[Yoda]

Anyone ever given their golf grips a clockwise turn so they line up correctly your shorter irons given Hooked Face, Straight away Position, Grip Rotation (7-2) ? Or do you just ignore the rib?

For years, I used ribbed grips rotated about a quarter turn left (on all clubs). This alignment tends to open the clubface.

Why did I do this?

Because Larry Nelson, my friend and multiple-major champion, did his grips that way. He began the practice after he visited Ben Hogan in his Fort Worth, Texas, offices. In the inner sanctum, Hogan invited him to grip a driver he had standing in a corner. Larry did, and the coat-hanger rib turned the clubface wide open.

TOUR players HATE closed clubfaces.

'Nuff said.

These days I use round grips. The Flat Left Wrist and the appropriate Fix alignment of the Clubface are all I need. Best of all, I never have to deal with a rib that's out of place.

It's a good thing.

On the practice tee at Bethpage Black and the 2009 U.S. Open, the Iomic's grip guy http://iomicusa.com/ was roaming around. Fred Funk was practicing beside Brian Gay, and they exchanged views regarding the rib:

Fred: What do you use?

Brian: Round. No rib. You?

Fred: Gotta have the rib. Couldn't play without it.

This from two of the straightest drivers in golf.

Go figure.