Grip To square the clubface routinely with a strong grip given your described swing path, we need to examine the geometry of the clubface rotation throughout the swing, particularly the left hand's influence on face orientation. Let’s walk through the mechanics:
Key Setup Conditions:
- Shaft angle at address: 61° from horizontal (standard for a 7-iron or similar).
- Clubface zero degrees at address = face square to target.
- Hand path: From 5" in front of body at address to 12" behind vertical axis at top of swing.
- Swing arc: Club travels in a tilted circle around the body.
- Impact goal: Clubface square to path at impact, hands slightly leading the clubhead.
How Grip Affects Face Control:
The left hand’s grip position, especially thumb rotation around the shaft, determines:
- Clubface orientation at the top
- Closure rate during downswing
- Timing required to square the face
A strong grip means rotating the left thumb more to the right (clockwise)around the shaft (for a right-handed golfer), typically allowing:
- Easier face closure
- Less reliance on timing
- Lower loft at impact
How Much Rotation?
If we treat the top line of the shaft as 0°, and imagine the shaft as a 360° circle, with degrees increasing clockwise when looking down the grip, then:
- A neutral grip puts the left thumb at ~12° to 15° to the right of center (1 o’clock on a clock face).
- A strong grip typically moves the thumb further — to ~30° to 45° rotation from the top line (between 1:30 and 2 o’clock).
✅ Answer:
The left thumb should be rotated approximately 30 to 45 degrees clockwisefrom the top line of the shaft (i.e., a strong grip) to square the face naturally during a standard on-plane swing and hit solid shots consistently.
📝 Additional Notes:
- The exact degree depends on swing mechanics, wrist angles, and shaft lean.
- Stronger grips (closer to 45°) tend to work better for players who under-rotate or need more face closure.
- It's best to verify visually: in a proper strong grip, 3 knuckles of the left hand should be visible at address.