New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-11
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Copyright, 1920, Nev York Tribune Inc)
Concerning Grips
How many men, playing baseball O golf, grip a bat OF a club a cer-
tain way because they we're taught that way? Because they happened
start that way? Because, after various tests, they found a certain way
best suited to their style?
And, after all, just how much difference does it make the way YOU
grip a baseball bat o a golf club? Does it make a big diference-or is
a minor matter?
Concerning Grips
Many Varieties
~(Copyr1ght, 1920, NeuU York Tribune Inc.

Perhaps you've neVer turned o n a closeup Of "Babe" RuthIs gip.
The Babe first puts the end of the bat in the palm of his right hand.
He literally palms the end, his left hand being crowded upon his right.
Both are naturally enough (under these circumstances IS close to the
gripping end is it is possible to get.
Only a batter with unusual physical power in his hands and arms
could swing a long, heavy bat with this grip, which permits the maximum
Of leverage.
Ruth's grip is entirely different from Ty cobbs. Tvs right hand is
near the end of the bat, but his left is several inches higher up. There is
a distinct space of at least five O. six inches between the two hands. Both
Ruth and Cobb differ in every way from Willie Keller, who adopted the
up a bat and faced the pitcher, there as much ash furniture below
his hands s there above to hit the ball Then, again, Ed Roush,
League champion, has another way of gripping, as he holds
both hands together, about six inches from the end.
All Different
SO mere we have four notable batsmen who all hold their bats in diff
find it more effective to follow a certain system.
I +hy may nave begun that way-they may have been taught that way
But the fact is they get result with varying grips.
The Same in Golf
II g"t grip is supposed to be quite important. Yet Walter Hagen,
open champion, SEES the overlapping grip; Francis Ouimet, ex-open and
e&-amateu CHAMPION, Uses the interockng grip, with the little finger of
ms right hand and the forefnger of his left hand hooked; Jerome Z.
ae neither overlapped nor interlocked. "Chick" Evans uses a still df-
terent grip, with both thumbs down the shaft.
Here w have such golfers as Hagen, Ouimet, Travers and Evans all
amateur championships.
ha m"aS; ana una gives a feeling OF some power. Hagen would likely
ave played ]usta as good golf with ouimets grip-and ouimet would have
played Jut IS good golf with the Evans or Travers grip.
1t doesn't seem to make much difference as long as other necessary
ingredients re applied.
Yet in golf it might be stated that most of the leading pros use
III overlapping grip, % when in doubt follow the main average.
Extended Leverage
1t might be noted in passing that two of the most remarkable bitters
Oh III TIME Use the system of extended leverage.
These Two are Babe" Ruth and Jack Dempsey.
by Stenoed leverage We mean a leverage that begins at the waist in
inc hsC pivot, n that extends through the shoulders, elbows. wrists. on
to the punch. ' :"
Ruth could never get the distance he does BY merely s1asbinc avau
WIN MS arms The pivot from his waist line starts his big bodv hack Of
the blow, with his arms and wrists merely contributing their share.
IN the same way Dempsey has a pivoting motion from his RIGHT hin
III get in back of a short jab and adds a tremendous amount of nower
to the punch. P"el
There is a sudden twist to the body just above the right hin +ba+c e+s
III Dack OF the Wauop att the proper moment.
lhfoueh MS abnormal knack at controlling his timing Dempsey has
feen able to knock down 24O and $50 Founders with ono ran
In a game such as billiards, much more delicate timing is ,oouires
but 1T is a simpler matter to control timing where the mower If no hodu
snt needed 81 often to deliver the smash. It is much sin,n1e, IN ,ouols
control the wrists and forearns than it is to control these in conirnction
with the shoulders and the body.