Mark, I've been following you for a few months and I can already tell your instructions are making a huge difference. The provocitively titled 'stop turning your shoulders' was the start of my awakening. I have been struggling with an out to in swing path and tendany to top shots for decades. Tilting my spine as well as turning my shoulders really helped. Then I see this video on grip. I think my grip is already perfect but find it's actually a bit weaker than you suggest. I just got back from the range with the grip you suggest and suddenly way more shots are coming out the middle of the club and I am at last hitting ball then turf. I realise now that the only way I can get the clubface square at impact with the stronger grip is to have shaft lean and my body just seems to make that happen automatically. It is almost magical....I'm so incredulous and grateful!
It's great how he shows the terrible shots that result from doing it wrong. It really drills home the reason for failure and how correction will bring success.
Ok Mark. I am doing this and my right/left dispersion is much tighter and my accuracy has also improved. I am working to establish this as a habit. It will be interesting to discover what happens. It is important to do the alignment just like you show. Even a little change can cause errors to creep in.
I live that you gave credit to the creator that gave you the idea. Even if you took that idea further or had your own spin on it, kudos for giving credit to someone for their idea. As someone who works in a knowledge industry this strikes home. 👍
Just started golfing like a month-and-a-half ago, Went yesterday with a bunch of friends tried this, and showed friends and immediately saw improvement. 🍻
Your comment "it's really quite tricky"is what stands out to me. If you struggle to do it all while having Pete stand behind you telling you what you did, well what hope is there to me. I will go try it but I don't know if I can implement it. Thanks Danny.
I am sure it's coincidence, but this video is a perfect response to my comment on your video from yesterday about the club face angle when the club reaches horizontal just before impact with the ball. With the slight closure of the club face when taking the grip, the club face now aligns more to the spine angle than the vertical at this important horizontal consideration. Thanks for yet another great video.
I changed my grip from weak to strong (sometimes showing 3 knuckles) and it made a huge difference, especially with my driver. It took a solid 3 months to really get use to it though.
Hi Mark, Great video, I tried the grip technique at my oval. I normally hit a 7 iron with carry distance of 160-165 yds. After I used grip technique, I was flushing 180-190 yds carry distance. The iron drives were penetrating. Wow, i was impressed. Its a joke I will now need to revise the carry distances for all of my clubs. Michael
Love this, as been struggling with what I thought was a neutral grip, but was getting a closed face at impact….. big pull shots. Weakened my grip at weekend and saw straighter shots. This explains it so much better than me playing around blind
I have used your new grip method for the last 2 rounds and I have found that I have alot more consistency in my shots. The one thing is that when I miss my ball goes right to left. I haven’t used for shipping as yet, since I like my current chipping grip. Thanks Mark
Great explanation Mark - I used this to check my grip which I was pretty happy with ( slightly strong) and works a treat as a check great way for a novice to learn how to put hands on club 👏👏👏👏
This really has helped me. If I hit a wayward shot, I do this and remind myself to kind of “backhand” the ball. Really the first thing that has given me a feel for where the face is.
This video is very helpful. I have a weak grip but hit hard draws/hooks for some reason that no teacher has been able to help me correct (I think it's the way I take the grip on the club). I used your method to grip in the club in the air, my grip is MUCH stronger than before and I hit baby draws with many shots even staying right. it must be how I was taking the grip - I am going to work on this method. thanks!
Compensating reflexes can be pretty amazing. You have probably been unconsciously offsetting the weak grip by turning the club over aggressively through the ball. With a stronger grip, your unconscious brain may be saying, "Right, I don't have to do that any more."
Just tried this , but first, I used my normal grip and then see if my face is square with the back of my hand , to my horror it was quite closed 😢 . Tried the method you showed in the video and hit some airballs into the curtains and wow totally different.. I can't wait to try this down the range .. thank you ❤ and norgolf
@adamyounggolf1 has a similar grip drill that I also quite like. Depending on your particular shot pattern - especially if it's not functional - close or open the face, then take your grip, then rotate your arms/shoulders to bring the face back to square in address position. Great way to experiment and have some fun, too!
😂. I can totally see how people would have a hard time with the feel of a new grip. Love the drill though! The whole thing with having some confidence in regard to the relationship between the hands to the face…money. Funny enough I think I’m about 15 min from the NorCal Golf Academy. Even if this isn’t totally yours though I’m glad you put this out there!!!
I find what add's to the issues around grips is the conflicting information from coaches. I had a great lesson last year where the coach identified I have an open face through my swing and do a lot of manipulation to manage the face on impact. He moved me to a stronger grip and after a bit of getting used to was hitting these low, penetrating irons. However through some fittings over the last year, it's amazed me how many other fitters and coaches have asked where did I get my grip, and they just don't seem to agree with it. Think it goes to the mantra that there just is no right way, and it's about what is comfortable or you can make work. I have seen a trend of coaches now advising intentional weak grips for chipping, and other coaches saying to move to a strong grip on a driver. Whatever happened to just having one grip for everything :D
I have tried this grip today, and it seems to be causing a lot of tension in the back of the wrist. It is showing 3 knuckles when gripping. So am I just turning my lead hand over to much?
I struggle with the middle finger and ring finger on my trail hand resting on top of my lead thumb. This removes contact from the club from those fingertips and instead they’re only contacting my lead thumb.
Doesn’t it all depend on how your hands relate to other parts of your body when you swing? I have to have a very strong grip on both hands to get my v’s pointed to my right shoulder. Anything else and I can’t square the club face without loads of manipulation
All very complicated that. All you need to do to control the club face is take a correct neutral grip (assuming you can do that) with the club face square. Then ensure “repeat” ensure, that the thumb of the left hand rests slightly to the right side of the centre line of the grip and that the thumb of the right hand rests slightly to the left side of the centre line of the grip. As taught by Masters champion Tom Watson in a training clip from 35 years ago - available on TH-cam
This is way too complicated. What does square mean? Why just my thumbs what about where the club sits in my palm. Hang on hang on. No you are right. Head down and swing slow peoples. Haha Wowzers
Changing your grip must be one of the hardest things to do in golf. I've even felt during the swing my grip reverting back to its "natural" position which for me is a very strong grip.
Issues with reference left hand as club face: most amateurs are not sling or left side golfers. They all focus and swing thoughts are their right arm and right side. They are more of a throw golfer. My solution to those golfers is what JV preaches. Have your setup, shoulders align square or closed. Get comfortable then gripping your clubs as the last thing. This will give u your natural grip, so it’s repeatable. There is no 1 grip or 1 swing that fits every body type and swing type. Your grip needs to match your wrist hinge and release style.
Makes perfect sense, but all you illustrated was the left hand grip, nothing on the right hand grip. Does the right hand crease in middle (Carpal Tunnel) just fit on top of the left thumb? Which begs this ? where does the left thumb sit?
If your grip has been very weak or poor, it will feel awful now and vice versa for those with really strong grips going to slightly weaker. But in actuality there is no perfect grip or swing, it's just some things work better than others.
Mark, I've been following you for a few months and I can already tell your instructions are making a huge difference. The provocitively titled 'stop turning your shoulders' was the start of my awakening. I have been struggling with an out to in swing path and tendany to top shots for decades. Tilting my spine as well as turning my shoulders really helped. Then I see this video on grip. I think my grip is already perfect but find it's actually a bit weaker than you suggest. I just got back from the range with the grip you suggest and suddenly way more shots are coming out the middle of the club and I am at last hitting ball then turf. I realise now that the only way I can get the clubface square at impact with the stronger grip is to have shaft lean and my body just seems to make that happen automatically. It is almost magical....I'm so incredulous and grateful!
It's great how he shows the terrible shots that result from doing it wrong. It really drills home the reason for failure and how correction will bring success.
Genius Idea. Love it.
Wow. Gee Whiz. Great thanks Mr. Crossfield. Nice one. Appreciated.
Tried this and it absolutely works a treat.
This is mind blowing. So simple. I used to teach and I always struggled to get people to change.
This really is brilliant and makes a lot of sense. Adding to the memory bank for sure!
Ok Mark. I am doing this and my right/left dispersion is much tighter and my accuracy has also improved. I am working to establish this as a habit. It will be interesting to discover what happens. It is important to do the alignment just like you show. Even a little change can cause errors to creep in.
I live that you gave credit to the creator that gave you the idea. Even if you took that idea further or had your own spin on it, kudos for giving credit to someone for their idea. As someone who works in a knowledge industry this strikes home. 👍
Hi Mark. This is a great tip, been practising and used it in today's competition. Best I've hit the ball in a long time! Cheers!!! 👍👍👍👍
Great thank you, that is excellent for the left hand, any trick for the right hand?
Great explanation Marc.
When are you going through trail hand addition?
Just started golfing like a month-and-a-half ago,
Went yesterday with a bunch of friends tried this, and showed friends and immediately saw improvement. 🍻
You never fail to impress.
Hello from Montreal, very thorough explanation. It’s all about helping us drop shots. Thank you. Take care
Your comment "it's really quite tricky"is what stands out to me. If you struggle to do it all while having Pete stand behind you telling you what you did, well what hope is there to me. I will go try it but I don't know if I can implement it. Thanks Danny.
Makes so much sense, can't wait to give this a try. Have so much trouble with consistency in shape, this could help bring it in.
Tried it today and worked just as you said. Hit 7 of 9 in regulation. Well done Sir!
I am sure it's coincidence, but this video is a perfect response to my comment on your video from yesterday about the club face angle when the club reaches horizontal just before impact with the ball. With the slight closure of the club face when taking the grip, the club face now aligns more to the spine angle than the vertical at this important horizontal consideration.
Thanks for yet another great video.
I changed my grip from weak to strong (sometimes showing 3 knuckles) and it made a huge difference, especially with my driver. It took a solid 3 months to really get use to it though.
Mark this is brilliant this is one part of my game I keep fiddling with now this makes perfect sense and so easy to implement.. Bravo sir 👌👌👌😊
Hi - can I ask, regardless of the hold when you address the ball you make sure your leading edge is straight at the target?
Hi Mark,
Great video, I tried the grip technique at my oval.
I normally hit a 7 iron with carry distance of 160-165 yds.
After I used grip technique, I was flushing 180-190 yds carry distance.
The iron drives were penetrating.
Wow, i was impressed.
Its a joke I will now need to revise the carry distances for all of my clubs.
Michael
Love this, as been struggling with what I thought was a neutral grip, but was getting a closed face at impact….. big pull shots. Weakened my grip at weekend and saw straighter shots. This explains it so much better than me playing around blind
Excellent Mark on how to get the "perfect golf grip!" Something I will definitely be paying attention to!
@Crossfieldmark It looks like all of you UK You Tube instructors are being hacked! I guess these hackers have to get their "jollies" somehow! :-)
I have used your new grip method for the last 2 rounds and I have found that I have alot more consistency in my shots. The one thing is that when I miss my ball goes right to left. I haven’t used for shipping as yet, since I like my current chipping grip.
Thanks Mark
Great explanation Mark - I used this to check my grip which I was pretty happy with ( slightly strong) and works a treat as a check great way for a novice to learn how to put hands on club 👏👏👏👏
This really has helped me. If I hit a wayward shot, I do this and remind myself to kind of “backhand” the ball. Really the first thing that has given me a feel for where the face is.
Brilliantly simple. I tried it and noticed my left hand was in a great position. Roll on Saturday to get this onto the course!
This is absolutely brillianr
This video is very helpful. I have a weak grip but hit hard draws/hooks for some reason that no teacher has been able to help me correct (I think it's the way I take the grip on the club). I used your method to grip in the club in the air, my grip is MUCH stronger than before and I hit baby draws with many shots even staying right. it must be how I was taking the grip - I am going to work on this method. thanks!
Compensating reflexes can be pretty amazing. You have probably been unconsciously offsetting the weak grip by turning the club over aggressively through the ball. With a stronger grip, your unconscious brain may be saying, "Right, I don't have to do that any more."
Just tried this , but first, I used my normal grip and then see if my face is square with the back of my hand , to my horror it was quite closed 😢 . Tried the method you showed in the video and hit some airballs into the curtains and wow totally different.. I can't wait to try this down the range .. thank you ❤ and norgolf
@adamyounggolf1 has a similar grip drill that I also quite like. Depending on your particular shot pattern - especially if it's not functional - close or open the face, then take your grip, then rotate your arms/shoulders to bring the face back to square in address position. Great way to experiment and have some fun, too!
Great idea
Nice!
😂. I can totally see how people would have a hard time with the feel of a new grip. Love the drill though! The whole thing with having some confidence in regard to the relationship between the hands to the face…money. Funny enough I think I’m about 15 min from the NorCal Golf Academy. Even if this isn’t totally yours though I’m glad you put this out there!!!
what about pressure? how hard should we hold on? I've heard super firm and I've heard very light (at least with the trail hand). thanks!
I think it should be firm with the lead hand and light with the trail hand. I find I hit it best when I do this but everyone is different
I find what add's to the issues around grips is the conflicting information from coaches. I had a great lesson last year where the coach identified I have an open face through my swing and do a lot of manipulation to manage the face on impact. He moved me to a stronger grip and after a bit of getting used to was hitting these low, penetrating irons.
However through some fittings over the last year, it's amazed me how many other fitters and coaches have asked where did I get my grip, and they just don't seem to agree with it.
Think it goes to the mantra that there just is no right way, and it's about what is comfortable or you can make work. I have seen a trend of coaches now advising intentional weak grips for chipping, and other coaches saying to move to a strong grip on a driver. Whatever happened to just having one grip for everything :D
3 Knuckle Gang 4Life!!
AMG golf likes this too. They hold the left hand straight out in front with the top of the hand flat and the club face rotated slightly up.
is there a chance the grip size is the cause of wrong grip?
I have tried this grip today, and it seems to be causing a lot of tension in the back of the wrist. It is showing 3 knuckles when gripping. So am I just turning my lead hand over to much?
So in essence you have a neutral grip just addressing the club face closed/open?
I struggle with the middle finger and ring finger on my trail hand resting on top of my lead thumb. This removes contact from the club from those fingertips and instead they’re only contacting my lead thumb.
Do you still square the face to the ball after you open or close it for your grip?
This was my question as well.
Does’t direction of the face dictate ball direction rather than spin?
Face direction dictates start direction. 👍
Shawn Clement has been doing this for years.
Doesn’t it all depend on how your hands relate to other parts of your body when you swing? I have to have a very strong grip on both hands to get my v’s pointed to my right shoulder. Anything else and I can’t square the club face without loads of manipulation
All very complicated that. All you need to do to control the club face is take a correct neutral grip (assuming you can do that) with the club face square. Then ensure “repeat” ensure, that the thumb of the left hand rests slightly to the right side of the centre line of the grip and that the thumb of the right hand rests slightly to the left side of the centre line of the grip. As taught by Masters champion Tom Watson in a training clip from 35 years ago - available on TH-cam
This is way too complicated. What does square mean?
Why just my thumbs what about where the club sits in my palm.
Hang on hang on.
No you are right. Head down and swing slow peoples. Haha
Wowzers
Changing your grip must be one of the hardest things to do in golf. I've even felt during the swing my grip reverting back to its "natural" position which for me is a very strong grip.
👍Paddy Harrington says changing grip is the hardest thing in golf - he should know
Issues with reference left hand as club face: most amateurs are not sling or left side golfers. They all focus and swing thoughts are their right arm and right side. They are more of a throw golfer. My solution to those golfers is what JV preaches. Have your setup, shoulders align square or closed. Get comfortable then gripping your clubs as the last thing. This will give u your natural grip, so it’s repeatable. There is no 1 grip or 1 swing that fits every body type and swing type. Your grip needs to match your wrist hinge and release style.
I went to three knuckles on the left and flushing it now but now struggling with short game. Working on changing grip just for short game.
Weaker grip for chipping can really help. I change my grip. 👍
Makes perfect sense, but all you illustrated was the left hand grip, nothing on the right hand grip. Does the right hand crease in middle (Carpal Tunnel) just fit on top of the left thumb? Which begs this ? where does the left thumb sit?
Been doing this for years. Holding the club in front with face perpendicular to ground then tweaking it closed…..then take your regular grip
i must be doing it wrong. this gives me a really strong grip. which is not comfortable at all.
If your grip has been very weak or poor, it will feel awful now and vice versa for those with really strong grips going to slightly weaker.
But in actuality there is no perfect grip or swing, it's just some things work better than others.
Is it just me or this a really long winded way of saying keep your left thumb just right of centre?
No cause it depends on club face as well
Not for me, I have huge palms and have always struggled with grip and cues that work for other people. this is a game changer if it works!
Finger not palm!!!!!
So confusing
Haha 😂 👍
Did he make the club stay up right at 5:05? Am I the only not seeing another object holding it up?