Grip pressure on drives

I've always been told that, generally, grip pressure should be about 2 out of 5 if 0 is no pressure and 5 is holding on for dear life.

Over the last 6 months, my driving has been mostly poop (fighting hooks). I've been to the range twice this week and on both occasions have greatly increased the pressure of my right hand on the shaft and my driving has improved greatly (lots of hang-time and slight draw or slight fade - draw is intended, fade isn't). I assume the hook has gone because I'm gripping tighter and, therefore, it's less possible for the club face to close by the shaft turning in my palm.

Does this make sense?

What would you say your grip pressure is (especially interested to hear from you low handicappers)?

Mercurio

I'm surprised you have been hooking with a tight grip, are you sure it's not a pull hook where you have come over the top and dragged the ball left? The reason I ask is when you grip the club too tightly, it makes it harder to release the hands which is more likely to cause you to hit the ball out right.

I would say my grip pressure is best described as medium, I certainly don't hold the club very lightly but I don't throttle it either.
Try working on a smooth swing tempo with softer hands, this will help you release the club down the target line which should help to straighten you out a bit.

drive4show wrote:Mercurio

I'm surprised you have been hooking with a tight grip, are you sure it's not a pull hook where you have come over the top and dragged the ball left? The reason I ask is when you grip the club too tightly, it makes it harder to release the hands which is more likely to cause you to hit the ball out right.

I would say my grip pressure is best described as medium, I certainly don't hold the club very lightly but I don't throttle it either.
Try working on a smooth swing tempo with softer hands, this will help you release the club down the target line which should help to straighten you out a bit.

No, D4S, I was hooking with a light grip (2 out of 5). Now, I'm gripping it tighter, I'm not hooking.

1) I can't read......

2) Looks like my theory is correct!!

I remember reading when I was a junior that Sam Snead (I think?) said that a golf club should be gripped as if holding a small bird - strong enough that it will not escape but lightly enough not to injury it.

I'm a cat 1 player and have always gripped it with this in mind - helps keep my hands really soft which is particularly useful for feel and especially in chipping/pitching. I also think that a nice light grip pressure reflects the rest of your swing and if you tighten up then this makes your swing rigid and inflexible - my hands are pretty quick so keeping it light allows me to adjust through impact on a not so good swing to keep it straight.

Don't forget to replace your grips regular, as if they are a bit shiny it will affect your grip pressure. I've just re-gripped all my clubs and it's amazing how much difference it makes.

The thickness of your grips make a make difference too, worth testing clubs that have either more (or fewer) wraps of tape or thicker/thinner grips.

It may be a fundamental that goes without saying but it also depends on where your grip pressure points are.

If someone grips it in their palms (granted, this should not be the case for better players), they're likely to be asserting too much pressure.

I remember the 'trigger' feeling with the right hand being something you should look to attain.

I now seem to hold it firmer but with fewer pressure points.