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As the famous golfer Jack Nicklaus explains, “A good grip allows everything in the swing to happen naturally.” And so goes the game of life.
Gateway to the swing
I enjoy golfing for relaxation and exercise, and just being outside on a nice summer day. Like most intermediate golfers, I find getting my grip just right is one of my biggest challenges. I usually find myself gripping the club too tightly, trying to get more power behind the ball.
This is my problem, I’m trying too hard to control the club; all this does is limit the impact I make with the ball, sending it in the wrong direction or virtually nowhere at all. The more frustrated I get, the harder I grip the club, the more my game goes downhill.
A controlling grip or “motorcycle grip” only leads to mishits, hooks, or slices. A good grip, on the other hand, feels natural and not forced, almost effortless, like the professionals in the PGA prove in every tournament. This gracefulness is the gateway to the swing.
The power of relaxing
I know that the best way to improve my grip is to relax. Easier said than done. But this is one of the most vital aspects of the swing because it controls both my power and accuracy behind the ball. If I try too hard to control it, I am tense, causing imbalance and over-swinging.
Imbalance and fear
I tell myself to breathe and keep balance during the golf swing. Likewise, having a good balance of control and fluidity is important for an overall centeredness in life. When we are off-balance, we resort to power and force to set things straight.
The need to control is rooted in fear because the less we know about an outcome, the more we live in fear. We can feel overwhelming anxiety when faced with circumstances beyond our control.
We may even play the “what if” scenario over and over in our minds to the point of driving ourselves down a hole of fear with no logical reasoning behind it. Keeping a rationale centeredness, or a soft but firm grip on our fears, is important to keep our balance.
Tension and inflexibility
When our muscles are in a state of tension, we can lose control of the club (and the ball), strain our muscles, and swing inconsistently. Keeping a relaxed, square position at impact is the ideal way to make contact with the ball. This requires a neutral position without gripping the club too tightly.
When we put too much pressure on ourselves, we are unable to relax or enjoy the game. Like life, when we try to control everything around us for our own advantage, we are under more daily stress because we are tense and hypervigilant, ready for anything life throws at us.
If we are more flexible to change, on the other hand, we are calmer and better able to handle unforeseen circumstances. The opposite of stress and anxiety is peace and relaxation. When we take a more fluid approach to what life throws at us, we are open to different ways of thinking about a situation, and perhaps more importantly, open to change.
Over-swinging and overcompensating
Too much backswing causes a bigger overall swing that can take our body out of the natural coiling position, requiring more hand-eye coordination to hit the ball. The need to control is very natural, but when we overcompensate and overstep our boundaries, we cannot maintain the natural swing.
Trying to overly control makes us more critical of ourselves and others around us. But when we stop expecting, or trying to forcefully control another person or outcome, we are less critical and judgmental. We are more open to other’s viewpoints or ways of approaching life.
Taoism and the power of softness
This ancient Chinese philosophy teaches softness as a source of strength and power to adapt and find our balance. In a world that values strength, force, and rigidity, perhaps understanding the power of softness to bring inner strength will create more harmony in our lives.
Taoists embrace the powers of flexibility, gentleness and adaptability. Being receptive to new ideas and experiences, to accept life’s evolving lessons and circumstances, allows us to go with the flow instead of fighting against the current or gripping any rigidly held beliefs.
Loosening our grip
The need to feel in control of our lives is natural but we can never control everything that happens. When we try to force our control, it often leaves us with an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and stress.
Softness is not weakness. Letting go of our desire to force a situation with a tight grip can give us a new outlook to ponder and a greater sense of peace.
Swinging with good intentions
No one has all the answers. Like a good golf swing, life requires us to loosen our grip, to let go of forceful control, and to let the ball fly under the force of the right and the best intentions. The outcome of the shot and life will be alright however things work out.
Being present, and living in the moment, is a good state of mind. It allows us to regulate our emotions and our swing with less struggle for control. A soft grip on the club, or in life, creates more space for relaxation, flowing with our natural rhythm instead of resisting it.
Peace is on the other side.
Sources:
Jack Nicklaus explains why your grip is destroying your golf game
What Happens If You Grip a Golf Club Too Tightly? (And How to Fix It) (golfpgachampionship.com)
Overswinging, Causes and Cures – Golf Instruction Article – PGAProfessional.com
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