Feeling the Pressure?
During the past off-season, I wrote in this blog space about “grip pressure”.
I spent the better part of the winter months ensuring I had a golf club in my hands as frequently as possible, primarily to maintain familiarity and feel.
The two keys for me were:
- The placement of my hands on the golf club - to establish a new, “stronger” hand position.
- A conscious effort to avoid holding the handle of the golf club too tightly.
Admittedly, it was boring. But, the results are in.
Frankly, at 55 years of age, I am playing the best golf of my life.
As we head into the hot and sunny days of another Okanagan summer, I’d like to reiterate that each and every one of us has a wonderful opportunity to work toward personal game improvement. I understand that for many recreational players, the inoperative word here is probably “work”. However, the payoff can be tremendously satisfying.
Remember that in hot weather, the golf ball tends to carry a little further than it does in cooler temperatures. And so, why not try to reap the benefits?
If you want to create more speed with your clubhead, and increase your carry yardage, perhaps less grip pressure would be a useful focus?
Holding the golf club tightly creates tension through your hands, wrists, forearms, upper arms, shoulders and chest. The tension makes it virtually impossible for your body to move fluidly. Thus, the movement of your clubhead is hindered and maximum velocity becomes unattainable.
Very light hand pressure is the route to go.
On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being as tight as you can hold the club, and 0 meaning you cannot hang on to the club, 5 would be medium pressure. Personally, I like to think “3” or, slightly less than medium pressure.
On a personal note, I have experienced pain in my hands in past years, which is a heckuva deterrent for somebody who wants to play golf on a regular basis. In recent years, I have really focused on avoiding the temptation to squeeze the you-know-what out of the club handle.
The payoff has been huge!
My hands do not hurt. I can move the clubhead through impact with significant velocity. I possess much better “feel” at impact. My distances from club to club have become more consistent. I also have better feel with my putter. I am making more pars and birdies.
For the first time in many years, I’m having fun playing golf. It’s fun when it doesn’t hurt.
I can’t wait for Mother Nature to turn up the heat this summer!
Fore!
Fore! Glen Erickson, Assistant Golf Shop Manager
