Jack Nicklaus has recently started to endorse a type of grip that has counterweights built right into them. Obviously, being perhaps the greatest player of all time, Mr. Nicklaus holds a ton of credibility when it comes to golf equipment. If his name is on it, it sells. But, what kind of golfer does this type of grip work for the best? Does it work for everyone?
These are some of the questions that were sent in for me to answer. Many years ago, I actually worked with a gentleman that had a very similar concept. DJ and I both tried his grips and we saw some success with them. However, we quickly found out that there are certain aspects of this type of grip that can actually hurt your game. DJ could hit his irons well, but he felt that he had no control over his driver. That's because his swing speed was too fast and the counterweights actually proved to be detrimental when swinging over 125 mph.
Even more recently, after my first heart surgery, I gave these grips a try but because I had lost significant clubhead speed (upwards of 15 mph), the clubs felt really heavy in my hands. It turned out that because my swing speed wasn't fast enough, I was actually working harder to get the club back to the ball and as a result, I tired very quickly.
Like anything else, you have to try it for yourself to know for sure. I think these grips have a solid concept, and the physics makes sense. You just need to be careful because if you can't generate the proper clubhead speed needed, you may be hurting your game more than you're helping. But hey, if it works for the Golden Bear, it might just work for you.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
SECRET GRIP
Not sure how much they would help the average player.
With all my health issues over the last year I am starting to play a little better shooting mid 80's and getting some of the distance back. I talked to my certified builder/ Fitter about getting refit now and we decided to wait until next year. He wants to wait until I get all the strength back that I am going to get back first from my surgeries.
I think getting properly fit for clubs would benefit people more than messing with there grips.
Grips
Mike, really glad for you that your healing process is coming along. Never fast enough I'm sure. Already scoring in the mid 80's is good news too. Like many of us I know you are looking to get back to the 70's. Wow that just made me think of the 1970's....... ah what night".
As for grips, I agree whole heartedly that getting fit is the best idea but again with a quality fitter. My daughter who is now getting really interested in playing golf failed to bring me along and got ripped off at Golf galaxy a few weeks back spending over $1500.00 on new clubs and bag. They did not even do a sudo-fitting. Her clubs are all 3-4 inches too long. We are getting together soon as possible to cut and re-grip them. I will do it for her in my garage. BTW I understand that new clubs and bag could be well over $1500 but my point was that they did not measure and cut, let alone do a lie fitting.
Ridiculous!
Grips are a very personal preference thing. Cindy prefers the golfpride tour wrap jumbo though her hands are not big. She just broke 40 for the first time! (39) I love my Jumbo Max and they are heavier than the 'secret grips' and technically back weight my clubs. I would have said that if DJ hit them well with his irons he could have kept them on his irons and NOT on his woods. What works works. But not for all golfers or even all clubs. (I know most fitters would say that all grips should be consistent). Experimentation is okay and what I do. I went back to an old Hybore Cleveland driver that I re-shafted with my preferred shaft and grip and am really ripping it long lately.
Keep healing pal and I hope your game continues to improve and give you joy.
Grips
Robert I am sorry about your daughter and Golf Galaxy they do not do a good job of fitting at all.
I don't disagree about grips use what you like best I just do not think the average player is going to notice a difference with 10 - 20 grams of weight.
I got fitted for my putter and we ended up cutting a couple of inches off the shaft and added weight to it until I got the feel I wanted but it took like 30 or 40 grams + before I could really notice a big difference we put a big over sized heavy grip on it and had to add a bunch of weight to get the feel back.
As far as my clubs I am playing the same clubs that I was fitted for and built for me. They feel a little heavy right now but we are going to do a fitting next year after I get through the healing process and see what I need changed.
I have my moments on the coarse I have to watch my setup that has helped the most right now pre load heavy right.
Grip Weighting
Thanks for this topic, Surge. I haven't quite gotten back to full swings yet since my shoulder surgery, but Secret Grips got me to thinking about something I had done just before I started losing distance and control with all of my clubs a few years ago. I became a life member of what was then the PGA Tour Partners Club and one of my free gifts was a set of membership buttons that stick into the hole in the butt of the grip. I had these in all my grips until a month ago when I put new grips on; I got rid off them for no particular reason. Now, I can't wait to start full swings to see what difference it makes.
Butt weights and "Accurizers"
Hi Surge -
There are two different items. One is a series of weights that you described. They counter balance the head weight.
The other is Accurizers that are longer and stiffen up the butt end of the shaft. The one for woods weighs 30 grams and the one for irons is a little shorter and weighs 20 grams. I have used an Accurizer in my driver and it helped a lot to reduce shaft flex under my hands (it is already X flex). I can feel the difference.
In the irons, it didn't make as much of a difference in performance,
Testing shows they increase accuracy for most people. They decrease swingweight, but increase overall club weight.
More details are here: http://www.balancecertified.com/
Bob Pegram