Prohands, Hank Haney team up to strengthen the grip on your game

When it comes to the golf swing, strength creates speed and speed translates into power.
We all know what a good exercise regimen can do for a person’s game.

But I’ll bet even the most dedicated golf fitness fanatics forget to exercise vital, yet often overlooked, muscles that could help their game. I am talking about those tiny muscles in their fingers and hands.

Prohands, the worldwide leader in hand exercisers for athletes, has teamed with Hank Haney, Tiger’s swing teacher, to release the Hank Haney’s Essentials Grip Strength DVD & Exerciser to help address the issue.

“There’s nothing more important in the golf swing than your hands,” Haney says in the DVD.

I’ve always found grippers, as I call them, nice stress relievers at the office, but this one is by far the best I’ve ever used. It’s comfortable and unique. It is an interesting looking gadget, featuring two pairs of steel springs, an ergonomic palm bar and separate finger pads. The device comes in three tension groups (light, medium and heavy).

In the DVD, Haney explains how grip strength can help you gain better control of the club. The device also strengthens forearm muscles that can help players gouge balls out of the rough.

“It allows you the dexterity to become a better golfer and it allows you to increase your strength of each finger individually,” he says in the video intro. “… The last three fingers of the left hand are so important (for a good grip).”

Every time I try a “workout,” I’m amazed how wimpy my pinkie fingers are. Until you get used to these workouts, they can feel awkward. I can tell each repetition is working muscles I never knew I had.

This may, or may not, significantly help my golf game. If it doesn’t, I hold out hope it will help me type faster. Either way, it’s worth a shot, right? So I’ll keeping pushing on … so to speak … when I’m watching golf on TV or sitting in the bleachers watching my kids play sports.

The set, costing $27.95, is available at hankhaney.com or prohands.net and stores such as Golf Galaxy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dunham’s Sports.