==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 162 Date 02/22/11 ==================================================== ==================================================== Keepin' It Real - TCT Quick Tip - Grip Pressure ==================================================== On a related note to the tip below, you've probably all read sage advice about gripping the club lightly for a variety of reasons that seem to make sense Fuggetaboutit. By the time your downswing gets to impact, all golfers are gripping tight regardless of the grip pressure that they started with at address. If you didn't, the club would fly out of your hands. Just use your own intuitive grip pressure, think "swing fast" not "swing hard" and you'll be fine. ==================================================== Keepin' It Real - TCT Golf Tip: Swing Fast Not Hard ==================================================== If you think "swing fast", not "swing hard", you will gain swing speed without losing accuracy, and here's why. One point of emphasis in my golf swing development philosophy is an impact/ball striking lesson I developed in 2010 where the student practices getting into the impact position correctly. A staple of that position is maintaining the"flying wedge" position of the right wrist through and beyond impact. This position helps to maintain a correct ball trajectory, and helps avoid the distance robbing and accuracy destroying "flip" at impact. A key thought if you are trying for a little more swing speed is to "swing fast", not "hard", in order to retain the correct wrist position. Try this exercise: Extend your right hand like you are going to shake hands. Now put your wrist in the flying wedge position - allow the wrist to "cup" a little, as if it's bent backwards a few degrees, like it should be when you grip the club. Now close your right hand "hard" as if you are trying to squeeze the life out of something, and see what happens to the angle in your right wrist. It all but disappears, the angle between the back of your hand and forearm almost becomes straight. When you are trying to swing "hard" at the ball, this straightening out happens at the worst possible time, right at impact - and bad things happen to your ball flight and distance because you "flip" your wrist through impact.. However, if you are thinking "swing fast", it doesn't happen - you won't add undue grip pressure and cause the angle to recede. So think "swing fast" not "swing hard" and you'll notice the difference. Enjoy, Tom