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how grip size effect golf swing

by Eryn Weber I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The simple answer is a grip that’s too small will engage your hands more during the swing, while a larger grip will reduce rotation and activate the larger muscles. That means a smaller grip could accentuate a hook if it’s your common miss or do the same for a slice if the grip is too big.

Full Answer

How do different grips affect your golf swing?

With the right grip, the players were relaxed and swung naturally. When forced to swing with larger grips, our testers seemed to labor over their swing. Smaller grips made some testers “hold back” as if they were afraid the club would fly from their hands.

Are Your Golf Grips too big or too small?

The opposite might be true with grips that are too big. Instead of engaging the smaller muscles, a bigger diameter grip restricts and slows the hands down — often causing you to lose both swing speed and the ability to square the clubface fast enough through impact. Meaning, you’re prone to slice it a whole lot more if your handles are too big.

How to improve your golf swing speed?

Over time, this will become much more natural and you might see your swing speed gradually increase. As an added benefit, your softer golf grip should translate into your short game as well, and it can make it much easier to control both putts and chip shots. For a right handed golfer, the position of the left hand on the club is very important.

Is too tight grip pressure killing your swing speed?

Golf grip pressure that is too tight on the club can be a real killer of swing speed. When you hold onto the club too tightly as you get ready to swing, you will be putting unnecessary tension in your muscles and this can restrict the free-flow of power that you want to unleash.

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Does 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.

Does grip size effect swing speed?

Instead of engaging the smaller muscles, a bigger diameter grip restricts and slows the hands down — often causing you to lose both swing speed and the ability to square the clubface fast enough through impact. Meaning, you're prone to slice it a whole lot more if your handles are too big.

Are bigger grips better for golf?

Because the grip is larger, the golfer will get a better feel for the club by using a larger grip. According to GolfGripGuide.com, larger grips will also better absorb the shock of impact or a mis-hit, which means less stress for golfers with weak hands or grips.

What size golf grip is best for me?

Crease to Fingertip: < 5″ Recommended Grip Size: Junior.Crease to Fingertip: 5″ to 6.5″ Recommended Grip Size: Undersize.Crease to Fingertip: 6.6″ to 7.5″ Recommended Grip Size: Standard.Crease to Fingertip: 7.6″ to 9″ Recommended Grip Size: Midsize.Crease to Fingertip: 9.1″ to 10″ Recommended Grip Size: Jumbo.

Why does DeChambeau use big grips?

When Bryson DeChambeau began using JumboMax grips as a junior golfer, he was drawn to the fact that the grip, which is larger than a standard grip, provided more surface area for his hands to hold the club.

Do Tour players use midsize grips?

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....Breakdown of Golf Grips Used by Top 100 PGA Tour Players.GOLF GRIPNO. OF TOP 100 PGA TOUR PLAYERSPING ID8 White 1/2 Cord1 (Lee Westwood – irons)Check eBay18 more rows

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.

Should I use oversize grips on my golf clubs?

If you're a golfer with larger hands, hand arthritis, or a player who tends to grip the club too tight, Midsize or Jumbo golf grips could provide a huge boost to your golf game. As a general rule, if you wear a golf glove size of Large / Cadet Large or bigger, a Midsize or Jumbo grip is the proper fit for you.

Who should use midsize golf grips?

Midsize golf grips are best for those that have a large hand, wear an oversized glove, and also those with arthritis. The midsize grip makes it so that your hand does not have to bend and close quite as much. This certainly helps those that felt as though they were having too much of their hand on the club.

How do I know if my golf grips are too big?

Check things yourself 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.

What does a midsize grip do?

The midsize grip is ultimately designed to help your hand bend less and you don't have to close quite as much in the grip. The primary benefit of the midsize grip is the ability to help arthritis but also to relieve pressure from the grip if your hands are small.

What size grips do Tour players use?

Mid-size is one full wrap and over-size is two full wraps. So to answer the question 'Which are the most used golf grips on Tour? ' Most Tour Players keep a consistent size through the irons and the woods.

How does grip size affect golf?

Grip Size Affects Golf Club Performance. Golfers seldom notice the grips on their clubs unless the surface becomes slick or worn down. But the golf clubs grip's thickness can have a major impact on a club's performance – especially if it doesn't match the player's hands. As a general rule, golfers with large hands should use thicker grips.

Why are my golf grips so thin?

Grips that are too thin allow the hands too much freedom during the swing, often causing wild hooks. Overly large grips have the opposite effect, restricting hand movement and preventing a proper release through impact. The result: sliced or pushed shots. There's also the matter of personal preference in golf grip size.

How to know if your grips are too big?

When you wrap your hands around the club, the middle finger on each hand should be able to just barely touch your palm. If there is a big gap between the end of your middle finger and the palm of your hand, your grips are too big . If your middle finger pushing into your palm, your grips are too small.

What is the purpose of a special tape on a golf club?

A special tape is used to affix the grip to the shaft of the club, and you can opt for an additional layer of that tape simply for the purpose of providing a thicker feel . This is a great way to fine tune the size of your grips.

What color are golf grips?

While golf grips have traditionally been black with maybe a bit of white lettering, today you can find grips in a wide range of colors. While the color of your grips will have nothing at all to do with their performance, you may wish to liven up your bag by picking a loud color.

What happens when you have small grips?

With small grips, your hands will have too much control over the club face through the hitting area, and the face is likely to be closed at impact as a result.

Do soft grips cause blisters?

Soft grips feel comfortable in your hands, and they are unlikely to lead to blisters. However, some golfers feel that they lose a bit of control over the club head when they play with a soft grip. On the other side of the coin, firm grips are far less forgiving, and your skin is likely to pay the price.

Much Ado About Nothing?

While it’s a topic that doesn’t get a lot of coverage in the mainstream golf press, an avid golfer can talk your ear off about his or her grip size preferences. Midsize with an extra wrap under the right hand, standard stretched an extra inch, jumbo with five full wraps…the combinations and specifications are endless.

How We Tested

For this test, we brought together five golfers of varying abilities. Each player selected a driver and hit 20 shots with it – 5 with an undersized grip, 5 with a standard sized grip, 5 with a midsize grip, and 5 with a jumbo grip. We then had each player repeat the same process with a six iron.

The Results

After looking at the results of the 200 shots that were hit, we came to the surprising conclusion that grip size is not as important as we expected…at least not in a measurable way.

Conclusion

Based on our testing, it seems that the grip is the one part of the club that every golfer is equipped to fit for themself. Our testers showed the ability to adapt to play any size grip, but they were clearly the most comfortable and confident with a grip that fit their hand.

Why is grip important in golf?

First off, the most important aspect of the grip is that it makes it easier to square the club face at impact. This is the most critical aspect of the golf swing, in general, and your grip is an integral component of this fundamental. Once you start looking at your golf swing in terms of position and swing plane throughout, ...

What does a slightly stronger grip do?

A slightly stronger grip will leave you with a clubface that is slightly shut at the top. This is ok, having this slightly shut club face at the top makes it significantly easier for the average golfer to square the club face at impact. Having a slightly stronger grip can and will steepen the swing plane slightly.

Why is it important to have a slightly closed club face?

Having this slightly shut club face at the top makes it significantly easier for the average golfer to square the club face at impact, and having a slightly stronger grip makes this much easier. There will be less dependence on timing, which means less time required to practice your golf swing. A simple way to check how your grip affects ...

Should you have a closed club face on your backswing?

Slightly Shut Face at the Top May Be Best for You. By taking this slightly stronger grip, the club face should actually be slightly shut at the top of the backswing unless you were to cup your wrist. For this reason, it is perfectly ok to have a slightly closed club face at the top of your golf swing. Having this slightly shut club face ...

Where is Matt from Plugged In Golf?

He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

Does Bryson DeChambeau use giant grips?

While massive club grips seem to be working quite well for Bryson DeChambeau, it does not appear that they’re a miracle cure for the average golfer. That said, the grip – even an extreme one – should be considered in every club fitting. And if you like the feel of a giant grip, there’s no reason not to give it a try. With more time to acclimate to it, it’s possible that there are benefits to be unlocked, just don’t expect an overnight change to your game.

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Much Ado About Nothing?

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While it’s a topic that doesn’t get a lot of coverage in the mainstream golf press, an avid golfer can talk your ear off about his or her grip size preferences. Midsize with an extra wrap under the right hand, standard stretched an extra inch, jumbo with five full wraps…the combinations and specifications are endless. The question w…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

The Myths

  • Myth #1: The correct grip means more distance, accuracy, and consistency Myth #2: Bigger grips prevent hooks
See more on pluggedingolf.com

How We Tested

  • For this test, we brought together five golfers of varying abilities. Each player selected a driver and hit 20 shots with it – 5 with an undersized grip, 5 with a standard sized grip, 5 with a midsize grip, and 5 with a jumbo grip. We then had each player repeat the same process with a six iron. All testing was done at, and with the help of, Club C...
See more on pluggedingolf.com

The Results

  • After looking at the results of the 200 shots that were hit, we came to the surprising conclusion that grip size is not as important as we expected…at least not in a measurable way. With few exceptions, every tester performed similarly with each grip. There were some differences, but bad shots were as likely to occur with a well-fit grip as with one that was too big or too small. The re…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

Conclusion

  • Based on our testing, it seems that the grip is the one part of the club that every golfer is equipped to fit for themself. Our testers showed the ability to adapt to play any size grip, but they were clearly the most comfortable and confident with a grip that fit their hand. Do keep in mind, however, that when changing your grips, you need to maintain your clubs’ swing weight so that y…
See more on pluggedingolf.com

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