Sport Today

But I discovered something else in it today that I missed the first
time.  Don't know how, it's not like it's hidden or anything, but I'm
very interested in it.

I've tried playing with the 3-swing system, trying to get my distances
down, and I have never been particularly effective at it.  I've tended
to attribute it to my clubs and the ability to practice more on it than
I have, but now I see something else.

I grip a golf club according to the SLAP model, with my left thumb on
the right side of the shaft.  It's a bit of a strong grip, but one that
is necessary, apparently, to make the SLAP swing work correctly.

I've always used that same grip on my short game as well.  Imagine my
surprise in reading the Pelz book and finding out he promotes a
*neutral* grip for those short shots, not the "power" grip as he refers
to it.

If there's a consistent flaw in my short shots, it's a tendency to pull
the shot a bit. I'm now thinking that my grip is the culprit, and that a
more neutral grip will allow for a better release of the club, a less
handsy swing, and a better ability to control distance than I have.  

Is anyone else using different grips for short game and full swing
game?  How about the finesse grip Pelz advocates?  Are there any other
grips that you've found to work better in the short game, such that you
can control distance better than with another grip?

Mike

--
Mike Dalecki
I do not patronize spammers!  Help keep R.S.G clean.
You can expect the same etiquette from me here on R.S.G as you'd expect
from me on the golf course.
RSG Roll Call:  http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/daleckim.htm

I took a lesson and the instructor caught "it" right away.   Where "it" was
not releasing the club, with right hand crossing over left.
Once I fixed this I had immediate good results.  I can even use my 60 degree
club now, which for me has been the acid test.

Mulligan

  -joseph

(and as a result they travel too far)

--
        --dph
        (dhayes AT iname DOT com)

--
    --dph.

        (preferred email: dhayes AT iname DOT com)

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Mike

After reading the book (just like you, here and there) I decided to
try the finesse grip.  As you know, Pelz suggests things that can be
backed up scientifically, or at least with some sort of factual
rationalization!!  His reasoning for using the neutral grip is because
he claims it allows the body to make micro adjustments not possible
with a strong grip.  

I though this sounded plausible and began using it in real play as
well as on the range.  I do feel it has straightened out my shots 100
yards and in.  I think more than any one thing, it keeps my hands
relaxed which leads to a more fluid swing...especially when combined
with the swing he prescribes (no coiling of the hips)

Give it a try.

Best regards,
AqM

A few weeks ago on The Golf Channel, Butch Harmon was doing a finesse game
(around the green) lesson.  It was very clear, exact, and somewhat
technical.  Quite interesting to think about how his manner of explaining
fits with how Tiger thinks about, and executes, his shots.

Butch didn't deal with the grip directly, but did make a point of
explaining that Tiger himself uses a different grip -- a baseball grip --
as does David Hayes, for the game around the green.  He said that Tiger
feels that he needs the baseball grip for the finesse shots because that
way he gets full use of his right hand.

Good enough for Tiger?  OK, it's good enough for me.  Though I've only
been to the range since watching Harmon, the baseball grip so far has made
a *big* difference both in distance and accuracy, even up to 50 yards or
so, and I'm testing it out in the 50-75 yard range.

The baseball grip does make it much more natural to concentrate on the
right hand controlling the feel of the shot.