
But most importantly, keep the pressure constant. When you're back in the gym, perform exercises with dumbbells or kettlebells whenever you have the option. This will help strengthen your grip and let you really control the clubface through impact -- especially when you hit shots out of the rough.
Should your grip pressure be harder when you swing the club?
Conventional wisdom in golf instruction is that your grip pressure should start light and stay light when you swing. But some instructors think gripping the club harder when you swing is not only OK, it's inevitable. Even if you try to maintain light grip pressure, you really can't as the club reaches the top of the backswing.
How to measure grip pressure on a golf club?
In addition to the baby-bird analogy, the other best-known way of visualizing the correct grip pressure is the toothpaste analogy. Hold the golf club with the pressure it takes to hold a tube of toothpaste firmly but without squeezing out any toothpaste .
Should you tight or loose grip your golf clubs?
That's the tension you want to maintain throughout. If you find your swing is too "loose," you probably need to grip harder. And if you're struggling to finish the swing with the club wrapped around your neck, you probably need to relax the grip a little. But most importantly, keep the pressure constant.
What is grip pressure and why is it important?
Grip pressure is a much-overlooked part of the golf swing that can have a big influence on how well you strike the ball.

Does grip pressure affect golf swing?
Gripping the club too tightly can prevent a golfer from generating maximum club head speed, resulting in lost power and reduced shot distance. Overly tight grip pressure causes tension to build in the forearms and shoulders, which can restrict the golfer's swing arc.
How can I make my golf contact more consistent?
3:276:05HOW TO MAKE CONSISTENT CONTACT WITH IRONS ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYourself to make way more consistent contact with your shots we get rid of those top shots in yourMoreYourself to make way more consistent contact with your shots we get rid of those top shots in your game just imagine how much you will improve just think back to a round of golf that you have played.
What happens if you grip a golf club too tightly?
"Gripping the club too tight can cause thin, weak shots that slice. A lighter grip pressure enhances wrist hinge — a vital power source in the swing. This light pressure also increases the amount of clubface rotation, thus improving your chance of squaring the club at impact.
How do I keep my golf grip loose?
0:467:24Golf Grip - Secure Grip Pressure Loose Wrists - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I start at two out of ten and by the time I hit the top my grip pressure gradually increases toMoreSo I start at two out of ten and by the time I hit the top my grip pressure gradually increases to about eight out of ten.
Why can't I be consistent in golf?
Sometimes if you're not scoring consistently well is because of a lack of focus. I've found that a consistent pre-shot routine can help alleviate this and help you stay focused. Try to keep it simple, avoid too many swing thoughts and create a routine that empowers your game.
What causes inconsistency in golf?
Varying levels of tension cause inconsistency in the golf swing. When your swing is fairly tension free, you are able to use more of the bigger muscles and you can feel the weight of the club head. This is also very important in the short game and putting where being able to feel the club and putter head is essential.
How can I lighten my grip pressure?
2:135:33HOW TO GET THE CORRECT GRIP PRESSURE IN GOLF - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe second exercise and again this one's more to do with wrists. But again it's going to encourageMoreThe second exercise and again this one's more to do with wrists. But again it's going to encourage you to give you get the right finger. Pressure you want to set your start up in the same. Position.
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.
Which fingers apply pressure in golf grip?
0:241:29Tom Watson on How To Improve Your Golf Grip | Golf Tips | Golf DigestYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPressure first of all let's talk about where the pressure points are in the grip. Pressure points inMorePressure first of all let's talk about where the pressure points are in the grip. Pressure points in the grip in the left hand are these last three fingers of the left hand. They grip the golf club.
Does a tight grip cause a slice?
7:509:04DOES YOUR GRIP CAUSE YOUR SLICE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the further you move the hands to the right the club that's stronger. It's going to make the faceMoreSo the further you move the hands to the right the club that's stronger. It's going to make the face. And it's going to make it a little bit easier to close.
Should golf grip be tight or loose?
The grip pressure should be just tight enough to barely squeeze some paste out of the tip. A relaxed grip on the club will lead to relaxed arms and shoulders, and will help promote a full shoulder turn. A tense grip will restrict this motion and limit driving distance.
Should your wrists be loose in the golf swing?
1:1311:42BEST DRILL TO LOOSEN YOUR WRISTS (Get More Clubhead Speed)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I need your wrists really loose to do that now don't get me wrong this isn't you letting go okayMoreSo I need your wrists really loose to do that now don't get me wrong this isn't you letting go okay that's where a lot of people go wrong they let go because that gives them a false sense of loose.
How do you make a consistent iron contact?
The goal is simple: Hit both the ball and the tee. This will bring down your angle of attack, which will ensure ball-first contact with a descending blow.
How do you make a consistent contact driver?
1:0111:23KEY SECRETS TO CONSISTENT DRIVING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd all you do all you need to do is actually give yourself a light coating on the face. And this isMoreAnd all you do all you need to do is actually give yourself a light coating on the face. And this is gonna show up exactly where you're hitting now if you're hitting the driver.
How can I improve my driver contact?
1:141:50Improve Driver Contact With This Simple Tip (Golf Driver Drills)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo this simple tip of getting set up taking the club head hovering it off the ground just rightMoreSo this simple tip of getting set up taking the club head hovering it off the ground just right behind the golf ball that will help you swing naturally up on the golf ball.
How to keep your grip pressure from sliding?
Reduce your grip pressure to just enough to keep it from sliding through your hands.". In addition to the baby-bird analogy, the other best-known way of visualizing the correct grip pressure is the toothpaste analogy. Hold the golf club with the pressure it takes to hold a tube of toothpaste firmly but without squeezing out any toothpaste .
What is the best grip pressure for golf?
A lighter grip pressure enhances wrist hinge — a vital power source in the swing. This light pressure also increases the amount of clubface rotation, thus improving your chance of squaring the club at impact. "On a scale of one to 10, where one is light and 10 is tight, I recommend a pressure of four or five.
How to hold a golf club with toothpaste?
Hold the golf club with the pressure it takes to hold a tube of toothpaste firmly but without squeezing out any toothpaste . So when it comes to grip pressure, remember: A four or five on a scale of 1-10. Or think, "Don't crush the bird" or "don't squeeze out any toothpaste.".
What happens if you don't hold your golf club?
The golf swing is a forceful movement: If you don't have a good hold on the club, it could go flying out of your hands. But a key in gripping the club is holding it just firm enough. The famous golf instructor Jim Flick once wrote: "Quiet hands respond on their own to the weight of the clubhead. Tight hands have to be told what to do.".
Who said "Don't crush the baby bird"?
Lamanna quoted what is surely the most famous bromide about grip pressure — Snead's bird-in-the-hand quote. Many golf instructors today still say to their students about grip pressure, "Don't crush the baby bird!"
Who said "Hold the club as if you had a baby bird in your hand"?
Lamanna reminds readers of Sam Snead 's famous quote about grip pressure: "Hold the club as if you had a little baby bird in your hand," Snead said . To keep a bird in your hands, you have to grasp it well enough that it doesn't fly away.
Golf Grip Pressure Guide – Get The Proper Grip Pressure Today
Go to any driving range around the world and I guarantee you that you will be able to find a few golfers who are gripping the club too tightly.
What Is Golf Grip Pressure And Why It Is So Important?
The simple explanation is how hard you squeeze the grip with your hands before and during the swing.
What Other Effects Can Pressure Have On Your Game?
Your hands are the only part of your body that actually has direct contact with the club during the swing.
Flight Path
Gripping too tightly can restrict the rotation of the face of the club through impact which often leads to an exaggerated left to right ball flight. Reduced control of the ball is one of the worst issues that gripping too tightly can cause.
Flight Trajectory
To build on the content above, excess grip pressure can cause you to block the club and pop the ball up in the air.
Tips For Finding The Right Pressure
Ideally you should grip the club just enough to hold onto during the full swing.
Where To Apply The Pressure
To add another layer to this issue, the amount of pressure you grip the club with is an important part of the grip equation but so is where in your hands you apply that pressure.
Why does the golf club twist in my hands?
If the golf club is twisting in your hands, it is likely due to inadequate grip pressure. However, the club can also twist in your hands if: the grip is worn; the grip is wet; your golf glove is worn; or because you’re not wearing a golf glove.
How hard should you grip the golf club?
One a scale of zero to 10 – with 10 being the hardest possible grip pressure and zero being no pressure at all – you should aim to grip the golf club with a pressure rating of around two or three. You should then aim to maintain that constant, light pressure throughout the backswing.
What happens if you grip the golf club too tightly?
Gripping the golf club too tightly creates excessive tension in your hands, wrists, arms and shoulders. This will limit your shoulder and hip turn in the backswing; ruin your smooth swing tempo; and prevent natural lag. All of these flaws will rob you of clubhead speed, distance and also accuracy.
Should the golf grip be in the fingers or palms?
Golfers should grip the club in their fingers – slightly above where the base of their fingers meets their palms. Gripping the club in your fingers helps you to remove tension from your hands and wrists, allowing them to hinge correctly at the top of the backswing and release properly through impact.
Final message
Golf can make you tense – we all know that – but it’s important not to let that anxiety translate into how hard you grip the club.
How to get better grip on golf club?
But most importantly, keep the pressure constant. When you're back in the gym, perform exercises with dumbbells or kettlebells whenever you have the option. This will help strengthen your grip and let you really control the clubface through impact -- especially when you hit shots out of the rough. Ron Kaspriske is the fitness editor of Golf Digest.
What to do if your golf swing is too loose?
If you find your swing is too "loose," you probably need to grip harder. And if you're struggling to finish the swing with the club wrapped around your neck, you probably need to relax the grip a little. But most importantly, keep the pressure constant.
Should you grip a golf club too lightly?
Don't grip the club too lightly. Conventional wisdom in golf instruction is that your grip pressure should start light and stay light when you swing. But some instructors think gripping the club harder when you swing is not only OK, it's inevitable. Even if you try to maintain light grip pressure, you really can't as the club reaches the top ...
Can you squeeze harder with a light grip?
Even if you try to maintain light grip pressure, you really can't as the club reaches the top of the backswing. As soon as you start to swing down with a light grip, you'll immediately squeeze harder, studies have shown.
HighlandLaird
I have been playing golf for sixty years, had a very low handicap and won many amateur tournaments, but have really been struggling for several years.
Tony772
A good deal of the clubhead speed (which is directly related to distance) comes from hinging the wrists. It's very hard to hinge your wrists if your hands and forearms are tense from gripping the club too hard. I grip at 3/10 at most.
AnserMePing
Tom Watson was featured on Golf Academy the other evening, and he too emphasized the importance of a light grip. He took his club and held it i front of him and straight up in the air. He loosened his grip to point the club slipped through his hands. Tom stated that you want to hold that club just enough to keep it from slipping.
BenHoganSlam1953
A thing to note about Sam Snead's comment is that many players from his era mention that he had very, very strong hands. So when he says to hold a club like a small bird it is all relative. We just need to find what works for each of us.
NoTalentLefty
All this says is golf has many ways to get good results. Lighter grip or a firmer grip depends on ?? Who knows. I have heard both expounded on and it seems to come down to the individual.
Precis1on
I had the same moment. Was able to keep my swing speed and even gain speed while keeping my grip very light. I couldn't get my driver ss over 100 mph by trying to swing the club with a death grip. I went back up to 107 with a lighter grip pressure.
Smash Factors
Every now and then at the range I will see a club slip out of someones hand and fly down the range. Hmmmm....wonder why? "Hold it like a bird as not to injure it but firm enough so it can't fly away."
