Jason Birnbaum – How Grip Affects Wrists in a Golf Swing
In this blog post, we provide a summary of HackMotion webinar recording with Golf Digest’s “Best in State” coach Jason Birnbaum.
He discusses the importance of the grip and how it affects wrists in a golf swing.
To listen to the full conversation watch the video below.
Is There a Certain “Perfect” Grip?
There is no perfect grip! The grip is a personal and individual aspect of golf.
Each player may have a weak, neutral, or strong grip, and what is important is that the player can consistently deliver the club at impact and achieve their desired shot.
It is important to note that grip is not inherently good or bad, but for beginners, an excessively weak or strong grip can present challenges.
The key is to find a grip that allows for consistent and effective execution of shots.
What Type of Grip Would be Recommended for a Beginner Player?
A somewhat neutral grip is recommended for beginners, as it avoids the extremes and allows for greater control.
A slightly stronger grip can be beneficial as it promotes more active use of the wrists, an area where beginners often struggle.
A stronger clubface position can also help to increase distance and promote a more solid impact, which are important considerations for beginners learning the game.
Are There any Do’s and Don’ts for Players Who are in the Process of Finding Their Grip?
A good grip is one which runs diagonally through the fingers. It will definitely improve the range of motion with wrist.
Is the Right Equipment Important in Analyzing Your Grip?
Thickness of the grip is very important – see how large your hands are. if you have larger hands and your grips are too small then it will promote having a stronger grip.
On the contrary – if you have smaller hands and big grips it promotes weak grip which can be detrimental. It’s very important to choose the right grip size for your hands
What’s the Relationship Between a Player’s Grip and Wrists?
Grip plays a significant role in determining the wrist action during a swing and can greatly affect the HackMotion numbers.
The grip can be adjusted to promote either more flexion or extension, depending on the desired outcome.
This is a key consideration in the coaching process of Jason Birnbaum, as he uses grip adjustments to manipulate the HackMotion numbers.
What’s the Preferred Process of Fixing a Student’s Grip and Wrist Issues?
As a coach, it is crucial to accurately identify the source of a problem before making adjustments. When Jason observes an issue with club face position, he focuses on analyzing the student’s wrist angles.
Every golfer is unique and solutions may vary, but in the past, a common solution for slicing was to strengthen the grip.
However, now he would first evaluate the wrist angles, as strengthening the grip can even worsen the problem by promoting extension.
How to Better Identify Whether it’s a Grip or Wrist Problem?
Jason always looks at first at the grip because it is the easiest to fix. He suggests working in front of a mirror and also drawing a line diagonally on your palm to make sure that the club is sitting correctly in the palm.
At first the most important thing is to carefully analyze what’s the problem and then make a clear plan of fixing it, creating a routine.
Are There any Specific Numbers to Look for on HackMotion Regarding the Grip?
Address position showed on HackMotion is used for determining the grip. Jason would look for numbers within a range of +10 to +25 degrees.
After working with Tour players this range has shown to be the best ,so you don’t have to make any major adjustments to your swing.
Jason makes his students practice with a putter grip because the top is flat and it allows to control your wrists and grip better.
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