Just wondering, when I was growing up in the seventies in Dublin, the team I played for was not a big hurling club, mostly football. The training for hurling was virtually non existent at juvenile level so I was never taught how to hold the hurley properly. Consequently, being right handed, I hold it with left hand below my right like in golf. Was curious if there was ever a senior intercounty hurler that did this and were they as successful as the players who hold it correctly? I know it restricts me but being the old dog I cannot now change.

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 21/11/2013 20:08:00    1516307

Aidan Fogarty and wally walsh of kilkenny and damien hayes of galway

myshallman (Carlow) - Posts: 24 - 21/11/2013 20:27:11    1516321

"being right handed, I hold it with left hand below my right"

Is that not the correct way to hold it? Dominant hand on top with the weaker hand below it?

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 21/11/2013 20:34:14    1516324

Not ideal for playing from both sides either. No, dominant hand below weaker one.

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 21/11/2013 20:41:44    1516326

Being right handed you are holding it correctly, left hand below your right

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 21/11/2013 20:44:59    1516327

Myshallman Damien Hayes holds the hurley correctly, only difference to most is that his left is his stronger side

mike03 (Limerick) - Posts: 2000 - 21/11/2013 20:47:07    1516332

DJ said it's all down to your own preference, can't argue with him?

TheGableEnd (Meath) - Posts: 8 - 21/11/2013 21:02:07    1516342

let me clarify, my left hand is closest to the butt of the hurley, I am right handed. I believe this is incorrect.

Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 21/11/2013 21:03:17    1516343

I'm sure i heard something about Joe Deane holding it wrong, would be suprised if it's true though.

RebelCork (Cork) - Posts: 789 - 21/11/2013 21:04:34    1516344

Sounds like you're doing it the right way dubfan. I guess one of the most unusual grips/swings I've seen from a top hurler in recent times was Gary Kirby, who'd grip the hurley left hand(dominant) above right, but swing the way a right handed player would (off the left side, not that it did him any harm!). At least that's how he took frees. As opposed to someone liek Pat Fox who was left handed and hit off his right (if I'm remembering right), which is the perfect inverse of an orthodox hurler. Is that closer to what you meant?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 21/11/2013 21:06:59    1516347

Speaking of Hurley grip..go to Joe.ie.. "Brilliant old school photo from Kilkenny hurling match of old".. now there is a hurley grip

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 21/11/2013 21:41:48    1516368

The best place to grip the Hurley is by the handle :-)

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 21/11/2013 21:49:04    1516378

Dominant hand (L/R) grips the Hurley at the top of the handle (Knuckle), weaker hand above in lock. You can of course technically speaking hold it whatever way you like. But if you get kids holding it right from the off you help them develop a decent pull. Lefties tend to get a raw deal with very few coaches even asking if there is a left-handed player.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 22/11/2013 08:29:21    1516391

There's a fair few intercounth hurlers who do it, Dean, there was always loads from Galway, Joe McGrath, Justin Campbell, loads more too. Gary Kirby. We call it 'cackhanded' and it looks awkward, but as you can see, it didn't do them any harm. Although the tend to be very poor on the open hand side,

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 22/11/2013 08:55:43    1516396

You are holding it the 'correct way'!! I am right handed but always held stick with left hand on top, which is now verboten! Not boasting but I was one of few kids who were equally strong on both sides and I beleive that is because of way I was holding the stick. Had this argument with GPO at coaching course once, and he nearly lost the plot with me :-) I seriously don't see what difference it makes. No matter what way you hold the stick it is practise that matters, and giving equal time to both sides.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 22/11/2013 09:14:55    1516405

Hurlingdub, you are spot on for a righthanded person. I always held the hurley with my left over my right and was equally strong off both sides. The bottom line however is that you use the style the suits you best and that you find comfortable. Coaching youngsters over the years, I have seen incompetent coaches issuing instructions, that they probably read in a poor coaching manual, destroy both confidence and natural ability in kids and theses "idiots" are told that they are doing a great job.

AwbegRover (Cork) - Posts: 136 - 22/11/2013 09:40:51    1516411

JJ Delaney one of the greatest backs of all time holds the hurl that way, its called unortadoxed. Pa Cronin Cork, there's a host of hurlers, Dublins full back all star this year, there is a load.

skysports (Carlow) - Posts: 20 - 22/11/2013 09:49:50    1516416

Have always hurled with an unorthodox grip too hurlingdub. I think if you hurl like that it does make it easier to master both sides.

Whatever you're comfortable with I suppose. I have been told that it may mean the loss of slight distance in striking though and free taking is easier with an orthodox grip as the lift is easier done imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 22/11/2013 10:13:48    1516427

Very true Awbeg. Some coaches can be far too rigid, and as you say create players who are copies of a manual. I was involved with underage teams - 12s and 14s - that won leagues and other competitions and we never attempted to coach them at all! Just let them play, other than minimal instructions where they needed help. Now granted they were getting some coaching in school but my view is that once they have the basic skills let them at it. When they are older you can be more specific in terms of how to deal with opponents etc, but at younger ages they learn by playing, not by being told.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 22/11/2013 10:16:15    1516428

At club level there is a mix of about 35% who hold the hurl the wrong way. By wrong way I mean cross handed. Catching the ball left handed and then having the left hand on top. Aidan Fogarty woud be a good example of this. Cross handed players very rarely go on to intercounty level. There have been some and some of these have been hugely successful- Fogarty, Walter Walsh, Gary Kirby. But mastering the skills of blocking, hooking, lifting and striking equally well off both sides is very difficult when you switch hands like this. Most crosshanded players are very dominant on their right side.

The right way is to hold the hurl at the top with your dominant hand, and always keep your dominant hand on the hurl at the top. No switching it. The majority of players holding the hurl will be strongest on their dominant side- if they are right hand dominant, and hold the hurl correctly, they will naturally be strongest striking off their right side. Some who hold the hurl correctly are dominant striking off the other side- they are backhanded (as in a tennis stroke backhand). Examples would be Paul Codd, Paul Ryan, Joe Deane.

There is a good reason we coach kids to hold the hurl the correct way. It's like holding a tennis racket, a golf club or a snooker cue- there is a right way and a wrong way. Some of you will hold the hurl the wrong way- fair play to ye. But coach kids the right way please.

Crosshanded, where a player switches which hand holds the hurl is a very bad habit and should be coached out of a kid as early as possible. Most often a kid starts playing this way as they are using a hurl that is far too big for them.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 22/11/2013 10:42:59    1516443