TWmccoy
3DX Connoisseur
I know I've discussed this topic on here at length over the years, but now it's time to talk about grip again.
I used the overlap grip most of this year, both full overlap and 2 finger. I hit pretty well, but I felt like I was mis hitting too many balls. Too many popups and I topped the ball (knucklers) way too often. This winter the weather's been decent, and I've been hitting a lot of BP. I've been working with a pretty standard grip lately. 2 fingers dropped on the bottom hand, and the top hand normal.
The results have been a little surprising. After using the overlap grip steadily for 10 years, I always felt like it provided extra whip, batted ball speed, and distance. This winter's BP has proven otherwise. Using a fairly standard grip, I'm seeing every bit of the distance I'd get with the overlap grip.
So, what's the difference? The quality with which the ball is being struck. With an overlap grip, I can hit the ball very hard, but the swing itself is sloppy. I top a lot of balls and tend to have timing problems. With a standard grip I feel like the top hand is making a ton of difference in bat control. I stay back on the ball better, and am able to wait longer before swinging. With an overlap grip I never felt like I was able to let the ball get deep enough before swinging. I was making contact too far out in front. With a standard grip I can pretty much choose when I want the snap to occur. With an overlap grip the bat just comes around on its own, and not in a very controlled motion.
Swinging early and contacting the ball too far out in front turned out to be my biggest problem. It led to topping the ball or cleaving weakly under it.
Switching back to a conventional grip felt weird at first. It felt like the top hand wanted to dominate everything since that hand wasn't used to doing a whole lot before. I'm liking the results. My last few BPs have been probably my best of the year. I'm mis hitting a lot less balls, and I'm generating backspin much easier than before.
The main things I've changed lately are:
Going back to a standard grip. No overlap on top hand.
Slightly more uppercut. Uppercutting never worked for me with an overlap grip, but I do fine with a standard grip.
Hitting the ball later (not as far out in front). This was probably the biggest difference maker. Letting the ball get deeper allows me to get inside it better, and that creates backspin and distance.
I SWORE by the overlap grip for like 10 years. I'm well aware of the power capabilities there. That said, I'm hitting the ball every bit as hard/far right now with a standard grip.... and I'm doing it far more often/reliably than I did before.
I guess I just reached the point where I'd rather have more bat control. The overlap grip felt sloppy at times, and I was missing too many balls.
I used the overlap grip most of this year, both full overlap and 2 finger. I hit pretty well, but I felt like I was mis hitting too many balls. Too many popups and I topped the ball (knucklers) way too often. This winter the weather's been decent, and I've been hitting a lot of BP. I've been working with a pretty standard grip lately. 2 fingers dropped on the bottom hand, and the top hand normal.
The results have been a little surprising. After using the overlap grip steadily for 10 years, I always felt like it provided extra whip, batted ball speed, and distance. This winter's BP has proven otherwise. Using a fairly standard grip, I'm seeing every bit of the distance I'd get with the overlap grip.
So, what's the difference? The quality with which the ball is being struck. With an overlap grip, I can hit the ball very hard, but the swing itself is sloppy. I top a lot of balls and tend to have timing problems. With a standard grip I feel like the top hand is making a ton of difference in bat control. I stay back on the ball better, and am able to wait longer before swinging. With an overlap grip I never felt like I was able to let the ball get deep enough before swinging. I was making contact too far out in front. With a standard grip I can pretty much choose when I want the snap to occur. With an overlap grip the bat just comes around on its own, and not in a very controlled motion.
Swinging early and contacting the ball too far out in front turned out to be my biggest problem. It led to topping the ball or cleaving weakly under it.
Switching back to a conventional grip felt weird at first. It felt like the top hand wanted to dominate everything since that hand wasn't used to doing a whole lot before. I'm liking the results. My last few BPs have been probably my best of the year. I'm mis hitting a lot less balls, and I'm generating backspin much easier than before.
The main things I've changed lately are:
Going back to a standard grip. No overlap on top hand.
Slightly more uppercut. Uppercutting never worked for me with an overlap grip, but I do fine with a standard grip.
Hitting the ball later (not as far out in front). This was probably the biggest difference maker. Letting the ball get deeper allows me to get inside it better, and that creates backspin and distance.
I SWORE by the overlap grip for like 10 years. I'm well aware of the power capabilities there. That said, I'm hitting the ball every bit as hard/far right now with a standard grip.... and I'm doing it far more often/reliably than I did before.
I guess I just reached the point where I'd rather have more bat control. The overlap grip felt sloppy at times, and I was missing too many balls.