Post by dubiousgolfer on Apr 9, 2017 7:00:36 GMT -5
Why is the Vardon grip used by the majority of golfers? I've heard that it is preferable to allow the hands to work as a unit (whatever that really means) but there is no factual proof that it is superior to any other grip. Is this another example where something has become the conventional norm because 'most people' did it so we should all just follow?
Here is a 'You Tube' video where Steve Elkington shows a trophy he won which was a cast model of Harry Vardon's hands. I think the real reason why Vardon wrapped his pinkie finger around his left index is because he had very large hands and incredibly long fingers (especially his pinkie finger) on 'thin' shafted golf clubs. So it was a physical necessity for him to use his overlapping grip style to suit his hand size.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5IcSScvPc
If I look at this from a more logical point of view , the fingers and palm are the only connection we have with the golf club and it makes sense that we need to maximise the surface area in contact with the grip without detrimentally affecting the natural cocking and slinging capability of the wrists. Another advantage for ensuring maximum surface area contact is that we can minimise the pressure (and tension) in our fingers (ie. Pressure = Force per unit area).
So imho , the 10 finger grip maximises the amount of contact while limiting the finger pressure (and unnecessary tension) between the hands and club grip. If someone says you are removing the advantage of the hands behaving like a 'single unit' and introducing inconsistencies , maybe they can provide some valid reasoning.
Here is a 'You Tube' video where Steve Elkington shows a trophy he won which was a cast model of Harry Vardon's hands. I think the real reason why Vardon wrapped his pinkie finger around his left index is because he had very large hands and incredibly long fingers (especially his pinkie finger) on 'thin' shafted golf clubs. So it was a physical necessity for him to use his overlapping grip style to suit his hand size.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5IcSScvPc
If I look at this from a more logical point of view , the fingers and palm are the only connection we have with the golf club and it makes sense that we need to maximise the surface area in contact with the grip without detrimentally affecting the natural cocking and slinging capability of the wrists. Another advantage for ensuring maximum surface area contact is that we can minimise the pressure (and tension) in our fingers (ie. Pressure = Force per unit area).
So imho , the 10 finger grip maximises the amount of contact while limiting the finger pressure (and unnecessary tension) between the hands and club grip. If someone says you are removing the advantage of the hands behaving like a 'single unit' and introducing inconsistencies , maybe they can provide some valid reasoning.