Justin Rose is riding high, fresh off a dominant seven-stroke victory at the Farmers Insurance Open. The man is clearly in form, and what’s really caught my eye, and probably yours too, is the mention of his driving distance in 2026 averaging a stout 308.7 yards. That’s a significant jump from last year, and a full ten yards more than when he captured his lone major in 2013. Natural aging process? Not for Rose, apparently. What’s truly fascinating is his own explanation for this newfound pop: a subtle grip change.
As the Equipment Editor for The Daily Duffer, I’ve heard countless theories from golfers on how they’ve gained distance. New driver, different shaft, more gym time, even a lucky ball marker. But a grip change? While it might sound trivial to some, as a certified club fitter who’s logged thousands of hours on launch monitors, this isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. In fact, it highlights a fundamental truth about golf equipment and performance that many golfers overlook.
The Grip: More Than Just a Handlebar
We often obsess over the latest driver’s MOI, its center of gravity, or the face material. And rightly so – these factors are crucial. But the interface between the golfer and the club, the grip, is often underestimated. Rose’s comments about strengthening his grip and moving “more positivity through the ball from a rotational point of view” are gold.
“Yeah, I think I’ve started hitting the ball a little further the last maybe six months. Not really sure why or how. Maybe it’s more of a technical thing, like a little shift in my grip, just slightly strengthened it. Was quite weird how the brain is like OK, going to move more positivity through the ball from a rotational point of view. That seemed to make a difference.”
In my fitting experience, particularly with amateur golfers, grip weaknesses are a common culprit for distance loss. A weak grip (often too much of the left hand turned too far to the target side for a right-handed golfer) can lead to an open clubface at the top of the swing, forcing compensations or a loss of power. To square the face, golfers might stall their body rotation, flip the wrists, or cast the club. All of these are power robbers. A slightly stronger grip, which means turning the lead hand slightly to the right (for a right-hander) to see more knuckles, can help golfers naturally close the clubface in the downswing. This allows for a more aggressive body rotation and higher clubhead speeds through impact without fear of a slice.
The Data Doesn’t Lie: What “More Positivity” Means on the Launch Monitor
When golfers successfully implement a stronger, more efficient grip, the launch monitor data tells a clear story. We see an increase in potential clubhead speed because the golfer isn’t having to decelerate their rotation to square the face. More importantly, we often see a reduction in dynamic loft and spin rates, especially for those who previously compensated with an early release.
For example, a golfer struggling with a weak grip might present with 14-16 degrees of dynamic loft on their driver, coupled with 3000+ RPMs of spin. This produces a high, ballooning shot that loses distance. After a grip adjustment, allowing for better face control and more aggressive rotation, I’ve routinely seen dynamic loft drop to a more optimal 10-12 degrees and spin rates come down to the 2200-2600 RPM range – the sweet spot for maximum carry and roll for many players. This translates directly to increased ball speed and, you guessed it, more carry distance and total distance. This aligns perfectly with Rose’s seven-yard gain, suggesting he’s optimizing his launch conditions through a relatively simple, yet profound, change.
It’s not just about raw power; it’s about applying that power efficiently through the golf ball. A “strengthened” grip, allowing for a more natural release, means the clubface is squarer at impact, leading to higher ball speeds for a given clubhead speed due to better energy transfer. With less energy lost to an open or closed face, the ball flies further. The “rotational point of view” Rose references likely means he can now turn harder through the ball, knowing his hands will bring the clubface back square – a key ingredient for elite ball strikers.
“But the overall package is there. I feel like I’m just good in the big moments really. I feel like that’s the thing, I’ve been sort of maybe mentally better when it’s counted more, which obviously that’s what golf’s all about really.”
Beyond the Grip: The Mental Edge and Holistic Improvement
While I focus on the tangible aspects of equipment and swing mechanics, Rose also touches on the mental game and overall package. His self-assessment that “the overall package is there” and that he’s “mentally better when it’s counted more” is a reminder that even the most advanced equipment is only as good as the golfer wielding it. Confidence in your swing, even from a simple grip adjustment, can translate to a clearer mind in crunch time.
However, let’s be clear: a grip change isn’t a magic bullet for everyone. For every golfer who gains 20 yards, there’s another who might find it uncomfortable or struggle to adapt. This is where professional club fitting and coaching come in. I’ve seen golfers chasing the latest high-MOI driver when their biggest gains could come from understanding their fundamentals, like their grip. It’s about building a solid foundation first, then optimizing the equipment around that foundation.
So, does this “tech” work? Absolutely. But it’s not a piece of gear you can buy. It’s a fundamental adjustment to your interaction with the gear. Is it worth the “money”? If it costs a lesson with a qualified PGA professional to identify and implement a more effective grip, then yes, that’s arguably one of the best investments you can make in your game. Often, it’s more impactful than chasing the marginal gains from one driver model to the next for golfers with fundamental swing inefficiencies.
My practical buying advice here isn’t about a specific club. It’s about investing in your understanding of the golf swing and your interaction with the club. Before you drop $600 on a new driver, consider a lesson. Get your grip checked. Understand how it influences face control, path, and ultimately, your launch conditions. The data shows that small adjustments to fundamentals – like a grip – can yield gains equivalent to, or even exceeding, the performance gap between generations of golf clubs. Justin Rose’s impressive distance gains, originating from a “slightly strengthened” grip, serve as a compelling reminder that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most profound.
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
