Posts Tagged ‘Golf Instruction’
How to Hold a Golf Club – Part 2
There are varied methods as to how to hold a golf club and each serves a specific purpose. Most golf professionals have command of different grips for a variety of shots, whereby they would expect different results depending on how they held the club in their hands. The pros can adjust their grip to alter the ball flight specific to the layout of the golf hole. For a right to left ball flight, also known as a draw, for a right handed golfer, the professional would take a stronger grip, which means their hands would be adjusted to the right of a neutral grip. If the pro would like the ball to do the opposite, then they would adjust their grip in the opposite direction and turn their hands to the left for a left to right ball flight, which is also called a fade. The position of the feet in relation to parallel to the target line may also be adjusted but let’s concentrate on the grip for now.
The grip shown on the left is a relatively neutral grip and would be most effective for a golf hole layout whic
h is relatively straight ahead. The right hand should also grip the club neutrally and the grip method shown in the photo left is known as the the interlocking grip method which is the preferred method of many of the top golf professionals, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and also my personal grip preference. It is quite obvious from viewing the photo on the left that the pinky finger of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the right hand which is why it is known as the interlocking grip. The golf grip and method a golfer uses to hold a golf club is an important step by the golfer in preparation to address the golf ball. This is a fundamental of golf and well worth the time and effort to practice for a more consistent golf swing.
TIP – Make sure to allow the top of the top of the golf club to protrude appoximately 1- 1/2 ” past the top of the left hand when the grip is taken. (See photo left) This will prevent the top of the grip from rubbing the glove and prevent excessive wear out of the glove in the meaty part of the glove hand. It will also allow more control of the golf club during the swing which will promote consistently better results from your shots.
So Get A Grip and Happy Golfing to All!
When I first learned to play golf over 30 years ago I had trouble hitting a good straight drive off the tee because I used to slice the ball. Many golfers, beginners and experienced alike have the same problem. I would like to offer some golf tips for beginners and experienced golfers to help correct the dreaded slice. My advice to help correct this problem can be done in four steps. 1) Strengthen your grip – if you are a right handed golfer make sure to rotate your hands to the right when you grip the club.( See frame # 1 below) Three knuckles of the left hand should be showing and facing up after taking your grip and the meaty part of your right hand that is connected to the thumb should also be facing upward. The opposite for each hand would hold true for the left handed golfer. 2) Strengthen your stance – Strengthen or close your stance slightly will also help promote a right to left ball flight, which is what you are trying to accomplish. Note: To close you stance move your left foot slightly back of parallel when you align to your target. 3) As your clubhead is approaching the contact area with the ball, visualize your forearms rotating from right to left as you pass through the hitting area. Note: Consciously pronate your hands and forearms as you pass the ball and keep your head down and behind the ball as long as possible 4) FINISH THE SWING – what I mean by finish the swing is that the weight transfer from the right side to the left must be completed and if done properly your body will be facing the target and the right foot will up on the toe denoting that the weight transfer was in fact finished.
They say one picture is worth a thousand words
so please view the photo sequence below to see the steps noted above – Step # 3) In the 7th frame of the photo sequence the golfers hands are turning over to the left and in frame 8 the golfer is completing his swing, facing the target and his right foot is up on the toe, all as noted in Step 4) above.
Note: Practice these four steps and before you know it you will probably be drawing the ball, which means creating a powerful right to left ball flight instead of the weaker slice shot to the right. Good luck and Happy Golfing to All!