Grips are often overlooked as they aren’t quite as exciting as the promise of a new club head or shaft that is taunting new distance or accuracy gains never before seen by the eyes of man. The grip is however; the golfer’s only direct connection to that shiny new driver with the latest exotic shaft that guarantees 300 yard drives straight down the middle. If the grip does not do its job, the most expensive, hottest new club to hit the market, isn’t going to do anyone any good.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a grip. Grips now come in a variety of colors, materials, tactile patterns, durometers (or firmness) and of course, sizes. Before getting all confused, just relax…the most effective grip is the one that feels comfortable in the hand and is pleasing to the eye. If you want a grip to match your alma matter’s colors, it’s probably available. Choose a tactile pattern and firmness that feels comfortable to you. Some golfers prefer firmer grips with cord woven into the polymer or rubber compound while others prefer the softer more supple feel of a leather or simulated leather grip. It’s all personal preference.
The sole purpose of the grip is to provide a secure link between golfer and club so that the golfer can deliver the club to the ball as consistently as possible. The most influential variable in that equation is grip size. Obviously we don’t all have the same size hands so we don’t all need the same size grips. Here is where performance and comfort collide. The general thought among many club makers and PGA pros is that if a grip is too large it will promote a slice and if it is too small it will promote a hook. The laws of physics tell us that in theory this is correct, however it doesn’t stack up to the law of golfers. A smaller grip is easier to rotate in the hands allowing the clubface to close more easily before impact and promote a hook. A larger grip is just the opposite. Again, the theory makes logical sense, put practically it fades. The only cases of grip size having a noticeable affect on influencing shot shape are in instances of gross over or under-sized grips for a golfer’s hands. A common cause of directional inconsistency related to grip size can be seen when a grip is either too large or small in the hand so that it isn’t comfortable to the golfer causing a tight or tense grip. When this scenario presents itself it leads to a tensing of the muscles from the hands up through the forearms to the shoulders and permeates through the rest of the body leading to poor swings. Improperly fit grips also affect shot accuracy by causing the golfer to subconsciously re-grip the club DURING THE SWING in an effort to find a comfortable hold on the club!
A properly sized grip should be comfortable to hold and waggle without feeling like you will lose control. Again, rules of thumb are only good for measuring thumbs (no pun intended), but this chart provides a good starting place for selecting a grip size.
This article is by no means designed to be an exhaustive concordance on grip fitting but simply provided to arm you with a little information when the time comes to regrip or buy that shiny new driver. Drop us a line on grip selection, we’ll be more than happy to help!
Fairways and Greens...
No comments:
Post a Comment