A couple of days ago I did a tip on grip pressure, stating that we want an equally firm grip from both hands. But what does one do if one of their hands has been injured so that they have lost grip strength in one hand? That's the question Peter Lapka has raised.
"I suffered a left hand injury in 2007 in an auto accident. I have lost a lot of my grip. As I am now 71 , age doesn't help. I am suffering with club alignment due to not having grip strength to hold the club. My questio is. Would going back to grips with the raised alignment possibly help my to keep the club aligned in my hand with the possibility of going to an oversized grip as well? I am not ready to give up golf yet."
Well, Peter, you have raised a very good question and I am glad to hear you're not ready to give up golf just yet. Hopefully, you'll be able to find a solution for you that will keep you enjoying the game for years to come.
In actual fact, there are many people who play golf that have either an injury or a disease like arthritis that make it difficult/impossible to grasp the club with equal pressure from both hands. The first thing I would say, Peter, is to make sure you are using your good hand, in this case your right one, to hold the club with a firm grip. All too often, golfers do not use the right hand correctly and therefore under-grip it. So just make sure you use your good hand as if you were shaking hands in a firm bussiness-like manner.
With regard to your question on grips with raised alignment point, I believe you are referring to the kind of grip I call a "learner" grip--the kind that has a molded grip to guide you on where to place your fingers. If you could find one that is oversized this could possibly work, but the ones I've seen are just the normal size.
I do think that a true oversized grip could be of help to you as grips like this have been long used for those who suffer from arthritis. So to wrap up, make sure you use your good handin a firm fashion and try getting one of your clubs re-gripped with an oversized product and then play with it for a few rounds to see if that helps. If it does, you can then get the rest of your clubs taken care of. And do let me know how you fared.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
I am 83 and balance is a
I am 83 and balance is a problem, I have a problem shifting my weight and usually swing in the mitt and up the tree, here I have a probnlem if I bump I lose balance, but I bring club down and on and on up and my right foot hardly releases and holds my balance. Not sue if there is anything can be done because balance is not improving.
Thanks for y9ur input. Harry B
I have decided to pick mine
I have decided to pick mine up in person from Greg, at a lesson in Michigan. It will take longer than 6 business days, but no shipping costs. LOL
Thanks Kevin, that's sort of
Thanks Kevin, that's sort of what I was thinking. I'm going to order myself a recent copy of the rules. The one I have is 15yrs old. I like the smaller shortcut copy you mention too. I'll have to check it out.
Kevin. I'm sure you and Dan
Kevin. I'm sure you and Dan are correct. In fact from every rule I have ever read there is nothing that makes me think we can't hit any club at any time from either side.
Surge:ÃÂ I ordered the PPGS
Surge:
ÃÂ I ordered the PPGS Swing Book on July 13, and have not received as yet. My order ID:ÃÂ 7231. Could you please help.
ÃÂ James George
1552 Indiana Ave
Flint,MiÃÂ 48506
Hey Dan, nice to hear from
Hey Dan, nice to hear from you. How,s your game?
Just when you think you know
Just when you think you know all of the rules, and have thought of every scenario, something will come up that is up for interpretation.
The most blatant rule broken at our course is on holes 7 and 8. Both have OB on the right about 5 feet from the cart path. Balls between the cart path and OB almost always are eligible for a free drop because a right handed player is standing on the cart path.
The problem comes when a lefty hits the ball in that area. There is no stance for them and sometimes impossible for them to even have enough room to hack it back into the fairway because of the trees, bushes, and OB fence.
Edit: That leads me to something else I haven't thought of before:
Suppose a lefty in that situation fully intended to hit the ball right handed. I would assume they would then be entitled to the same relief a right hander would get because of standing on the cart path. I would also assume that they would be required to hit the ball from the new location right handed (but I have certainly never seen that stipulation written down). I saw Sergio one time acting as if he wanted to hit a driver so the club would be long enough to make his foot touch the cart path so he got relief. I just can't remember after the ruling and the drop if that is actually the club he hit or not (I'm thinking not).
Does there not have to be the
Does there not have to be the reasonable expectation one would actually play from the opposite position, rather than just saying they would. For instance, I could not take an excessive odd set up position with my arms fully extended and completely bent over just to reach the ball while my feet remain on the path, because that is not a reasonableness position to hit from. In other words I can not fabricate a situation which under normal circumstances would not exist.
That is only 6-business days.
That is only 6-business days. It might take a tad longer than that. I would imagine that they are quite swamped with the initial orders. I do not recall the exact day they went on line, but that is when I ordered mine, and have not yet received either. Patience is not only a virtue, it is sometimes aÃÂ necessity of life. We shall wait together.
Robert,ÃÂ
Robert,ÃÂ
The printer just sent me an email saying they are not ready to ship these books yet. We will let everyone know once I have the facts.
If you send a donation to
If you send a donation to join the USGA, you'll get a copy of the most updated rules, and a hat.
Do yourself a favor. Get the
Do yourself a favor. Get the Winn oversized grips. At age 69, I have severe arthritis in both hands and wrists but didn't want to stop playing golf. After a consultation with a PPGS club fitter, I had all my clubs regripped with the oversized Winn grips. My Ping putter was also regripped with the Ping oversized putter grip. Now I sink more putts and actually added 20 yards to most of my clubs because the club doesn't slip when I swing.
ÃÂ Me, too!
ÃÂ Me, too!
Gordon,
Gordon,
You will be happy to know that we are in the initial discussion stages of an instructional video on this very topic. It will not be exhaustive but it will cover the majority of the rules one needs to know. We don't have a production schedule yet, but it is likely to be toward the end of the year.
Actually, since the only
Actually, since the only stance the left-handers could take would be right handed, which of course is legal under the rules, the cart path would then interfere with their intended stance and they could get relief. ;-)
It would be unsportsmanlike.
It would be unsportsmanlike. In the example of the left-handers also taking relief from the cart path, they did not have the option of a natural left-handed stance. In fact, depending on the distance between the fence and the cart path and the location of their ball, their nearest point of relief may be closer to the path where they can get a left-handed stance without interference.
Surge The rules of golf are
Surge The rules of golf are never discussed.but to play any sport one must know the rules inside out.When one plays withÃÂ different handicap players there is always a discussionÃÂ on who is right.I believe it would give a player a greater confidence to fully understand the rules.Would it be possible toÃÂ pose a question & then give the right answer GordonÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ
Robert,Golf is a joy. Scoring
Robert,
Golf is a joy. Scoring is a struggle... rather improvement is a struggle. Took a distance lesson from Dave Seeman and it was GREAT!!! He showed me a few things to work on. I am signed up for a 1 day school with Greg and Derek for mid August. Still hoping to break the 80 barrier on a more consistent basis.
I see you are really delving into the club building, Did you get Cindy set up yet?
Dan
Of course. But would they
Of course. But would they have to then hit the shot right handed?
Or could they then change clubs?
I've never seen any rule that said a person couldn't change their mind about what club to hit at any time up until the shot so I assume they could.
T, according to the USGA
T, according to the USGA Rules of Golf definitions:
The âÂÂnearest point of reliefâ is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).
It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies:
(i) that is not nearer the hole, and
(ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.
Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.
The Note above is the key: What would the player do if the obstruction did not exist? Would a right-handed player chose to play a left-handed shot if the ball was not on the cart path? If not, then a left-handed shot cannot be used to determine relief.
Me 3.ÃÂ r2
Me 3.ÃÂ r2
Yes. Of course I'm not armed
Yes. Of course I'm not armed with radars and monitors like Doc but got lucky picking some ladies shafts and they are working out well with her new Mashies. Looking for a more appropriate 5/7 wood for her now. She is playing better. I've had some challenges with my left shoulder lately and am getting an mri today.
Nice to hear about your lessons. Looks like no fall tourny this year. Seems Surge has some great world wide stuff going on that are taking precedence.
I wouldn't think so. That
I wouldn't think so. That would actually be an interesting question to submit to the USGA's rules committee. The whole situation.
I went from Winn jumbos to
I went from Winn jumbos to Golf pride wrapped both 'jumbo'. Finally I got the 'Jumbo Max'. Key word being MAX. You really don't know what jumbo is until you give these baby's a try. Love 'em. Got Terry to try 'em and he's been a Avon Camios jumbo fan for years as are some others. He's said he's sold now too. I encourage anyone, with or without hand issues to get a J Max grip and you will be pleasnatly surprised at how great they feel and easy on the hands. I have had hand issues Artritus, trigger fingers, surgery, et.
Nothing wrong with knowing
Nothing wrong with knowing the rules. Just a couple of weeks ago a player in my group had a ball come to rest on the cart path fairly close to the green (about 10 yards). He said he was going to drop on the level ground to the left of the cart path, which was closer to the green. The other side of the cart path was on a slope and wouldn't have been nearly as good a lie, even with drops and a place when (or if) the ball rolled back down on the cart path.
I told him he couldn't do that because it was closer to the green. He became completely irate and said he knew he was right because he had the same situation the week before and one of the scratch players told him it was legal to drop closer to the green from the cart path.
Some of you responded to an
Some of you responded to an earlier comment I made about my aching right hand from hitting toooooo many balls at the range.ÃÂ I'm going to take the advise I received and convert my grips to large size.ÃÂ I'll try one club first to see how it goes.
DJ had a good day today.ÃÂ Keep it up DJ!
Not necessarily. A right
Not necessarily. A right handed golfer would have to drop the ball further from the cart path on the right side to give him relief of stance, where as on the left side he does not need relief of stance.
A player should put a tee in the ground at each spot he may consider to be nearest relief (and complete relief) and then measure to determine which spot is actually the "nearest point of relief" before picking up his ball. If the nearest point of relief is not suitable he may still hit the ball where it lies on the path.
Speaking of 6 business days
Speaking of 6 business days have any of you recieved your new PPGS swing book yet? Hoping mine arrives today.
I'm not sure either Steve,
I'm not sure either Steve, other than it's "The nearest point of relief" if the ball were closer to the left side of the path and that nearest point might be at an angle away from the green, he may have been allowed to drop on that side. Still not sure though!ÃÂ
WS
WS
I believe Sergio did that in
I believe Sergio did that in the Ryder Cup against Anthony Kim. He then hit an iron.
After taking a drop a player can play any hand or club he chooses, not the one he used for the ruling.
Last week Zach in the playoff dropped from a hazard and made sure that his drop would be close enough to a sprinkler head, so he could then take relief from it.
knowing the rules can help at times.
Interesting subject. I see a
Interesting subject. I see a guy at the range from time to time who has a real problem with his left grip, he has a congenital deformity so he has no left hand. He actually uses a strap on his left wrist that he tucks the club into, so his swing is all right hand. He still hits the ball beautifully. It can be done.
ÃÂ Here is a situation that
ÃÂ Here is a situation that I faced last year in a tournament that is similar.ÃÂ I've also seen a similar situation watching a pro tournament, although I don't remember which one.
I pulled a shot to the left off the tee.ÃÂ My ball was about 18 inches from the out-of-bounds fence, so I couldn't take my stance. I took my stance to find the nearest point of relief, marked it with a tee, measured one club length with my driver (even though I wasn't hitting a driver, I can choose any club I wish to make the measurement), and marked the other side with a tee.ÃÂ This placed the cart path within one club length.
I picked up my ball and dropped within the club length against the opposite edge of the cart path - new situation: my ball is touching the cart path, which interferes with my stance and swing.ÃÂ Since the ball is now on the right side of the path, my nearest point of relief is to that side.ÃÂ I again take my stance at that point using the club I intend to hit and mark the point of my club head.ÃÂ I again used my driver to measure one club length and drop.ÃÂ My ball rolled outside the one club length, so I redropped.ÃÂ It again rolled out, so I placed the ball where it hit the ground on my last drop, and played my second shot from that point (6 inches off the fairway.
No need to burden the site,
No need to burden the site, hear they are for anyone to read.
http://www.usga.org/Rules.aspx...
EDIT: Although on second thought, some rules are so vague as to need further explanation and interpretation. Such as, Closest point of relief, in some situations.
One more comment on the grip.
One more comment on the grip.... I know a guy who had some hand surgery that left his hand very weak.ÃÂ He devised a velcro wrap that he closes with the other hand once the weak hand is positioned on the grip.ÃÂ I suppose it is not legal, but it is functional for non-competitive play.
ÃÂ I'm pretty sure we would
ÃÂ I'm pretty sure we would get very unpopular very quickly if every time we had a terrible lie near the cart path we took a drop and tried to pass it of with "Oh, I fully intended to hit that shot left handed and then after the drop it looked so nice I changed my mind".;-)
If Peter can find a reminder
If Peter can find a reminder grip, which should not be too difficult, it can be built up to the size he needs.ÃÂ Hockey tape or regular black tape is roughly one size for each added layer as Ping sizing goesÃÂ We have done this many times in a pinch and it works quite well.
For those who might be
For those who might be interested, go to http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books... and click on the button for 2012-2015 Rules of Golf PDF files to download the Rules to your computer.ÃÂ If you don't have it, you will need Adobe Reader.ÃÂ Or, you can bookmark that page and read all the rules and decisions online.
ÃÂ Many golfers have a copy
ÃÂ Many golfers have a copy of the rules of golf in their bag that they never even look at.ÃÂ The USGA also publishes the Decisions on the Rules of Golf, which every official is supposed to have.ÃÂ I think that professional golfers should all have a copy of both and have to pass a test on those rules prior to each season.ÃÂ I'm not a pro, but I have both.ÃÂ This year, the USGA also published (for USGA members) a Shortcut to Golf Rules (pocket sized) that includes diagrams for finding the closest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
Kevin and all who may be
Kevin and all who may be interested in the practical application of the Rules of Golf, including photos, diagrams and a weekly email, please go to Barry Rhodes blog :
http://www.barryrhodes.com/
and I guarantee you wonôt be disappointed.
JH
ÃÂ Think about it.ÃÂ If
ÃÂ Think about it.ÃÂ If you play the ball where it lies and your only option is to play left handed (for a right hander), then you would set up to do so.ÃÂ When you do that, you have created a new situation, bringing the cart path into play.ÃÂ You now have two options: play the ball as it lies or take relief from the cart path in accordance with the rules.ÃÂ Once you have taken that relief, If you find that you can now play right handed, you are free to do so.ÃÂ You do NOT look at what the situation will be after you take relief until you have actually taken relief under that situation.ÃÂ Each possibility is taken one at a time.ÃÂ If it creates a new situation, that will be treated separately from the first one.
I have arthritis in both of
I have arthritis in both of my thumbs and I switched to Enlow Grips. I can now play 18 holes of golf with no pain. Check out this site for more information.
www.enlowgripsreview.blogspot....
I may try the "fake" off hand
I may try the "fake" off hand thing some time in just a friendly game just to see what people say.
ÃÂ You are correct that the
ÃÂ You are correct that the nearest point of relief is the side to which the ball is closest, but it must be no closer to the hole.ÃÂ If the side to which the ball is closest is nearer the hole, the player has two options: go to the opposite side of the cart path; or go at an angle on the near side to the closest point that is not nearer the hole.ÃÂ Note that the options are related to the hole, not the green.
ÃÂ In essence, you are
ÃÂ In essence, you are correct.