Something every young hurler is taught.
But something they quickly grow out of. For under-6s and 8s going over to the hurling field for the first time, shortening the grip will be a staple of the session.
That’s because these youngsters often have very little control over the length of their puck, their main focus merely to make a connection with the sliotar. If they grip the hurl at full length there’ll be size four sliotars zipping everywhere and anywhere, if they grab their camán further down the handle, they’ll at least have a small bit more control.
And coaches will harp on about it all day until it finally registers with the youngster.
But as players get older they often drift away from these basics as their hands drift further down a longer hurl. Lads get carried away with notions of a booming puck and gripping the hurley at full length is often seen as a more stylish way to go about it.
But old habits die hard and the importance of a shortened hurl will never wean. When lads get older, a shortened grip will reduce the chance of them being hooked when striking, or dispossessed when soloing. As well as that, they’ve more control over everything they’re doing.
Mark Coleman and Darragh Fitzgibbon are two men in the driving seat at the moment. Two of the brightest young talents in the country, the Cork pair burst onto the Rebel scene in the 2017 season.
Coleman became one of the youngest ever All-Stars when he was named at left half back on the 2017 pick of the year. Fitzgibbon wasn’t far off and this year both are already motoring.
Typical of the new breed of hurler, Fitzgibbon and Coleman both possess electric pace, they’ve a killer first touch and can make the ball roar.
How do they do this? They nail the game’s fundamental skills. Neither use long hurls and they still grip their stick half way down. As a result, they’re in control.
Here are a few examples of the dynamic duo excelling at the game’s basics.
Coleman scored one of the points of the year so far against Limerick last weekend, bursting from his half back line up the field before dropping a long-ranger over the black spot under ferocious pressure.
All the while, his hand was halfway down his wand.
You can watch the full clip here.
Mark Coleman wonder point for Cork pic.twitter.com/1BQbshRvSR
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 2, 2018
The weekend prior to that against Clare, he boomed another monster effort from miles downtown. This time he lines the ball up with that familiar shortened grip. Crucially, he’s quickly able to transition to a full length grip for a longer strike when he knows he has space to do so.
Some score.
Check out this massive point by Cork's Mark Coleman! pic.twitter.com/sGOpj8kcql
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 20, 2018
Charleville man Fitzgibbon uses a similarly short stick – around 32/33 inches. He exuded that same control and curb in the midst of such frightening pace during his wonder score.
Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon bursts out of defence and scores a fantastic point! pic.twitter.com/p7b04f7g3o
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 20, 2018
And again against Limerick last weekend.
For this goal in last year’s under-21 championship against Limerick, the pair linked up to score the goal of the competition without touching the handle of their respective hurleys.
You can watch the video here.
Could Mark Coleman's Score of the Day for Cork win the #BGEU21 2016 Score of the Year? Have your say at https://t.co/BvzxHBAgJO @corkgaa pic.twitter.com/Jwk6camHZ0
— BGEGAA (@BGEGAA) September 28, 2016
Former Cork hurler Seanie McGrath was famed for his short hurl, the Glen Rovers club man was rumoured to have used a size 30 in his playing days.
It’s the way forward.
