Right hand separating from left hand at the top of the swing

[NevinW]

I have a problem with the right hand moving away from the left hand at the top of the swing.  Other than holding on tighter with the right hand, any suggestions about how to decrease this tendency?  A lot of time I can feel it happening, but I hit a good shot anyway.  Clearly it is something I would like to fix. 

[Tax77]

Post a picture of your grip. It sounds terrible.

[Matic]

I've struggled off and on with this issue. 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2021 by Matic

[MonteScheinblum]

Over hinging of wrists.  See it every day

[NevinW]

5 hours ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Over hinging of wrists.  See it every day

That would make sense.  I’m not nearly as flexible as I used to be, still try to have a long backswing.  Less turn, more over hinging.

[Pepperturbo]

All I can offer is your grip is NOT properly set.  A good grip does NOT break down.

[chipa]

On 9/26/2021 at 10:09 AM, NevinW said:

I have a problem with the right hand moving away from the left hand at the top of the swing.  Other than holding on tighter with the right hand, any suggestions about how to decrease this tendency?  A lot of time I can feel it happening, but I hit a good shot anyway.  Clearly it is something I would like to fix. 

 

I found out I do the same thing. In my case I have figured out it is generally due to poor flexibility in my shoulders due to weightlifting coupled with an improper left hand grip that doesn't allow me to get my left arm enough away from my body while also allowing the right hand to hold onto the club so that both hands can grip the club at the top. Plus, I have an active right hand and push off my right leg during the downswing so my right hand will regrip on the way down if the left hand can't get into position.

 

My solution has been forgetting about the one piece takeaway and instead have been looking at other methods, like Manny de La Torres and Mike Austin. I can say that I believe I have almost resolved the problem and needless to say I am excited about the results as the release is much easier and my misses are much less off line. Here is a great video from Manny that has helped me immensely. Notice how the young student takes the club back in the standard one piece fashion with his wrists stiff as a board. That is exactly how I do it. Obviously the hands will have to come off the club if the backswing is long enough, this is common. Notice Manny's solution, flexible wrists and turning and getting the clubshaft pointed back early.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2021 by chipa

[NevinW]

On 9/27/2021 at 8:52 AM, MonteScheinblum said:

Over hinging of wrists.  See it every day

I went to the range and worked on decreasing my wrist hinge.  That was it.  Felt in control of the grip and hit it very well.  Thank you!

[Hawkeye77]

4 hours ago, NevinW said:

I went to the range and worked on decreasing my wrist hinge.  That was it.  Felt in control of the grip and hit it very well.  Thank you!

He's the man!  

[chipa]

On 9/27/2021 at 2:13 PM, Pepperturbo said:

All I can offer is your grip is NOT properly set.  A good grip does NOT break down.

 

I know you're a good golfer and I have a nephew who shoots in the 60's every now and then, so I know what a good swing looks like in person.

 

IMO and looking at surveys is that the golf swing is quite complicated and is more a God given gift than anything else. I say this because I have used the supposed standard grip and focused on keeping my hands on the club and on a good swing path and I can't hit it anywhere much less straight. I have seen many golfers like myself. I have also seen many golfers do everything they can and still have the hands come off at the top. In fact Jack Nicklaus said this was the number one flaw he had seen among amateurs, so apparently it is not easy to do for the majority of the people.

 

Therefore, for people with natural ability like yourself and my nephew I think it comes very natural, but for the rest of us it is quite difficult, especially if we are trying to generate decent clubhead speed. My nephews ave. ss with the driver is 115 and he's 33.

 

In my own journey when I quit worrying about my grip being being perfect is how I have made progress. If fact I have learned that it is just more than keeping the hands together, one has to use the correct muscles in the hands or arms or it is impossible not only to get any width on the backswing but to also get the weight transferred to the right foot. I started golf at 35 years old and I'm sure that has been a disadvantage as well.

[Pepperturbo]

3 minutes ago, chipa said:

 

I know you're a good golfer and I have a nephew who shoots in the 60's every now and then, so I know what a good swing looks like in person.

 

IMO and looking at surveys is that the golf swing is quite complicated and is more a God given gift than anything else. I say this because I have used the supposed standard grip and focused on keeping my hands on the club and on a good swing path and I can't hit it anywhere much less straight. I have seen many golfers like myself. I have also seen many golfers do everything they can and still have the hands come off at the top. In fact Jack Nicklaus said this was the number one flaw he had seen among amateurs, so apparently it is not easy to do for the majority of the people.

 

Therefore, for people with natural ability like yourself and my nephew I think it comes very natural, but for the rest of us it is quite difficult, especially if we are trying to generate decent clubhead speed. My nephews ave. ss with the driver is 115 and he's 33.

 

In my own journey when I quit worrying about my grip being being perfect is how I have made progress. If fact I have learned that it is just more than keeping the hands together, one has to use the correct muscles in the hands or arms or it is impossible not only to get any width on the backswing but to also get the weight transferred to the right foot. I started golf at 35 years old and I'm sure that has been a disadvantage as well.

I appreciate your perception and experience, and agree, you're not alone.  I know at least 2 friends that have grip and swing issues, and can't get past 11 index, and they have been playing golf since their 20s.  One friend playing since HS told me when I took up the game late in life (at 40yrs of age) I couldn't reach single digit, much less a low single.  That to me was added fuel.  I am big on mind and "WILL" over matter and like proving people wrong.

 

From my clinical understanding of the hands, each of us have the same muscles in our hands, hopefully the same number of fingers... when we grip something like a club we're using the same muscles, unless we're using a different grip.  I use Vardon for most shots, but also Reverse-Overlap for specific type shots, wedges and putter. 

Where our hands can differ is in the extent to which the receptors or muscles in our hands are damaged.  Sensory Receptors don't prevent us from gripping something.  However, if they are damaged, they prevent or mute touch and the vibrations that come from impacting the ball.

 

I have been a jock since childhood, so maybe natural ability is part that, but I never look at it accomplishing something from that perspective.  It's as simple as, I won't use excuses to justify or prevent me from a goal.  To me, if each of us has the physical capability to perform needed moves, and the mental tenacity, there's no reason each of us can't improve or change something to better the overall outcome.   Having said that, a few of my similar aged buddies can't seem to improve over their game obstacles, mostly because of arthritis limitations.  I have been coping with serious osteoarthritis in my hands, knees and hips for about 15yrs.  Some days it's really taxing, yet I still find a way to execute, somehow. 

[chipa]

22 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

I appreciate your perception and experience, and agree, you're not alone.  I know at least 2 friends that have grip and swing issues, and can't get past 11 index, and they have been playing golf since their 20s.  One friend playing since HS told me when I took up the game late in life (at 40yrs of age) I couldn't reach single digit, much less a low single.  That to me was added fuel.  I am big on mind and "WILL" over matter and like proving people wrong.

 

From my clinical understanding of the hands, each of us have the same muscles in our hands, hopefully the same number of fingers... when we grip something like a club we're using the same muscles, unless we're using a different grip.  I use Vardon for most shots, but also Reverse-Overlap for specific type shots, wedges and putter. 

Where our hands can differ is in the extent to which the receptors or muscles in our hands are damaged.  Sensory Receptors don't prevent us from gripping something.  However, if they are damaged, they prevent or mute touch and the vibrations that come from impacting the ball.

 

I have been a jock since childhood, so maybe natural ability is part that, but I never look at it accomplishing something from that perspective.  It's as simple as, I won't use excuses to justify or prevent me from a goal.  To me, if each of us has the physical capability to perform needed moves, and the mental tenacity, there's no reason each of us can't improve or change something to better the overall outcome.   Having said that, a few of my similar aged buddies can't seem to improve over their game obstacles, mostly because of arthritis limitations.  I have been coping with serious osteoarthritis in my hands, knees and hips for about 15yrs.  Some days it's really taxing, yet I still find a way to execute, somehow. 

 

While it's true most people have the same muscles they are not always developed at the same level by the time they are an adult. For example, rarely does one see a good golfer with well developed pectoral muscles or shoulders, whether they train them or were born that way.

 

Based on my experience given that I train my chest and shoulders to strengthen my back and maintain posture I find it nearly impossible to keep my hands together while also resisting with my lower body and getting into a position to generate clubhead speed. I can keep my hands together and make a swing but then I can't resist w/anything else in my body and the difference in my clubhead speed drops 25-30 mph

 

I believe the very few statistically speaking good golfers(low single digit) there are are born with exceptional flexibility in their arms and shoulders that allows them to keep the grip together while also resisting with the other parts of the body that enable them to hit with effortless power. I also believe of these players can't understand why most people can't do this and attribute it to poor technique. I say this because my nephew is a good golfer and to him it's easy. His dad also started late and has progressed past me and told me he has no problem keeping his hands on the club.

 

Also, looking at Manny de la Torres golf instruction he tells his students to get their hands in position then when the downswing starts that's when the force is applied. However, Manny clearly has his legs in a powerful position which makes it easy to generate clubhead speed, and that's the problem with most people is that we can't get our hands in such a position while still keeping the legs in a position that they can start the downswing effectively. Here is what I am referring too: