on the takeaway, but not sure how they contribute to impact stability.

Right forearm pickup also works wonders. Not the kind of right forearm pickup I used with my old clubs. More pronounced in that the right forearm had to be set at impact fix and adjusted to address much more precisely, and taken back to the turned shoulder plane location as before.

I simply love Homers work. It is a guided struggle vs. a blind stuggle.

Making these very quick and effective swing modifications without external assistance is mind blowing.

The change from a D1 to D5 swingweight, grips that are slightly larger (may adjust later), lie angles that are 2 degrees flatter, shaft that is a step stiffer, and club length that is 1/2 over.

I was not getting the quality of shots and ballflight with the other sticks. This is about using the same alignments as before, but fine tuning the components to adjust to the new instrument.

Wonderful stuff.

This is hard to admit, but 5 years ago I couldn't break 100! I took up golf at 39. I'm a solid 70's player now trying to get to scratch, and some time on the short game will take me there. I'm lucky I stumbled onto TGM early in my golf journey and have had some very, very good hands-on counseling from Yoda over the last two years.

Nuff said...
Bagger

[Yoda]

One more thought on the #2 Pressure Point:

It is no coincidence that it is the first listed (Item #14) in Stage One of the Basic Motion Curriculum of 12-5-1.