The Joe Norwood Golf Grip excerpts from Book II

by Daniel Norwood on 12/02/15

The Grip Re-Visited

By Dan Norwood

12/2/2015

How to obtain the Joe Norwood Grip without using a club.

 

1.     Let’s begin with the right hand

a.     Put your right in front of you and just make sure the palm is facing 12:00, the thumb is extended away from the other fingers and the remaining 4 fingers are inline.

                                                    i.     Think of it as a straight surface similar to a martial arts “Karate” chop position.

b.     All 4 fingers have 3 joints, the thumb has two. It is imperative that you understand about the 3 joints of the fingers.

c.     Index finger position

                                                    i.     The index finger position is very important in obtaining the “Hook” as Joe would put it.

                                                   ii.     Keeping the tip of the index finger in line with the middle finger move the index finger into the hand.

                                                 iii.     While performing this move you will notice the 2^nd joint of the index finger raises above the middle finger. This is called the “Hook”

                                                 iv.     Make sure there is no straight line with any of the joints. The 3^rd joint of the index finger will be pointing to the direction of the nail on the middle finger, the 2^nd joint will be elevated above and inside the “Pad” of the middle finger.

                                                  v.     Practice this move a few dozen times before this next move.

                                                 vi.     With the “Hook” now in place and the thumb off to the right just bring the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger and you should see a “V”.

1.     Keeping the “Hook” in place begin moving the thumb away from the tip of the forefinger by using the 1^st joint of the thumb, it reacts like a hinge. All you need to do now is just keep the forefinger in position and move the thumb back and forth until this action becomes comfortable.

2.     Never let the index finger tip drop below the middle finger just keep the index finger in line and move the thumb to the index finger.

2.     The left hand

a.     The left hand is performed exactly as the right hand and in the same order. It may take a little longer with the left hand for right handed golfers.

3.     Once you become comfortable with both hands you can then take your grip and the Right Pinkie or small finger will latch into the hook of the index finger.

4.     Since the right palm sits on the left V it is imperative that the left thumb not be protruding or extending thus creating an uncomfortable position for the right hand.

a.     Make sure both thumbs and forefingers align evenly, this will take some effort in the beginning but will become second nature as you become better influenced with this grip.

5.     Both hands:

a.     When the grip is proper both primary joint knuckles of the middle finger of each hand will be noticeable. To check this all that is needed is to look down at your grip. If you cannot see the middle finger knuckle all you have to do is turn in each hand and if you can see the third finger knuckle then all that is needed is for you to turn out the appropriate hand.

b.     Once you get the grip you will have completed the first phase of the Sealed Wrists.

c.     The 2^nd phase of the sealed wrists begin with cupping or moving each wrist north to its maximum. This is called a concave wrist.

d.     Understand that the wrists only move in four directions. There is no roll with the wrists there is only movements North and South and East and West.

e.     There is roughly 180 degrees in flexibility in the wrists on and East – West Basis and 90 degrees on a North South Basis. The 135 degrees East – West basis is one of the main causes of swing error with the hands.

f.      You can determine this for yourself simply by extending your right wrist back as far as it will go which is about 45 degrees then extend the same wrist from that position forward as far as it will go and you will see this flexibility is roughly half a circle or 180 degrees.

                                                    i.     East extends back to a maximum of 45 degrees from square.

                                                   ii.     West extends forward to a maximum of 135 degrees and a total of 180 degrees from each point of East to West maximum.

g.     You can also check the North – South basis from square simply by moving your wrists North and South. The extensions or flexibility is roughly 45 degrees in each direction.

6.     Sealed Wrist

a.     So assuming you are able to understand the above, the second phase of the seal is the extension of both wrists North to there maximum, this will result in a concave wrist of both hands.

b.     The final phase of the seal is during the first motions of the backswing with the hands as the right hand locks into its maximum Eastern Basis which is 45 degrees thus pulling the left wrist along to extend itself so that the left arm is lengthened by 2-3 inches depending on the size of your hands.

7.     At no time during the swing do the hands release from their seal. Once locked the hands hold the club head back of the hands and the hands move through the impact zone and into the follow through zone  well before the club ever gets to that position, although it may seem differently due to the extreme speed of the arms.

8.     Once you become comfortable with the grip then the next step is to learn how to perform this swing without a golf club utilizing the Joe Norwood Grip

a.     This two will take a bit of work and (at first) feel uncomfortable until you begin to get the feel from the mechanics.

b.     Looking at both hands you interweave the last 3 fingers of each hand together leaving enough room to turn in the left wrist into the right palm. Do not clasp the hands just interlock the last 3 fingers lightly.

c.     Then take the left thumb and forefinger V position and turn the left and 45 degrees into the right palm. The left thumb will hug the end of the right palm just like with the regular grip. The difference here is that the hands are more compact due to their interweaving clasp of the last 3 fingers.

d.     Once the left V is in position then roll the right hand over the left V and allow some flexibility with both hands to fit into their positions.

                                                    i.     Once completed you will be able to see both middle finger knuckles and both thumbs and forefingers will be in position so that you can then create phase 2 of the seal and phase 3 of the seal simply by moving your hands and locking them.

                                                   ii.     The arms don’t move.

                                                 iii.     There is no club to be concerned about

                                                 iv.     Your grip is secure

                                                  v.     You can continue to work on your grip until you “Own” it

                                                 vi.     Once you own the grip then you can begin your swing practice which is something to be discussed later.