Short Thumb Grip

Use a 'short-thumb' grip for more clubhead control and speed. One aspect of the grip I rarely hear discussed is the 'short-thumb' and 'long-thumb' styles of holding the club. They merit attention because they have a subtle effect on other features of your left-hand grip.

Ultimately this determines how much hand action you use during the swing, and how well you control the club at the top of the backswing.

The long thumb I'm demonstrating for you here (below left) is rarely used by better players. When you extend your left thumb far down the shaft, it causes the handle (grip) to shift towards the palm of your left hand. That's not good; a palm grip restricts hand action and thus your ability to generate clubhead speed.

Moreover, you can't control the club very well during the late stages of the backswing. The club tends to bounce on you at the top. The long thumb sometimes gives the sensation of giving you more control, when in fact it provides less. I rarely lengthen a player's thumb position.