Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-16
Grip Most Important Part ,
of Golf StrOke-GMlf0rd
DoubIe-V Hold Suited to
Those With Short, Weab
Fingers, but Vardon
Method Yields Better
Direction, Says Champion
BY JESSE p. GUILFORD

By JESSE 4. VI tlLFOhD
Amateur Golf Champion OF the United
states
H1HE most important part of the
i stroke is to grip the club properly,
and strangely. TINS is the hrs, step ~
tbe learning of the game.
The beginner, therefore. should give
particular attention to this. feature Of
the game, and should adopt method of
grin which seems easiest to him and
give II Il thorough tryout before trying
the other grips.
The most popular grip is the Narton
grip, which is also known as the over
tapping grip.
My Grip
Those players using the Nardon grip
may not all agree on just the position
OF the thumb and fingers, but the prin-
ciple OF the grip is the same, whether
the thumbs are both on the top of the
shaft or at the sides.
In my case, ] grip the club with the
left hand, having the thumb on the top
OF the shaft.
The grip is in the fingers and not in
the palm Of the hand.
/ then grip the club with my right
hand, having the last two fingers of that
hand overlap the fore and middle ff,gprs
OF the left hand. Thes thumb Of the
right hand is pressed against the side of
the club.
The placing of the thumbs in this
grip constitutes the principal difference
Of opinion.
COME rerv good players hare both
~ thumbs on the top of the shaft,
others have both thumbs on the sides
Of the shaft, rhile IN mn case I
apparently split the difference and
hare the left Thumb on top and the
right at the side.
THE most decided advantage that the
! Vardon grip enjoys over other grips
is that both hands have an equal amount
Of work 10 do, The interlocking grip is
also one in which both hands do a SINH
lar amount of work. This grip is not
as popular as the Nardon grip. but Sc"-
eral of tie best players use it, notably
among them being Francis Ouimet.
The difference between the two grips
Is that the right hand. instead Of being
Tapped over the left hand, is interlockod
with it. The forcfinger of the left hand
surrounds the little finger of the right
hand.
Double.N
THE doublc-N grip was probably the
l. most popular grip before Vardon
made the overlapping famous.
| can Srcnk with authority on the
merits. or lack of merits. of this grin.
because it is one which used for wears.
There is no doubt but that got
IlCt "a nff lac LII :.
but the distance was received al the cost
OF direction.
TT WAS Dave Brown. at one time
i open champion Of Great Brit.
ain who fist criticized r,c for
using the double-N grip. Whether
he advocated the Vardon grip for
all golfers ] do not know.
DOSSlBI.Y he may have seen that it
L was absolutely unsuited TO my
game. "You'll never win big cham
pionship until you change YOUR grip. me
lad" he said.
] pondcrrd over this remark one COM
plcte season. and the beginning Of win
ter found me wishing that 7 had needed
his advice.
The idea struck me that 7 could we'll
change my grip in winter. thus not en-
dangerinG my game so completely.
With this in view, | praCticrd swing
lng indoors ono complete winter. using
the Nardon grip instead Of tn" double-N.
When Spring Came
IN THE spring ! felt well repaid for
my effort, for I had abandoned
grip which had continually led ME into
troub le and had one in it's place which
was fast becoming more popular on its
own merits.
Certainly have never felt sorry that
made the change. The double-N grip
Is one which would probably come more
natural to beginner. The left hand
grips the club from the upper side that
Is, the knuckles of the left hand are
showing.
The right hand grips the club from
the lower side, but is turned to meet
tne left hand. Thus the thumb of the
lett hand is on the side Of the club and
me thumb of the right hand is on the
upper side of the club.
T IS argued BY some that. the
double'F grip is preferable for
nose rhose fingers are not long and
fnuSuoHy strong, for in this grip the
cub IS held more In the palm,
vhereds IN the I'ardom grip the
fingers hare the brant of the roork
THERE is no doubt but that greater
l distance can be secured through
using the double V grip, or any half.
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