The Golf Grip – How Hard Should You Hold It?

Keeping a solid and firm golf grip while swinging is critical to your golfing consistency and success. Now there are many different "ideas" on how hard you should grip the golf club, e.g. hold the grip as though youre holding a baby bird OR hold the grip as tight as you would a loaf of bread etc., etc. But the bottom line really is not so much how hard you hold the grip but its how hard you dont hold it.

What do I mean?

Well in an ideal world you should hold the golf grip just hard enough so it doesnt slip or move around when you swing. Now how hard that is for you or me varies greatly on the strength of our hands.

If you have very strong hands then you may not need to hold the golf grip as hard as, say, I would. So the defining line on how hard to golf grip a club is by how much it moves and heres a great way to determine your golf grip movement.

Line up 6 balls in a row on tees and then start at the first one and hit it and dont alter your golf grip and then hit the next ball and the next one. And if you come to a point when you cant hit the ball because your golf grip is nothing like it should be then you know that your golf grip has slipped when youve swung. If you cant hit the second shot because of your grip movement then youve got a grip slippage problem that needs fixing fast.

The main key to your grip slipping will most probably be due to your top hand moving. So heres a simple exercise you can do to help fix this.

Grip the golf club as normal. But just before you swing place a golf tee between the pad of your left hand and the golf grip. Now this golf tee should be securely in place by the pressure that you're placing on the golf grip with your left hand. Once it is you simply need to swing as normal and keep the tee in place.

Naturally this can only happen if you don't move your top hand grip. And this will happen naturally just by you being aware of the golf tee and trying to keep it in place. Then after some practice with this exercise go back and do the 6 ball exercise and see if you've improved your grip security.

I'm sure you will find you have improved it. So try this and see for yourself.

Gear Up For Golf Success: How To Use The Right Golf Grips To Improve Your Game

Why the whole production over golf grips? This inexpensive part of your golfing gear can be the deciding factor in your game. I know, I know, the latest golf cart accessories are much more inviting than a club grip. Perhaps the 'ordinariness' of this humble piece of equipment is the reason why so many players neglect to pay adequate attention to it. Try to keep your eye on the fact that these are vital when it comes to control of the club. In fact, your golf grip choice will have a direct bearing on the flight of the ball.

Both size and texture play a major role. While many players opt for a fairly bulky style, a more neutral size may be beneficial. At the other end of the spectrum, too small a golf grip may result in drawing or pulling of the ball. The larger styles may be more comfortable if you have a joint ailment.

Opt for a smaller design if you have a tendency to slice the ball. If you tend to hook the ball, a larger option may get you into a more desired groove.

Some golf equipment companies make use of color coding to simplify the process of choosing the right match for you. A wide variety of materials are available, each with specific characteristics. Some of the most well-known brands are Golf Pride, Winn golf grips, Lamkin golf grips, Tacki-Mac, Avon, Karakal and the Tour collection.

6 Manufacturing Styles To Choose From

Polymer: These soft-styled designs are now often manufactured from a substance called EPDM. The finished product has excellent friction and remains in good condition for a long time.

Rubber: These are usually a mixture of rubber and cork. These slip-on styles are pressure molded, sanded and finished with paint. They usually come with a rib that helps to guide hand placement. Golf Pride's all-rubber design comes with a firm, black core that extends to the surface in certain areas. This becomes your thumb-placement guide and adds extra stability. This is an excellent golf club grip to try if you have arthritis.

Leather: Although not suitable for wet weather, cowhide or calfskin collections offer what is known as good tackiness. This is one of the less affordable options on the market.

Corded: These are excellent for use when it is raining, due to its non-slip properties. Thread is used to cord a mix of synthetic and natural rubber golf grips. It is quite understandable that these are not glove-friendly. One example of this is Golf Pride's Tour Velvet Cord material.

3M Greptile Gripping Material: This superb material offers a high level of tackiness, friction and hold in all kinds of weather. Part of the secret is that it releases just as easily. If you long to achieve a consistent, golf super swing, 3M may offer exactly what you need. Thousands of tiny 'fingers' help you to hold your club with less effort. The injection molded design is manufactured from a material with a polyurethane base. Unique strips are also available if you want to modify your gloves for better performance in wet weather.

Thermoplastic Rubber: Why not join the 'in' crowd with the Funky Golf collection made from thermoplastic rubber? The vibrant colors will brighten your day. These golf grips won't absorb sweat and will retain their tackiness for long periods.

When it comes to putters, you can choose between a paddle grip and a pistol style. Take a look at the Lamkin Deep-Etched Paddle design with its deep, horizontally etched pattern.

Many companies provide products for people with joint problems. The Lamkin Arthritic with its nubbed texture is another example of this effort to make the sport comfortable and accessible to people with arthritis. This particular line reduces hand pressure noticeably.

A variety of tools are available to help you to remove old grips without damaging your club shaft. One of these is the Rhino Rip tool which slides on top of the shaft and slice through the outer material. It has been designed to be safe for use on graphite shafts as well.

You need to consider the weight as well, as this has a significant effect on your swing's weight. Don't make a change without taking this into consideration. The two major factors when making a decision, has to do with the core of the grip and the outer dimension of the shaft of the club. If your grips are worn out, you will probably be holding your club with too much tension in your hands, arms and shoulders, affecting your distance severely.

Remember that golf club grips oxidize and lose their grasp in time, so you need to keep an eye on their condition.

The right golf grip can have a marked effect on the quality of your game, and transform you from a mediocre golfer into a worthy opponent.

Click here to discover how you can slice your handicap by 7 to 12 strokes in just 2 weeks...

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