Now, this applies of course to all clubs, not just the driver, but I have found in my archives a swing session in which my setup and grip are nearly perfect with regards to swinging optimally.

Sadly, I am not enamored of the actual pivot action, but I was still hitting my irons and driver beautifully long and straight on this day of tinkering with my setup.

That day was August 16 back in 2022 when I was still doing my lab work out of doors rather than at the indoor facility (which is far more convenient, just down the street from where I live and without wind nor rain to interfere with the work).

Note: I will be uploading swing videos of face-on and down the line shots with Driver and irons from this session later, but I am pressed for time writing this post and so will have to do so later.

Continuing: I zeroed in on the grip because I so loved the setup when I began to review that day’s clips and the grip is, right now, my last personal piece of the MCS Golf Swing puzzle with regards to the setup.

As you can see here:

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The setup is nearly perfectly in line with that of Jack Nicklaus’ adjusted (by me) setup in 1963:

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With the only differences being Jack had a little more target-ward ball position, a weaker grip and of course his cocked head position which is neither here nor there when discussing setup.

I am a good deal taller than Jack (which could have an effect on individual ball position) and it could turn out to be that the actual optimal grip may vary on the weaker or stronger side for the individual, but we will see how my final setup is when I get back outside shortly.

For now, what struck me is that I was pounding the ball down the line and, when you compare my setup grip to the impact grip, you will see something very interesting:

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Notice that the crease lines between the thumb and forefinger and the angle of the shaft are perfectly aligned between address and impact, and if you have any doubt:

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I superimposed the two pictures lining up the hands, and you only see one crease line and one club shaft between two pictures.  They line up perfectly.

Which means, if you got the club face angle correct while setting up, you would be hitting that ball as straight as you could point.

I was set up perfectly for this swing.

So, how consistent do you think your ball-striking would be if you could essentially set up your address position with the grip and club shaft in the same position as at impact?

As for this drive, I thought it would never come down, and you can see by my reaction to it, that ball may have landed in the next county:

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I mean, it’s not the worst pivot in the world, but I know that 2.5 years on with the work I’ve done, I can pivot much better than that.

And this, my friends, is why the grip is so essential a component of building a powerful and consistent golf swing action – if you are having to manipulate the club face into impact because of an overly weak or strong grip, you will struggle with consistency, which is a game-wrecker for golf.

If you find your optimal grip position (which is neutral), you will find that you never have to worry about club face manipulation ever again – you will return the club face to the ball with the exact same angle in which you set up, so the only issue is if your setup and grip are correct when you get over the ball.

Then, you simply pull the trigger.

Lesson: I ignored my own grip for years, which was foolhardy, because in my swing videos, I always laid out how to find your natural neutral grip position – I just wasn’t following my own directives, which is sort of why being your own instructor can be like representing yourself in court – you have a fool for a client.

Hand-eye coordination can be a gift in sport, but also a crutch – I could smash the ball any number of ways with swings that weren’t optimal because of it, and it really hampered my progression until I got wise.

I’ve learned my lesson after years of thinking my swing model was off, due to the fact that I was neglecting my own grip – when I had a proper grip as seen above, I couldn’t hit it any longer or straighter.

Videos to come!