Ball travels further if grip down shaft

Hi. Was at range today and just happened to try gripping further down for more control. But strange thing is that I discovered that I hit further with gripping down Tried >10 swings with 7 iron using my regular swing and the ball travelled further!

Very happy to discovered that but don't understand reason.

Why? Would have thought it would decrease my distance instead of increase. Strange

probably better contact closer to the sweet spot when you grip it down.

Gripping down give you better control alright. That probably means that you have better contact at ball when grip down. I guess you lost accuracy and good contact when you grip up and thus lost distance. Just my guess ...

Are your clubs too long for you? Maybe gripping down actually helps you position the club better in facilitating a smooth swing, thus you hit the sweet spot better.

Thought might be too long but irons are standard off the shelve and I'm about 170cm. Most people buy standard off-the-shelve and grip near butt end of club without problem. So either length of club long for me or another posibility is gripping down reduces flexibility of shaft (turning R to slightly more S)? I doubt is stiftness as I've reduced speed of my swing for a while already, so R should be fine.

Now I'm gripping like AK.

I had similar experience with driver. Though I can handle irons ok, my driver sucks. I used to hold my clubs way back on the grip, leaving almost no gap. Happen to grip down slightly on the driver and wow, see immediate improvement. The improvement comes from feeling more control which leads to more confidence. Even the swing feel more stable and more coil wihout changing the stance.

I agree with eiji. I think you had greater control over the club because of the lowered grip which gave you a better chance of hitting the club's sweet spot meaning greater distance.

Agree with Eiji too that the shortened club probably has given you greater control.
I cut my driver length 1.5inch shorter than standard length and still choke down (1 inch from the top of the grip) and am hitting it further than i previously was...

Was not confident with the standard length... Decided to experiment and now wonders!!!

Thanks for all the comments. Think I'm hitting sweet spot as often as before (not often enough, still learning the game) but probably now I'm hitting more with left arm in front of ball than before. Need to experiment more at range tomrrow.

If still hitting longer, might go and shorten clubs. BTW, how much to shorten shaft? Like my existing rubber grips, will the grips be re-usable or need to get new ones?

Sorry no idea as my clubs were pre fitted and was not happy with the length so went back to have it adjusted

maybe ur original lie of the club doesnt suit u. after u choked down. the lie is better and u're hitting more of the sweet spot thus the distance. just my 2 cents

In general, the longer the shaft, supposedly to give more force upon iimpact...thats why the long drive contest Monsters used longer drivers....but then again, there is a optimum length to one's swing and physique......

PS: Sometimes, I hit further with my putter (33") then my driver....sian half

Here's my theory:

Gripping lower on the shaft gives you a better feel for the clubhead balance. Many people who are just starting out are not used to the weight at the end (e.g. mizuno irons with steel shafts tend to 'feel' heavy), so they have problems controlling the head on takeaway and on the downswing

By choking down on the shaft, the club becomes a little less head heavy, e.g. swingweight drops from D4 to D2, to a point that the person swinging the club feels like he/she has more control. However, by choking down on the grip, one would also notice a slight drop in the swing speed, but the gain from improved quality of contact is more than the distance lost from a reduction in swing speed.

Lie angle would have less to do with quality of contact than it would have on draw/fade tendencies.

Don't make a judgement based on a range session or two. Try it on a course or an executive course and see if there is any effect on ballflight (left/right, too high, too low). Mats are not a good indication of true ballstrking.

I'm assuming that the club is already at the correct length for the OP's height.

it could be your preference. My clubs are all 1 inch longer not because i want to hit them farther but because i choke down an inch. To me it just feels comfortable. as i was hitting everything off the heel with standard length clubs, i had to get them lengthened so i'd hit it off the center. Go for a fitting if you can. It would help your understanding of your swing and club length tremendously.

I keep telling people to get fitted, but some people seem to think that fitting is a big conspiracy by fitters to milk money out of unsuspecting golfers

ghoonk wrote:

I keep telling people to get fitted, but some people seem to think that fitting is a big conspiracy by fitters to milk money out of unsuspecting golfers

Pay peanuts get monkey. Pay peanuts get monkey clubs.

so true. If only I learned this years ago instead of being stubborn and scroogy and building a bad groove that I'm not unlearning.

Juzme wrote:

Thanks for all the comments. Think I'm hitting sweet spot as often as before (not often enough, still learning the game) but probably now I'm hitting more with left arm in front of ball than before. Need to experiment more at range tomrrow.

If still hitting longer, might go and shorten clubs. BTW, how much to shorten shaft? Like my existing rubber grips, will the grips be re-usable or need to get new ones?

Hi Juzme,
I suggest you approach a club fitter before you do anything to your clubs. Not because I am trying to 'poison' you into doing something extravagance and expensive to your clubs... but better to understand your swing and make the right changes (if necessary).

If you make a hasty decision to go cut short your clubs... please be reminded that shafts being cut will not be able to be lengthen again (someone correct me if I m wrong); you end up having to spend more buying new shafts/ clubs.

alvin7379 wrote:

Juzme wrote:

Thanks for all the comments. Think I'm hitting sweet spot as often as before (not often enough, still learning the game) but probably now I'm hitting more with left arm in front of ball than before. Need to experiment more at range tomrrow.

If still hitting longer, might go and shorten clubs. BTW, how much to shorten shaft? Like my existing rubber grips, will the grips be re-usable or need to get new ones?

Hi Juzme,
I suggest you approach a club fitter before you do anything to your clubs. Not because I am trying to 'poison' you into doing something extravagance and expensive to your clubs... but better to understand your swing and make the right changes (if necessary).

If you make a hasty decision to go cut short your clubs... please be reminded that shafts being cut will not be able to be lengthen again (someone correct me if I m wrong); you end up having to spend more buying new shafts/ clubs.

by shortening your clubs, you'll also make them stiffer, change the swing weight and the overall weight as well.

another upside of going to a fitter -- your fitter can sometimes spot obvious errors in your swing.

My fitter at GH Dubai has done more for my swing than my 'official' coach. jurongtiger knows what i'm talking about

ghoonk wrote:

so true. If only I learned this years ago instead of being stubborn and scroogy and building a bad groove that I'm not unlearning.

well at least you've learned it now

Sure, will go see a fitter soon. Since these irons are my first set when started off golf mid last year so just bought standard ones.

for the past few games, my putting and chip is way off... 3 putts becomes the norm... score also very bad....

if short game is good, you will be more confident when your approach miss the green and land in unfavorable positions

Yes Ghoonk. I think Arnold is a pretty cool coach. Silently watching and a man of few words. Remeber: Right thumb for chipping!!

ghoonk wrote:

another upside of going to a fitter -- your fitter can sometimes spot obvious errors in your swing.

My fitter at GH Dubai has done more for my swing than my 'official' coach. jurongtiger knows what i'm talking about

eh, it DOES work. My chips are more crisp now, but will still need more practice to get it to tarek...