How you hold the club determines the look and shape of your golf swing.
One of the often overlooked features of the golf grip is "grip
pressure". Most golfers simply hold on to the handle of the club too
tightly. Here's a good test to determine grip pressure: Hold the club up
about waist high. Grip it as tightly as you can-we'll call that pressure
a 10. Now hold it so loosely that it will fall out of your hands-we'll
call that a 1. We now have a 1-10 scale. Honestly assess your grip
pressure on that 1 to 10 scale. Grip pressure should be in the 3 or 4
range. If your grip pressure is considerably more than that, try to
lighten it up somewhat. You should have enough grip pressure to control
the handle and still feel the head of the club. Soft grip pressure will
allow you to "swing" the club. The more the club swings the more likely
the club head will return to the same spot. So light grip pressure will
increase consistency.
A grip pressure of 3 or 4 will also increase distance. There are two
ingredients to added distance, one is strength. The other is
flexibility.
Of the two, flexibility is more important. We all marvel how some
slightly built golfers on the LPGA and PGA tours hit the ball so far.
They all are not strong, but they are all flexible. A soft grip will
increase suppleness in your hands, arms and shoulders. This will
increase club head speed and distance.
Try this simple test. Lighter grip pressure will result in more
consistent and longer golf shots.



Bio for Jay Morelli
Head Instructor, The Original Golf School at Mount Snow
New England PGA "Teacher of the Year"
Vermont PGA "Teacher of the Year"
Golf Digest "Top Teacher in the State"