The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-14
BEST GOLF GRIP
Evans Says Use the Fingers If
You Would Play Well.
Palm Grip Takes Rhythm Out
of Players Stroke.
BY CHARLES ("CHICK'O EVANS,
National Amateur and Open Golf
ChamDiOn

BY CHARLES ("CHICK') EVANS,
National Amateur and Open Golf
Champion.
Most people know in a general way
the uses of the various clubs used in
playing golf. They know the driver
is for shots from the tee; in other
words, for the longest shots of the
game; the brassie for long shots off
the fair green; the long irons for
something short of the brassie shot;
the different lofted iron clubs for
shorter distances and the niblick for
eXtricating ones self from hazards of
all kinds. The moment, however. the
beginning golfer takes one of these
clubs in his hand he is confronted
with his first important problem: How
shall he grip it? Can one grip be used
for every club, or must it vary with
the use to which the club is put?
Usually 1 advise following nature
and comfort in playing golf, but it
seems undeniable that the natural
way of gripping a golf club is abso-
lutely the wrong way. Whether it is
because the average American boy has
played baseball, it is certainly true
that the average man will grab his
first golf club with both fists wrap
ped around the grip in the same man
ner that he held his favorite bat. His
palms are against the grip and shaft
* ".
This method of holding a golf club is
so common that emphatic condemna-
ton of it seems necessary.
Gardeners Grip.
do not mean that man who plays
with the palm grip can not, other
things being equal, attain a fair de-
gree of success at golf, for there are
many good players who use it. 1t is
possible that most of the leading golf
ar nf q IA hl1t
I do not think any of them use it now.
Gardner was palm gripper until
about two years ago, when he changed
with what he believes to be great
benefit to his game. I used the palm
grip for years and gradually discov-
cred its weakness thru suffering the
error of my ways.
I think that the reason what ap-
pears to be the natural grip in golf
is wrong, is that We start out with the
wrong idea of the game. We think
we are expected to slug the ball and
the palm grip is the slugger's grip.
In reality, golf is a game of touch and
rhythm and the idea of brute force
must be absolutely banished from the
golfers mind. The leading idea of
golf is not how far it can be placed.
Touch and thereby control Of the club
seems to lie in the fingers, for the
palm is comparatively insensitive.
Then, too, the palm allows a great
deal OF play to the grip or the club,
while the firm grasp of the fingers
holds it in control.
Avoid Tightness of Muscles.
The golfer must avoid all tightness
of muscles. for with the tightness
rhythm flies away. Perhaps 1 should
say that he should try to acquire a
sort of relaxed firmness.
Aside from this there are other
practical reasons in favor of the finger
grip. Those terrible calluses on the
golfers hands are largely the result
of the palm grip. Furthermore, there
are shots for which the palm grip car
not be used and it requires the maxi
mum of practice to keep several grips
in working order.
For a number of years now 1 have
used but two grips in my game--one
for all the shots thru the green and
another for putting. The latter stroke
stands by itself and has nothing in
common with any other golf stroke.