Power Grip

[Derek DeCoste]

I switched to a power grip recently from a 3 finger grip and the last 4-5 rounds have been a STRUGGLE. I keep turning everything over. I hear so much about the power grip giving you the most distance, but it's hard to see the advantage when I spend most of my time missing fairways. I'm thinking my little finger is getting in the way and I may go back to "what I know", but was curious to see if anyone else has had the same type of problem. Any advice on getting the power grip to work a little better?

[Matt Stroika]

I switched to a power grip recently from a 3 finger grip and the last 4-5 rounds have been a STRUGGLE. I keep turning everything over. I hear so much about the power grip giving you the most distance, but it's hard to see the advantage when I spend most of my time missing fairways. I'm thinking my little finger is getting in the way and I may go back to "what I know", but was curious to see if anyone else has had the same type of problem. Any advice on getting the power grip to work a little better?

I have gone back and forth myself. If you are turning it over consistently but it is flying well, angle your wrist to give it more hyzer. If it is not flipping anhyzer, you are not pulling it straight thru.

[John DeBois]

Take a stack of drivers to an open field and work on the power grip there. Aim at something specific. If you get the swing of it, great. If not, don't force it. Accuracy gets you better scores than distance.

I gave up on the power grip years ago. Although I might try to bring it back for open field shots.

[Josh Connell]

I switched to a power grip recently from a 3 finger grip and the last 4-5 rounds have been a STRUGGLE. I keep turning everything over. I hear so much about the power grip giving you the most distance, but it's hard to see the advantage when I spend most of my time missing fairways. I'm thinking my little finger is getting in the way and I may go back to "what I know", but was curious to see if anyone else has had the same type of problem. Any advice on getting the power grip to work a little better?

I encountered the same issues when I first started using the power grip, including the whole "pinky getting in the way" thing, and I settled on using three fingers and have been fine with it for over a decade. The thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as the "best" grip in an objective sense. Hands and fingers are all different shapes and sizes. What works for one person or a bunch of people isn't always going to work for everyone no matter how much practice and work you put into it. If you feel like your pinky is getting in the way, it probably is.

JDB has the right advice...don't force it if it's not working. You're probably better off sticking with what works accurately than choosing a style that gives you a bit of extra distance at the expense of control.

[Karl Molitoris]

If in your 3-finger grip you're using the pinkie, ring, and middle (as the 3) and in the power all 4, then going to the power and 'turning it over' makes perfect sense at first - as a throw is partially rotational and any (initially) throw leaving the first finger would have the disc stay on it just a wee longer (than the middle)...and thus leave more right / more palm up. Those that 'power' have just built in this slight 'earlier release' than a 3-finger release.

Give it time....

Karl

[Shawn Mullen]

I had the same problem when I switched to this as well. 1. Make sure the disc is above the seam in your hand, not in it or below it. 2. Make sure your wrist is down (the disc should line up parallel with the center of your forearm). You could also be trying too hard and rolling your wrist over, or be putting off axis torque onto the disc.

[Josh Connell]

Hadn't considered that 3-finger could mean something other what I imagined, so to clarify after Karl's post, by 3-finger grip, I mean I'm using the index, middle, and ring fingers on the disc. My pinkie is curled up and makes no contact with the disc whatsoever.

The key thing with any grip is that it allows for the disc to leave your hand cleanly as well as at the right moment. If the pinky is "in the way", it's preventing a clean release and requires some kind of adjustment, whether that is adjusting the angle or the timing of release, or by removing it from the equation.

[Matt Grayum]

Try throwing with a grip called the "moose knuckle". I saw someone throwing with it at AM Worlds this year...very unconventional and hard to explain, but more or less stick your thumb between your pointer and middle finger and the disc fits in between your thumb and your middle finger and maybe ring finger gripping the lip of the disc. This guy was throwing bombs with that grip. He was saying something about being able to still have the tight grip with it, but less in the way for release...

[Kenji Cline]

I've heard that moose knouckle grip called a bonapane grip, never tried it looks kinda wierd. Here is a great write up on grips with good pics it shows that moose knuckle/bonapane grip.

http://www.discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/gripittoripit.shtml

[John DeBois]

The moose knuckle grip is ok, but not as powerful as the camel toe grip

[Jeff Wiechowski]

The moose knuckle grip is ok, but not as powerful as the camel toe grip

It was only a matter of time........

[Mark Valis]

A power grip is a power grip whether it is w/ 3 fingers or 4. It just means you are not fan gripping and using the tips of your fingers to apply pressure to the inside rim of the disc. It's all preference if your comfy with 3 fingers no need to switch to 4

[Jon Gordon]

Ive noticed a pretty decent increase in speed and distance when switching from a 3 finger power grip to a 4 finger power grip

[Keith Hughes]

Ya I started with a four finger grip recently.switched to a 3 finger which gave me more snap and better control but I think it doesnt matter its all how it feels for each person

[Marvino Manalo]

Ya I started with a four finger grip recently.switched to a 3 finger which gave me more snap and better control but I think it doesnt matter its all how it feels for each person

People thinks Snap is a good thing. The truth is snap is not good it mean's your disc is slipping off your finders before you release it.

[Josh Connor]

He may have just meant snap as in whip/power, but I know what you mean. Its crazy watching the big pros because some of the biggest arms dont make a sound outside of the occasional sonic boom and sound of wind created by arm speed.

I personally have continued to stick with my modified fan that seems to be most comfortable and works for me. From time to time when I am really powering up I feel like I accidently switch to a power grip in mid swing and have noticed a few BOOMMMS! but without a lot of field work, practice, and awkward transitional period I will likely stick with the good old reliable that gets me up toward 400' which is fine for me.