What is a short thumb in golf?
A short thumb grip is basically the opposite of an extended thumb grip. The short thumb grip keeps the thumb from extending down the grip nearly as far as it does with the long thumb grip. With the short thumb grip, the thumb looks as though it's almost in line with the other fingers in the hand.
What happens if a grip is too small for the golfers hands?
If you're playing with grips that are too small for your hands (regardless of your golf glove size), the smaller muscles of the hand and fingers have to work harder, often causing an overactive motion through the ball. In other words, smaller grips can make you handsy and cause you to release the clubhead too quickly.
Is there such a thing as golfers thumb?
Overview. DeQuervain's tendinitis, also known as DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, is an inflammation and injury to two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Forceful and repetitive thumb and wrist movements can irritate these tendons and cause the condition.
Where should my thumbs be on golf grip?
The pads of your right hand palm should cover up your left thumb. The right thumb should rest on the left side of the grip and be touching the tip of your right index finger, which is wrapped underneath the grip. When gripping the golf club, don't hold the club too tight.
Can grip size affect golf swing?
Yes, your grip size can affect how high or low you hit the golf ball. Playing a grip that is too small can force you to squeeze the grip and not use your wrists enough. Oppositely, if you're using too big of a grip, it can make it harder to square the clubface at impact.
Do any PGA Tour players use midsize grips?
Breakdown of Golf Grips Used by Top 100 PGA Tour Players What is this? Tony Finau meanwhile opts for 4 wraps under the left and 3 wraps under the right hand of his Lamkin UTX Midsize Full Cord grips.
Why do my thumbs hurt from golf?
A common injury for golfers is De Quervain's Tendonitis. The two tendons affected by this condition (abductor pollicus longus & extensor pollicus brevis) are both located at the base of the thumb, near the wrist. The tendons may rub as they course around a natural bump of bone at the back of the wrist (radial styloid).
What is the best thumb stabilizer?
A quick look at the best thumb braces for arthritisBest overall thumb brace: Mueller Reversible Thumb Stabilizer.Best spica brace: Armstrong Amerika Thumb Spica Splint.Best push brace: Push MetaGrip CMC Thumb Brace.Best lace-up brace: Futuro Thumb Brace.Best waterproof brace: Basko Healthcare CMCcare Thumb Brace.
Why do pro golfers tape their fingers?
Many golfers wear tape on their fingers to prevent or cover up hot spots, blisters, calluses, cuts, and other uncomfortable distractions. It's part of their prep, covering up the fingers that tend to get mangled during a round of golf or a long session at the range.
How important is the left thumb in golf swing?
This “looseness” is bound to occur through impact, leading to wayward shots. That is why the placement of the left thumb is so important. It establishes a position of the left hand and arm which is powerful, leading to enhanced control of the club-face through the ball.
Should golf grip be in fingers or palm?
Grip in the fingers, not the palm Make sure that the grip is in the fingers of your left hand, not running too much through the palm of your hand. If the grip gets into the palm too much it will make it nearly impossible to use your wrists properly in your swing.
How tight should you hold a golf club?
You should be holding the golf club with the same pressure you would hold a small bird: tight enough so it doesn't fly away, but soft enough so you don't crush it. You don't want to choke your club to death.
Do pros use oversize grips?
While most pros aren't using oversize grips on their other clubs, they can help amateurs reduce grip pressure during the full swing.
How do I know if my golf grips are too big?
Ideally, they should just be touching. If it digs in too much, your grips are too small; if it doesn't come close to touching the thumb pad, the grips are too big.
Do you use same grip for driver and irons?
Overall, the physical grip choice is quite important and something that should be considered from the driver to iron. Most great players will tell you that choosing a grip that is the same across all of your clubs is the best decision that you could make. However, most players don't do this.
Do pro golfers have calluses?
For pro golfers, their hands are their working and income-generating tools. Just like a surgeon, damaged hands or fingers will prevent him from performing at his best, if not eliminating him from operating. The left hand will also develop some form of calluses, even though it is protected by a soft leather glove.
Where should the thumb rest on a golf shaft?
Instead of resting directly on top of the shaft in the 12 O’Clock position, the right thumb should be in more of a relative 10 O’Clock position to the left of the shaft and resting on the tip of the right index finger. In that position, the right thumb can lend support without applying excess pressure to the shaft.
What position do you put your thumb in when you swing?
But many everyday players take their grip with the right thumb right on top of the shaft in what many instructors call the 12 O’Clock position .
Why is it so hard to see the shaft of a golf club when you have a palm and finger grip?
A palm-and-finger grip makes it more difficult to see the shaft of the club reach the point of being parallel to the ground (or go past it) even when your wrists are fully hinged. In that sense, it may prove difficult to fully hinge for golfers who have flexibility issues.
How to tell if a golfer has a long thumb grip?
Secondly, a golfer with a long thumb grip will notice how the knuckles of his fingers are laying almost flat and mostly follow the line of the grip.
What is the consequence of limited hinge range?
A consequence of this limited hinge range is that swings will be shorter with such a grip, at least in contrast to a long left thumb grip.
Why use a grip on a golf swing?
Such a grip is therefore particularly recommended to those looking to add speed to their swings and to those that experience limited flexibility in their wrists.
What is the position relative to the center of the golf ball?
Indeed, the position relative to the center refers to the grip strength and can vary between weak, neutral and strong. But additionally, how the golfer actually places his left thumb irrespective of how far to the left or right can also vary. Indeed, you can either adopt a long thumb grip or a short thumb grip.
Which thumb extends less down the grip?
Firstly, as its name implies the left thumb extends much less down the grip than it does in the long finger grip. Indeed, a golfer with a short left thumb will notice how his thumb will extend barely past the other fingers down on the grip.
Can you keep your left thumb short?
Keeping the left thumb from extending down the grip comes at a cost of space for the rest of the left hand, which has no other choice than to be pushed towards a palm-and-finger grip. Indeed, it is quite uncomfortable to keep your left thumb short while retaining an all-fingers grip.
Why do my wrists swing longer?
But when you’re less tense, your muscles react, your grip pressure is soft, and your wrists can swing the club longer.
How to lower stress levels on golf course?
The key, Gio goes on to explain, is learn to lower your stress levels on the course through breathing and positive thought exercises. And, if nothing else, having a greater understanding of what happens to your swing when you are stressed. That way, the next time you feel that tension rising, you can remember to grip a little softer, swing a little longer, and send the ball sailing down the fairway.
Do golfers forget their instincts?
It may sound a little silly, but when golfers are busy trying to figure out ways to improve their game, they sometimes forget the inherently human traits that can stand in their way. We’re all hard-wired with certain instincts: to stay upright, for instance, or to avoid danger. These instincts affect everything we do, and believe it or not, they can even show up in your golf swing.
Which thumb is better for high shots or low shots?
Thumb to the right for high shots, thumb to the left for lower shots; and who said controlling your shot's trajectory was hard?
What thumb is used for backspin?
“For a high shot with backspin, swing through impact and hold off the rotation of your hands so that your right thumb stays on the right side of the handle,” says Fisher. “To produce a lower shot that has some run, make the same swing but let your hands rotate ...
What is the key to a good short game?
You may know that one of the keys to having a good short game is having the ability to hit the ball higher with more spin in some situations, and lower with less spin in other situations.
Can you manipulate ball flight?
But knowing that you want to manipulate ball flight is completely different than actually, you know, being able to manipulate ball flight. Don’t worry, when it comes to your short game, Alex Fisher, one of our Golf Digest Best Young Teachers, has an easy trick that’ll help you control how high or low you hit your chip shots.
What is the thumb in golf?
The thumb is remarkable, and we ask much of it. Gripping a golf club throughout the swing means positioning the thumb at multiple points in space , and that demands great flexibility. This flexibility is provided by two hinge joints and the very agile basilar joint — where the thumb plugs into your wrist — plus great strength and stability.
Why does my thumb feel weakened?
Your hand may feel weakened as discomfort can lead to protecting the thumb from tasks (e.g., opening jar s) in which grip power is necessary and potentially painful. Self-Care: There is a wide range of nonsurgical managements—ice, heat, splints and judicious use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.
What joint should a thumb splint be used for?
Any splint used should include the thumb to help support the basilar joint. Doctor Visit: A diagnosis will likely entail the doctor loading the thumb’s basilar joint and briefly “grinding” it — you may feel the discomfort and mechanical symptoms that accompany joint irregularity.
Can golfers get arthritis?
This balancing act can create a problem that manifests as friction at the basilar joint—aka arthritis. Almost all golfers will eventually get a little degenerative “wear and tear” arthritis at the thumb joint.
Why is the shaft shorter on a golf club?
Making the shaft shorter makes the club shorter, the shaft stiffer, and it will adjust the swing weight. Your club will have less flex when you remove weight. A regular flex can become stiff, and a stiff can become extra stiff when you shorter it, but that all depends on how much you shorten it. You need to be sure this is what you want ...
Why is a shorter driver shaft better?
Pros: A shorter driver shaft will shorten the arc of your swing. This will help you to hit the center of the clubface more often. Hitting the center of the clubface more often means you are more likely to keep the ball in play than you were before.
What does a longer shaft mean?
A longer shaft means a wider arc to your swing and that creates more speed. But hitting the center of the clubface is much more important. A shorter driver shaft means a shorter arc in your swing and that makes hitting the center of the clubface easier. Many players don’t lose any clubhead speed when they shorten their driver shaft by about an inch.
What happens if you have a shorter driver?
As we talked about before, a shorter driver will decrease the width of the arc to your swing and increase your frequency of hitting the center of the clubface.
How long is the average driver on the PGA Tour?
On the PGA Tour, the average driver length is 44.5 inches. That’s shorter than the standard 45-46 inches.
Does shortening your driver shaft help?
More practice equals more consistency. Yes, better equipment helps. And equipment that is attuned to your needs helps even more. Shortening your driver shaft could be beneficial for you and combining that with the want to improve is a step in the right direction.
Does shortening a driver shaft make your handicap fall?
Most professional golfers are aware of the benefits that shortening their driver shaft, at least a little, can give them. This doesn’t mean that shorten ing your driver shaft will immediately make your handicap fall. The biggest factor is still your technique and how you play.
How to avoid hitting a golf club with your left hand?
HOW TO AVOID INJURY: If you grip the club with your left hand in a weak position, the thumb down the top of the handle (above, 1), you risk having a flat or even bowed left wrist at impact. Instead, rotate your left hand away from the target about 30 degrees from that weak position. This will put the thumb at about 1:30 on an imaginary clock face, more down the right side of the grip, and create the slight cup you want in the wrist (2). — Johnson
What happens when you swing a golf shot?
WHAT HAPPENS: A strained lower back is the most common golf injury, and the one most likely to shorten a career. The modern power swing is all about the rotation of the pelvis through the shot. The torque this creates between the pelvis and the lumbar spine pulls the ligaments, tendons and muscles in that area. Also, the shearing effect can wear away the discs between the vertebrae in the lumbar spine, leading to disc disease; that's the real career-ender. — Andrews
What is a labral tear in golf?
But labral tears (torn cartilage) are becoming common and often can be traced to the backswing. When golfers keep the left arm tight to the chest as they swing back, they can tear the labrum that stabilizes the shoulder joint. This is called a posterior labral tear, and the golfer feels pain in the back of the shoulder. — Andrews
Why do amateur golfers get injured?
Hank Johnson: I agree that most injuries to amateurs come from faulty technique, often because they overreach their capabilities. You have average players trying to copy tour players, and they get (a) frustrated and (b) hurt. After Dr. Andrews explains the injuries, I'll give you a setup or swing adjustment that takes some strain off that part of the body. These adjustments might move you away from the ideal biomechanics of the golf swing, but they'll help you do something even more important: Keep playing golf.
What is it called when you have tennis elbow?
It's called lateral epicondylitis , or tennis elbow. Golfer's elbow affects the inside of the trail arm and is caused by the repeated straining and rotation of that arm through impact, but it's less common. — Andrews. HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Many golfers confuse keeping the left arm straight with locking it (below, 1).
How to avoid injury in golf?
HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Players who don't turn well in the backswing tend to pin the left arm across the chest ( above, 1). Turning the upper body can be physically challenging for some golfers; others find it just plain scary, because they feel as if they won't get back to hit the ball.
What happens when you swing through the left side of your knee?
This results in the inner side of the left knee absorbing a tremendous amount of torque and compression. Many golfers square the left foot and lock the knee in an internally rotated position (right, 1), which leads to an increased shearing force on the knee joint. The typical injury is to the medial meniscus and can lead to degeneration of the articular cartilage and arthritis. — Andrews