Club Fitting Series w/ Doc Griffin: Grips

 Doc, before I do a runner for a few days, I meant to mention to you the Kangaroo leather golf gloves. It may assist your grip even when you have sweaty palms etc. Research them. It may help. Lunch calls, Jiaozi,smell yummy : - ) PMGAS DH

Thanks Doc!  What you say makes perfect sense.  Would there be a problem having a different grip for a different type of club?  Such as one type for woods and another type for irons if what they both feel right to you?  Thanks for all the info.  Marv.

Steve, actually shooting the pins and markers on a range first is a good idea. Might do it that way.

Doc, maybe you know how. Well of course you do, I hope. I have the dumb dumb question of the evening. When using a laser range finder to check yardages for each club. How is it done?? I have a GPS and I know how to walk or ride from where I hit the ball to my ball and measure the from and to distance. Just am not sure how we do it with a laser range finder. I am considering buying one soon and can't find the answer on the net so far.

Hey Doc,

You have neglected the most important club in the bag. The one we use the most.
The putter.
I am sure you can give us some ideas for finding the correct type of putter and for getting the shaft length right, etc

In measuring the length of a club is it from the grip end to where the shaft goes into the head or to the bottom of the club?

Right there on the driving range where everyone can watch. Takes a lot of ball's to be doing something like that with your wife. I've heard of people who like scoping in public. It never seemed to excite me very much.

Hello Doc, this is Anders from Norway. I'd like to hear your opinion on some grips named "Pure grips" which they claim are "tacky" in all weather conditions and will stay like that for at least a year. It's also installed using an air pressure gun, and often without the use of tape, thus it should be very easy to install and remove. I find this very interesting as it would make it easier for everyone with access to an air compressor to install grips on their own without the need for a pro or qualified fitter. This would also reduce the cost of regripping and make it easier to try different grips to decide what's best for each person. I'd also like to have your comment on tapeless installation - will the friction be enough to keep the shaft from slipping?

Thanks Russy. This might be the million dollor question,and the million dollor idea. Create a need and then fill it right? Maybe I'll end up getting VJ's gizmo or not we'll see.
Thanks for your input.

THat is correct.

Sorry if that was not clear, yes I am using the light Wynn Master grips, not the DSI, etc. which are the same weight as normal grips, about 50 grams.

I did not see that, but after watching the end of the Transitions, I was informed that I wasn't allowed to watch more golf for 24 hours. ;-)

I did not know.  Thanks, Doc, for continuing to expose myths.

Maybe my new grips helped me, because I believed that they would help me.
My old, small grips had become a bit slick, so the new grips actually did help
in that regard.

Now I know. Fortunately, I also went with what was comfortable and 
will not need to have my clubs re-gripped.

Put the end of the tape measure at the grip end of the club and pull it down to where the bottom of the club would be if you put a ruler on the flat part of the club. Measure that, that is the measurement of the club lenght.
Hal

Thanks for your series on club fitting, Doc. 

As to your grip video, is it not important also to consider the weight of the chosen grip to assure the desired overall shaft weight is achieved?

Bill Jack

Not a problem at all.

Thanks Doc.

I believe Doc has said before that he generally doesn't fit putters. That's a really crazy individual thing, finding the right length, weight, style, bend, grip, etc, etc, etc.

What about a 2nd hand launch monitor ?  I've found a Vector Pro launch monitor here for NZ$750. That would cover everything, if you found something simmilar. That radar of V Js look ok though & should be cheaper

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/TW...

Shows you exactly what you need to know.

Yes, but that's a concern for the fitter in terms of weighting the head and/or butt to achieve the correct MOI determined back a few steps. Find the grip that's comfortable and then weight accordingly.

The only reason for tape is to make it easier to slide the grip on.  Air achieves the same thing without tape.  However, it really isn't as easy as you may think.  It does require the right equipment.  Any grip can also be put on with an air compressor, not just Pure Grips.  They have sent me grips to see and test before.  I was not any more impressed with them than I am with any other brand.  I prefer to stay with Golf Pride and Lamkin as they offer more variety.

Robert,
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the Bushnell Laser Scope with "Slope" feature will give you true distance uphill or downhill but is illegal to use in tournaments. I have a Patriot Bushnell Laser which I find to be quite accurate on "to the flag distance". Then, I have to pace off the plus or minus distance from the flag to my ball mark to see how far I really hit the ball in the air. Most of the courses I play have a number of elevated greens and the wind blows at 5 to 20 mph on average. If you only practice on level ground, we need to keep in mind, that when hitting uphill on the golf course, we have to add a club, say go to a 5 iron instead of a normal 6 iron for a 10' elevation etc. This, of course, is just a "rule of thumb". Wind is more difficult to judge. Maybe Surge needs to address elevation and wind effect in some of his internet daily lessons.  

 Robert, Thanks for that link. I was watching the LPGA from Phoenix and there was Yani Tseng placing her ball just out of a water hazard and I couldn't understand why it was being played where it was if it had ended in the water hazard. Didn't catch what the commentator was saying, he voice overed the rules official's voice and as I didn't see the ball entering the water. Did you or anyone else see that shot?DH

Great series Doc, really enjoyed it. Is there a way to fit for a golf ball? I heard that a tour ball puts more side spin on for a higher handicap player. So should I use a different ball because I slice a lot of my drives? 

Thanks Hal!

Doesn't the weight of the grip affect swingweight?

Doc,
Yes, they were Golf Pride grips. I have double wrapped my grips for years and have not had any problems which is why I wanted your opinion. Thank you.

Doc, I find I like D3-D5 swing weights, helps to feel the head, lights swing weights do not have the feel I am looking for. Ping and Callaway usually produce lighter swing weight clubs, C9-D2.The point I am trying to make is that I use the Wynn grips to increase the swing weight on light swing weighted clubs. Just a tip I use.
As always, thanks for your videos and insight.

Booger, What's up pal? Good to hear your alive and well and working. I know you needed the $$ (don't we all, lol!!). Sounds like you'll get to play in a few weeks. Making hay while the sun shines or in your case where it's dark, hot and sweaty. Ha ha!
Thanks for checking in. We're still here talking golf and stuff.
Take care and glad to hear you have some work. not all are so fortunate.
Get'er done and PSMG:)

Thanks for the feedback Fmm, I have done a ton of research on a whole bunch of lasers from both Bushnell and several other companies. Still am not sure which I might get (no rush). As for the "slope" part, it is optional or an aspect that can be turned off for tournaments. Of course since I rarely play in any tournaments (one per year at the PPGS normally) it's not an issue. I play in a lot of wind here and I am a fairly good judge playing less or more club and hitting it lower, et. Sounds like you've had share of experience too. Good golfing to you and thanks for your thoughts.
PMG

Doc, Thanks again for debunking the grips myth. It is somethink I and MILLIONS of other golfers have been fed on for decades. I found my original Ping grips too hard. I loved the Lamkin grips fitted to the Ping Zings on all but the 3 iron, which I don't play anymore. The G2's are OK, thankfully. A good presentation on another subject 'con'. I have enjoyed all the club fitting presentations. Knowledge is power ; - ) DH

Changing balls won't fix your slice. What ball you choose should be based on your ability to compress the ball, how much control it gives you around the greens, and how it feels to you coming off the club face.
As for fixing your slice, the best choice is to get video of your swing and see what you're actually doing to create it. Why is the club face open to the line of travel of the club at the point of impact? (That's how a slice is created, so whatever you think is happening, you KNOW that is happening.) Also, have you had your driver fitted? Have you measured how long it is and what your own Wrist-To-Floor length is? Most drivers sold in the last 10 years are going to be too long for the average golfer to use with a vertical swing without casting the club from the top and bringing it in with an out-to-in swing path.

Thanks, Doc, great closer for the series! I actually stayed up a bit later to watch this one this morning. When I get some free time I'll give you a call.
 For the gang, I've missed you guys (and gals), I finally had my 2nd night off since starting this marathon outage Sunday night. Slept most of the day seeing how we did  a 16 hour shift Saturday while they did the 1st "squeeze" test on Unit 3 boiler.
Making some much needed moolah on this one and I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the outage sometime late April or early May. Upon conclusion of the outage and a couple of days worth of sleep, I plan on getting into some serious golf.
See ya when I see ya!

Though I've been fine without tape, when I first removed my grips a couple of months after my fitting in California, I found duck tape under mine. My fitter also blows the grips on with air but uses the tape. Actually the tape is also recomended over the ends anyway to keep water and anything else from going down your shaft. As T suggested, the tape should help it fit snug.

 Russty,

I had my fitted clubs weighted properly for the Chamois Jumbo Grips. I have tried many of the higher priced jumbo's, including all of the Winn Jumbo's. I like the feel and wear of the Chamois over all the rest, and they are 1/3 the cost of most of the others. I have very arthritic hands and the Chamois treat them gently. They also install well with a compressor rather than the tape and solvent method.
http://www.golfsmith.com/produ...

Something you touch typing p*llock! hahahaha

 It does work best, fitting for tightness, when installing a 580 grip onto a 600 butt shaft. You will find that a one time application of a layer or two of tape will help with the fit. There is no need for the double sided sticky tape since you are using air, and the tape will/should  remain in place for the next grip change.

I have also noticed that a 600id grip is not tight enough on a 600 shaft and even worse if you're installing a 600 grip onto a 580 shaft. A layer or two of tape will make the difference.

yes!  and?

Robert, Thanks for the input. I'm going today to be fitted, so I will have a video of my swing for the 1st time. There probably is a problem with my driver because that's the only club I slice.

Depends if the ball hit above the hazard line or not before entering the water.  If it hit inside the hazard, then the drop in back on the original side, not closer to the hole.

Hmmmn.... Thanks Doc. I guess I could just keep a note pad handy and gradually hit and measure all my clubs with my Golf Buddy on the course. That seems to be a simple answer. R2 and others gave me some additional food for thought. Glad I brought up the disscussion. Perhaps you and or Surge could make this a topic of disscussion as learning and knowing our distances is very important as they say most amatures consistently less club than needed because they optimistically pick their club based on there best(furthest) distances.
In addition to R2's idea of using an empty range, I think I'm simply going to play a golf course here that gets far less play so I don;t have anyone on my tail. Then I'll be able to hit a variety of clubs from the fairway and measure each with my gps as I pull up beside each ball afterwords.
Everyone has given me some good ideas.
Thanks to all!