Position of the left thumb for hitting?

[woodmo]

Originally Posted by ohgolfer

Lynn/Yoda/Holeinone: Congratulations on the new site. We are all very eagerly awaiting the evolution of your site. I wish you the best of luck with the new venture. I know we in the golf world will all benefit from it. My question is about the position of the left thumb on the grip when hitting. I seem to have a difficult time comfortably placing the thumb on the aft side of the shaft. When I do this and relax my forearms the clubface is very closed. Am I doing something wrong or can I use a more neutral left hand possition with my thumb right of center? What are the potential pitfalls? Thanks, Terry (OHgolfer)

Thanks for your 'well wishes,' Terry. We're committed to the best golf instruction on the web. Watch us make it happen! And please...help us along the way with your constructive comments and suggestions. My PM key is fully functional and my Inbox awaits! As does the Inbox of our other Site Admin folk: Bagger Lance and Trigolt. We don't kill 'messengers' around here: We welcome them!

Regarding your question, the Aft Thumb Location (behind the Shaft) is independent of both the Left Wrist Condition and the Clubface Alignment. With your Left Wrist in the preferred Vertical Condition (neither Turned nor Rolled) at Impact Fix, the Clubface can then be aligned Square, Open or Shut (depending on the selected Hinge Action -- Vertical, Horizontal or Angled). Again, this alignment is independent of the Thumb Location.

But -- and here's the key -- you need to leave behind the popular teaching that states the Left Thumb and Forefinger 'webbing' needs to be closed. The best Thrust Support through Impact requires an Aft Left Thumb, and this mandates a slightly separated Thumb and Forefinger. It is the only way to maintain both the Aft Thumb and the Vertical Wrist). This is an important point, one that I soon will illustrate using still photos or video or both.

Now, it is a fact that most TOUR players don't do this. But it does not follow that they are using the best procedure. It means only that they were trained traditionally. Remember, these guys wake up every morning looking for any edge they can get. And like the 'Fosberry Flop' that revolutionized the centuries-old approach to the high jump...

This is one area that deserves their attention.

I'm still not comfortable with the thumb on the aft side. Mine naturally tends to be between 1 and 2 o'clock on the shaft, assuming aft is 3 o'clock. How does this affect support the club at the top, since it is not underneath the shaft, and what portion of the thumb then is actually in contact with the club? Thanks.

[hcw]

But -- and here's the key -- you need to leave behind the popular teaching that states the Left Thumb and Forefinger 'webbing' needs to be closed. The best Thrust Support through Impact requires an Aft Left Thumb, and this mandates a slightly separated Thumb and Forefinger. It is the only way to maintain both the Aft Thumb and the Vertical Wrist). This is an important point, one that I soon will illustrate using still photos or video or both.

Now, it is a fact that most TOUR players don't do this. But it does not follow that they are using the best procedure. It means only that they were trained traditionally. Remember, these guys wake up every morning looking for any edge they can get. And like the 'Fosberry Flop' that revolutionized the centuries-old approach to the high jump...

This is one area that deserves their attention.

OH MY! (serious light bulb going off/fog clearing)...i need to run to the (garage) range......ok i'm back...thanks yoda, that explains a LOT!

-hcw

[Yoda]

I don't use a glove, with a tour wrap cord grip. I'm thinking it may just be from the 'groove' in the wrap/cord. I'm going to move to a winn to see if the issue goes away.


Very glad to be here Lynn. Thanks for stepping up and helping the golfing world!

Knowledge is power

No glove and Tour Wrap cord grips. Hmmm...As I suspected. That combination demands tough Hands. At the height of his career, Larry Nelson preferred cord grips because they are very hard, and he felt he had more control with the harder grips. Nevertheless, as he got older and played less, he had to move to a softer grip. The cords were simply to rough for his Hands.