Grip Pressure Adjusts Within Length of Pitch
Grip Pressure Adjusts Within Length of Pitch
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi
Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
For maximum control of your pitch shots, I advocate using your normal full swing grip. The palm of your trail hand should face in the direction you want to hit the ball so that the back of your lead hand points in the same direction as the club face. On short shots, where you swing the club back less than waist high, there is very little wrist break, so take a firm grip with both hands. This curtails wrist action, and without the wrist lever, you can produce much lower shots that are more controllable. The principle is: spin is the enemy of roll and roll is the most accurate mode, so whenever you can, move the ball back and run it. Also, tighten up a bit from the rough so the clubhead won’t twist when the grass grabs it. How firm is firm? Except for some exotic short pitches, the standard to control both the pace and the face.is: Take a firm grip without inducing tension.
Using the one lever technique where my lead arm and club are straight, I keep my lead wrist from cocking while maintaining the cup in my trail wrist. This assures that the clubface is quiet, with no opening or closing. Note the ball is back in my stance, so this shot will be low and rolling.
For the long pitch shots where you need a very high trajectory, as I do here, the grip pressure should be light in both hands to allow a longer swing with more wrist cock. Just remember that it is a swing and not a stab.
If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.
