The Secret Of Jack Nicklaus’ Grip Cont’d

I made mention of Jack’s grip a little while back and that I was still looking into it, and I believe I have just figured out what made him so powerful and yet so accurate simultaneously.

Take a look at his 1963 grip at a time where he was becoming dominant – he won six events that year and the only year in which he won more events was in 1973, video of which I’m trying to hunt down to look at his stance and grip for a comparison.

But 1963 was a very good year and this is from the Masters (his first Green Jacket), his setup:

… was superb.

In fact, looking at the stance width, it is closer to what I view as his optimal stance width than in another 1963 driver swing I have showed before:

The angles are slightly different between the two but there is no denying that his Masters stance was not as wide as the one in his Shell match against Sam Snead in the picture above.

The grip is the same however, which shouldn’t be a surprise as they’re from the same calendar year.

As for the swing itself, poetry in motion with the only flaw I can find being the twisting lead foot through impact due to the slightly over-wide stance and the anchored trailing foot:

This is the golf swing that should be the model for everyone, my friends.  It is so superior to the horrific Modern Golf Swing that it’s hard to believe they’re teaching any other basic swing model.

Here is the swing of a man who could send it past virtually everyone else he played against when he was young, yet the club shaft never even reached parallel at the top, such was the power and leverage in this action.

I mean, the man was busting it past 300 yards at times with a persimmon driver and balata ball…

Instead, we get this:

And this:

I’ve been drilling my setup with this particular grip in order to have it hopefully ingrained in my next swing session, along with the vigorous leg action I’ve been working on for some time.

If my figuring is correct (on why he used this particular grip), things should get very interesting.

More to come.

2 thoughts on “The Secret Of Jack Nicklaus’ Grip Cont’d”

  1. jh32's avatarjh32

    Something that I have noticed is the little to no wrist cock on the way back. The cock happens as he is coming down, just like a throw action. I used this method years ago and have been rethinking this of late. I have let myself lose this in my swing and I know I was much longer and more accurate back then. Could fade or draw the ball at will. This also feels like a 3/4 swing because the club doesn’t “appear” over the left shoulder as much.

    1. DJ Watts's avatarDJ Watts Post author

      I’ve noticed something of late in my speed work that is similar to this, Jim.

      It is not how far the club head travels in the back pivot but rather whether or not I get my shoulder turn correctly with my hands in a certain spot at the top.

      I’m pretty sure I’m not getting a full wrist cock nor the shaft parallel, but my biggest pops with the swing aid are with this concept.

      So you’re likely onto something with your own swing! 😁

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