What Grip Works Best With The PPGS?

Fri, 03/16/2012 - 18:36 -- Don Trahan

I don't typically get asked questions about what type of grip works best with the Peak Performance Golf Swing. But, Eileen sent one in because her understanding was that interlocking or overlapping your grip creates more flexibility in the wrists, which is something that goes against the wrist movement in the Surge Swing.

Well, I've always used the overlapping grip and I've always said, "good wrist action is no wrist action." My wrists stay firm throughout the swing. When using the PPGS with any of these grips, you've got to make sure you have firm wrists. The only time there should be slight cupping is at the top of the backswing and the top of the forward upswing. You'll see in the video that even at those points, the wrist movement is very minimal.

Many golfers have had success with all the different types of grips. Jack Nickalus and Tiger Woods are perhaps the two greatest golfers in history and they both use an interlocking grip. If you have really weak wrists, the ten fingered grip might be the way to go. This grip is sometimes taught to beginners as a prelude to one of the other two types of grip. Whichever grip you like the best is the one that you should be using. But, remember, when using the PPGS there should be no wrist cocking during the swing. Once you start doing that, you lose control.

Keep it vertical,

The Surge!

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Comments

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

 For what it's worth...I would use one grip through the bag...Unless I had proved to myself that there was a good reason to do otherwise.

The only exception for me is with a putter. My grip with a putter doesn't resemble any regular golf grip and is a ten finger grip with the fingers on my right hand very spread out and with the first finger running down the back of the shaft. The fingers on my left hand are also spread out a little more than a normal golf grip and my grip pressure is very, very light.

For all other clubs I started out with a ten finger grip (I wouldn't have even known at the time that there was anything else, since I had never played golf).

Went back a forth between that and interlocking for a few years and settled on interlocking about a 1 1/2 years ago. Tried overlapping a few times but never really gave it a chance to work. Just didn't feel right to me. I don't think I play any better with an interlocking grip than I did with a ten finger grip but each takes a few shots to get used to.

More power for me with a ten finger grip but also more likely to hook the ball.

Like you, I am pretty much equally poor no matter which grip I use. ;-)

SimplyGolf's picture

Submitted by SimplyGolf (not verified) on

Halfway to the ball is a problem for me....
that's about where the excess begins,
as if squeezing the grip will help. 

My fingers, forearms, and ball flight
talk to me...."what the H are you doing?
Just let it go. We gotcha covered."

And when I let it go, that's when the 
golf ball actually does go.

btw- Copy that on the smaller bat.
Maybe left-eye dominance helps, 
but with my "little stick"
I find I could really make consistent contact.

Not unlike PPGS : shorter clubs,
adequate grip pressure, and a
compact, quiet swing.

adel's picture

Submitted by adel on

Hi all,
When I use the interlocking grip, it seems as if I have less pressure in my grip, perhaps closer to 3 on a scale of 0 to 5, and it works fine. But I always get a sore pinky. then I revert back to the overlapping grip  that feels as if my grip is in the range of 4 or above.
 Any feedback?
I'm sorry about my complaint few days ago about the blog's video quality. I would like to convey to all participants that his blog is my daily Bilble. Without mentioning all your names in particular, I appreciate and live by everybody's daily contributions, expertise, wit, humuor, stories and hopes.
At that moment, I was just complaining about not beeing able to watch my Guru's daily instructions in a better video format...

Regards.

SimplyGolf's picture

Submitted by SimplyGolf (not verified) on

Good info on the grip, Don

I have had had my best results, actually, with 
a baseball grip. That was my sport and my hands
are quite comfortable, release more consistent,
with all 10 digits on or touching the grip. 
Grip pressure I need to pay attention to:
this is a golf club, not a baseball bat:
striking a static, smallish golf ball,
not a 85 mph, moving hardball.

My forearms, fingers and ball flight give me instant feedback
when there is too much grip pressure.

++++++ 

Don, Could you also talk about club "grips".  My fitter found
that all my club grips were too small. The tips of
my fingers were pushing into the fat part of my thumb.

With a full set of correctly sized grips installed,
I have a new...."grip"...on my game. Excuse the 
pun, but really, the new grips have made a noticeable difference.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

Funny because I learned golf with the overlapping grip and either alternative grip just feels monstrously weird to me. :)

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I figure most of us are increasing our grip pressure as we approach the ball, whether we admit it, or even know it, or not.

If my grip is right I can squeeze the grip as hard as I can and not have the club face rotate. Of course I'm not trying to do that while playing. If I am a little careless with the grip the face will turn clockwise, just a little, and just a little on the club face could be 30 yards at the end of the shot.

Sometimes when I'm watching TV I hold a club with a proper grip and squeeze it as hard as I can and watch the club face as I do it to make sure it doesn't roll any. Then repeat the process again.

Everybody should try that to see if they can cause the face to open (or close if they have it too much in the palm of the left hand) when they squeeze the club, even though they intend to keep the same grip pressure throughout the swing.

If the grip is right it won't move no matter how hard we squeeze.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I don't know who won or lost today except that I watched Alabama blow an 11 point lead and couldn't take it anymore and changed the channel. I can't figure out how a bunch of kids can grow up with a basketball in their hands and not be able to shoot the ball any better than that.

Later saw on the news that they lost and Missouri lost. Missouri losing was a pretty big surprise. Many people had them picked to go to the final four.
I just don't like to watch college basketball as much as I used to. Since every good underclassman goes pro every year the level of play just isn't as good as it used to be when a team might have 4 or 5 seniors.

SimplyGolf's picture

Submitted by SimplyGolf (not verified) on

Got one. Love it.

On the links, on the boat...
just about everywhere, they simply work.

Dmwheat4's picture

Submitted by Dmwheat4 (not verified) on

Surge,   my grip is interlocking, that was the way I started and it works for me.  As for putting, my finger runs down the shaft.  Played today, so nice out and played pretty well.   As I said before, I think about skipping the rock and it helps so much!!  Started reading the Extraordinary Golf last night and love it so far, think it will be one that I read about every spring, at least for awhile.  

Thanks for your help,

Can't wait to get back out there, Sunday,,
marilyn

SimplyGolf's picture

Submitted by SimplyGolf (not verified) on

Cool stuff, Smith. Thx for the golf wisdom.

Have u heard this piece of golf wisdom ?

The very last thought-action at address, is to intentionally bring too much grip pressure, but then slowly release until one feels the "correct" grip pressure. 
When grip pressure feels happy,  that moment ...becomes the trigger point for the takeaway. Uhm...just to clarify...."happy" is my word,and the source did not use this word.I'm sure this can be articulated with moretechnical language, but I like simple.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Surge recommends a grip pressure of 3 on a scale of 5 but you should be able to do that with any grip with some practice.

Either an overlapping or ten finger grip is a little easier on the fingers than interlocking and if interlocking was hurting me I would use overlapping, even if it took a while to get used to it.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Hmmmm. Must say that I don't know what to make of the grip comment about baseball.
I never saw a good hitter that gripped the bat tightly. My grip on a baseball bat was less than the 3 that I try to use in golf.
The more relaxed the faster the bat speed. Since a golf ball isn't coming at me at 90mph I can get away with a grip pressure of 3 in golf, but if it weren't for having to control the club face and all I wanted was speed I would use somewhere between 1 and 2.

P.S. I used to love it as a pitcher when I noticed the batter was squeezing the sawdust out of the bat. You could bet he was never going to catch up to a high fastball.

These links pretty well describe my views, except the lining up of the knuckles, which I believe can be adjusted a little for each individual (even though I do line mine up).
http://www.qcbaseball.com/skil...
http://www.ehow.com/how_10084_...

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I have heard someone say something similar to that. Have never tried it but it very well could be something that would help me start with the correct muscle tension.

I am almost always guilty of too light a grip pressure and even general muscle tension at the start of the takeaway, and is one reason that I am very "lazy" with my arms in the first foot of the takeaway, as opposed to less "lazy" players like Surge and Robert F that get the club head to the toe line much sooner in relation to the turn making the swing up to a good position at the top much easier.

julie's picture

Submitted by julie on

I started playing golf 25 years ago using the overlapping grip. About 15 years ago  I evidently started holding the club too tightly and bruised a nerve on the side of my left index finger with my right pinky. The area was extremely painful whenever it was touched.   I had to switch to the 10 finger grip and I continue to play successfully with this grip today.

Enzeau's picture

Submitted by Enzeau (not verified) on

hey don, have you ever looked at your club when you are at the top of your back-swing? it does not look perpendicular to the ground to me. looks more like a 45 degree angle to me . what gives? another thing. when you are at address the angle between your forearm and the club is roughly 160 degrees. at the top of your back-swing the angle is 90 degrees. your wrists had to cock somewhere to change that angle. what gives? 

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

 It felt weird to me to try anything other than the way I had held a baseball bat for hundreds of thousands of swings.
 About 500 swings a day for 25 years...Whatever that adds up to...And that was AFTER I quit playing baseball and could afford a batting cage and pitching machine, and just for fun.

Still not 100% sure I did the right thing when I changed but mostly did it because other people did.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

Interesting. When I'm struggling with stuff, I do often squeeze my grip and then ease back to the "active but not tight" level, but I've never thought of using it like a swing key.

Russty Kiwi's picture

Submitted by Russty Kiwi (not verified) on

I feel the same way & have experimented with interlock , but allways used overlap. With the putter I have my pointing finger down the shaft & have used both pointing fingers straight down the shaft,& feel it stops wrist action & gives me a better feel for judging distance.
   On another topic, I have found I've been preloading heavy right too much, & have gone to a 40/60 & could'nt beleive how good I was driving the ball after changing. Balance & timing is better  & now smoken it down the middle. Did'nt think a little thing like that could make such a differance

Russty Kiwi's picture

Submitted by Russty Kiwi (not verified) on

A vertical club is viewed looking down the aiming line, not front on. There is no wrist cock in the Surge swing & I'm sure thousands of Surges followers will back me on this. If you are truely keen on learning something you can look it up in the search bar to the right of this page.  But judging buy your comments you are here only to try & find faults with everything & dazzle us with your profound knowledge of golf, to which you are wasteing your & my time, as we've heard it all before

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade (not verified) on

Russty, I find I tend to overdue preload too. 60/40 sounds about right. We have alot of windy days here in the desert. Surges advice on how to hiy into the wind is perfect. He says no preload into the wind but more even weighting and tee it high and then swing more level, not up. Works like a charm (lucky Charm inthe spirit of Saint Patty!). Hit a drive straight, lower traj and about 260 into a 30 mph wind yesterday.  So yes, we need to fool around with preload and ball position in varying conditions too.
Constant adjustments.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

As Rusty Kiwi says, you're looking at the wrong view when you think of vertical. Enter "Swing Clock Defined" into the Search box on the right side of the screen and you'll find a detailed explanation to help you.
As for the wrist cock, there is none. There is flexion which occurs when the momentum of the club going one way meets the force of the arms going the other way. We resist that passively through firm wrists maintained by the firm pressure of the last three fingers of each hand, not any active motion against it. The wrists will flex to about 90*. Beyond that, the left wrist would begin to break down and either cup or bow.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

Why would you say that? I'm intrigued by what theory you're proposing whereby the length of the club would have any relevance to whether you use an interlocking, overlapping, or ten finger grip. I've always used an overlapping grip, for every club I've ever picked up to make a swing with. Like Steve Smith, my putting grip is different, but I'm not making a full swing with it.

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

Robert,

I hate to say it, BUT, No, still haven't had time to play with my new toy's, Yet!

Busy weekend ahead starting in about an hour, Golf planned for Mon and Tue, so possibly later in the week, Maybe!

At least I feel needed, but way more than I'd like to actually be.

PMG

PS, Hand progressing well. I have full range of motion now and about 80/90 strength, except in the wrist area, which is from being unused and the tendon removal area.

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead (not verified) on

My grip is havering between an inter-locking one and an overlapping one. Changed recently to the inter-locking grip and then jammed my ring finger on the right hand. It is sloooowly getting less painful. I noted when I made the change, that I seemed to hit the shots straight and strong. Now, if it starts to get sore, I swap back to overlapping, without any noticeable difference. I even went to an almost two finger over-lapping grip and it didn't seem to affect my swing too much at all.
I enjoyed the change to inter-locking so much, that I changed my putting grip to that also. The results have been extremely good.
The change in grip and concentrating on not bending the lead or left arm in the BUS, has made a lot of difference. As they say, "Confidence breeds confidence". Thankyou for  today's video Surge. Which leads me to my off the top of my head question ; - )
Surge, how do you manage to keep your hat on during the swing? It looks like a lighter version of my favourite Australian Akubra hat, which is languishing hanging on the wall. It is brilliant in the Summer [what Summer heh heh heh], but I clip it in the FUS to the left ear. DH

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

 Enzeau,

You are thinking of vertical as though it was the same as that stick you have up your rear end. Vertical is in relationship to a vertical lifting action Not a stopping point where the club must stick straight up into the air like the one straight up your rear end.

If you would really like an answer to your puzzlement, rather than just being a smart mouth jerk, try looking at this link for a little enlightenment, If you can bear to be enlightened that is. It would probable be best to get that stick out of you rear end first though, I know you think you know what you are talking about, but you really don't even have a clue. Really!
http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

Read carefully and study the pictures for a little enlightenment.

MikefromKy Go Bama. Go Irish's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy Go B... (not verified) on

4,450,000

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Surge has said quite a few times that he also clips his hat in the FUS and it causes him to go wider in the finish than he would like.

Usually after saying that he takes the hat off for the shot and puts it back on afterward.

Looks to me like those Australian style hats with the snap on the side would be ideal for golf. I'm surprised more people don't use them.
http://www.downunderweb.com/st...

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

A monkey goes into a bar and asks the barman: Do you have any bananas? No,I don't. ( says the barman) Do you have any bananas? (asks the monkey) No,I have not got any bananas!!! Do you have any bananas? If you ask me that question one more time, I'll nail your tongue to the counter!!! Do you have any nails? No,I don't. Do you have any bananas?
 

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Even after all that I still miss my pitching machine at about this time of night when I would have been hitting balls instead of watching TV.

Wish I would have had a profitable hobby though, instead of hitting baseballs.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade (not verified) on

Understand you got skills your family appreciates! It is nice to be needed and still able. Glad to hear your hands are improving. As for your new golf tools. They'll be waiting for you when you're ready. I plan on doing some serious playing with my new "work shop" on my next days off.
PMG

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 (not verified) on

Surge,

I learned the game using an interlocking grip and experimented with both the baseball and overlap grips.  I finally settled on the baseball grip for the past 7-8 years because I felt it gave me more control of the club.

Toward the end of last year I started to develope trigger finger ( self-diagnosed ) in the pinkie on my right hand.  With the milder weather here in NJ this winter I've been out about a dozen times and have gone to the overlap.  It seems to be working better as I get accustomed to it.  Time will tell.

Sacfam44's picture

Submitted by Sacfam44 (not verified) on

I concur. A grip that is more relaxed brings more bat speed.
And I dub you Mr Baseball. You are a great resource,
Mr. Smith, for things baseball.
But....and this is your big but....(as Carol Burnett would say)
bat grip must be adequate to keep that accelerating mass 
(called a bat) from becoming released and launched.

I bet you did enjoy those guys that were locked
on with everything they had. K it is. 

I did not swing a huge bat, but I had my
best results when grip was adequate and comfortable.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade (not verified) on

Thanks for the thoughts on grip Surge. I have used the overlap for years. Actually started out with the interlock because that's what Jack Nicklaus did and well he was Jack Nicklaus and like many kids I had the "Golf My Way" book. Think the book was really my Dad's and it ended up as my how to golf starter.

Played 18 today and shot 42/42 for an 84. Was one of those days where I made lots of putts but missed several that I felt should have gone in but lipped out. Did make a 25 footer for my only birdy. Today was cool, cloudy and windy.Not the day I was likely to break 80 again. Any way golf is good under most conditions to me.

My new work table is finished and ready for action. I bolted my new grinder,loft/lie and vice to the table top. Might not fully baptise it till next days off. Back to work tomorrow. Am looking forward to adjusting lies though. My 7 iron is diffinitely too flat and the fact that I seem to consistently push it right of my target varifies that further. I am doing alot of research on grinding wedges. Fascinating subject to me and I am eager to see if I can see better results with my short sticks through modifications. Yes I will be careful and again I will practice with several old clubs from my 4 sets before I go close to my present newest set. It does hold interesting prospects and who knows maybe better golf is only a fit away. Oh boy, sounds dangerous. I'm livin' on the edge!
I must admit I'm having fun!

Terry, if your reading this, how are the hands coming along? Have you been able to play with your news toys yet?

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

In the PPGS, we use a neutral grip. Strong versus weak is a reference to rotating the hands at address on the shaft so that either the forward or back hand is more on top of the club, thus either promoting or restricting rotation through the impact zone. Since the hands want to return to square, a strong grip, with the forward hand more on top of the club will promote greater rotation, thus attempting to force the club head more closed for those people who have trouble getting it to square. In my experience, it doesn't work all that well, as almost everyone I've seen with a severely strong grip still manages massive slices. :)
To reiterate, Surge promotes a neutral or 3-P grip, palms parallel to each other and perpendicular to the body, ground, and aiming line.

HarveL's picture

Submitted by HarveL (not verified) on

Interesting because I use both the inter-locking grip (D through 6 iron) and the overlapping on 7 iron down through wedges.  I hit all shots equally poorly. Should I stick to one grip?

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

 The guys that worried me were the ones that were so relaxed that they were wiggling their fingers around like they were playing a flute as I released the ball.

It's always been a drawback for me in golf because I have a very strong urge to have my grip at about a 1 or less in the back swing and then increase the grip about halfway to the ball. It's very easy for any grip change on the way to the ball to alter the club face. No such problem in baseball because if the bat rotated a degree or two on the way to the ball we would never know it and the right palm is facing the sky at impact anyway.

I had some weird ideas when I was playing that later I learned were totally wrong. In college I used a 35 inch Foxx model bat to hit more home runs (I thought). A few years later watching Jack Clark hit balls into the upper deck at Busch with a 31 inch bat I knew I had been full of it.

Young and dumb! LOL

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy (not verified) on

What's going on with the high ranked BB teams today Duke just got beat.
My computer broke the motherboard went bad older gateway. Bought a IMAC today trying to relearn how use a computer. Hope to get out and play this weekend if the rain stays away.  

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade (not verified) on

Nice explanation by Robert below. I have adapted a very neutral grip keeping both hands and wrists fairly firm and avoiding wrist movement. If you want what many consider the ideal grip,get the swingrite from Doc's site. I have it and at first found the grip trainer that it comes fitted with looked and felt "strong" to me. But I have been reasured that it is considered neutral. Surge covers proper grip thoroughly in the paid videos. He is clear that he believes we should never change the 3p grip under any conditions. One exeption might be when we are using an iron,hybrid or wood as a putter around the green.Even then it would be circumstantial and depend on conditions.

RMSous's picture

Submitted by RMSous on

I am a recent and fervent "convert" to your method, and am enjoying learning it,
slowly. Thank you for being so thorough and grounded in research.

I have a question about the grip. You no doubt are aware of Eddie Merrins' book
"Swing the Handle, Not the Clubhead." In it, he recommends a grip that I believe
is a good part of the answer to the problem of keeping the hands in the
orientation that we set at address --- that is, a grip that helps you to avoid
opening and closing the clubface during the backswing and right through to the
forward swing and finish, and also helps you keep your hands from loosening off
the club at any stage in the swing.

In simple terms, he recommends not only curling the fingers into channels in which
to set the club --- as you do --- but more importantly, curling the fingertips
laterally, towards the palms, so that pressure is exerted not just upward, in
the direction of the big thumb and wrist, but east and west, so to speak, creating
what I would describe as a lock on the handle. This not only keeps the wrists
ultra firm, it makes it almost impossible for the hands to lose their hold on the
club during the swing. Since I have long suffered from losing my grip on the
handle, I look at Merrins' grip as a godsend.

May I please have your evaluative comments on Merrins' grip, and in particular,
can you tell us if it is compatible with the PPGS, and if not, why not? I don't
want to adopt a grip that is in conflict with your philosophy. I have discovered
that when I do stray from your recommendations, I usually am making things harder
on myself.

Bob Soucie

thommo's picture

Submitted by thommo on

Good daily on the grip. My question is which is one suits PPGS weak,strong or neutral grip.

Thommo

Kevin McGarrahan's picture

Submitted by Kevin McGarrahan on

Thommo,

Regardless of what type of grip is used, interlocking, overlapping, or 10-finger, the recommended position of the grip is neutral. A weak or strong grip tends to put unnecessary rotation into the wrists or forearms requiring corrections during the swing to get the club face square at impact.

Kevin