By Andy Pittman
Senior Teaching Professional
Canongate I Golf Club
I have been teaching golf for over 38 years. During that time, I have learned the importance of making things as simple as possible for my students. Golf is a simple game that is made difficult by people that play it!
Think about it. You simply swing the club away from the ball and return it back square to the intended line, moving at an optimum speed. To play the game better, this movement needs to be consistent. Consistency starts with good pre-shot fundamentals. The four primary fundamentals are: grip, alignment, ball position, and posture. Let’s focus on first things first: the grip.
The grip is the most important fundamental in golf. Your hands are the only connection you have to the club, which makes contact with the ball. In order to consistently hit good shots, your hands have to be placed on the grip so they compliment each other and work together.
Keep in mind that golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Some have small hands; some have large hands, short fingers, long fingers, etc. There are three basic grip options: (1) ten finger (sometimes called the “baseball” grip), (2) interlock, and (3) overlap. The overlap is the most commonly used grip.
The ten finger grip is best for players with very small hands, such as some ladies and junior players. The interlock grip is used a lot by players with medium hand size, but some players with large hands also prefer it. The little finger on your right hand interlocks with the index finger on the left hand (for a right handed golfer). The overlap, or “Vardon grip” is used by a large number of players worldwide. The little finger of your right hand overlaps into the gap between your index finger and middle knuckle on your left hand (for a right handed golfer).
The proper way to place your hands on the club is to let your left arm hang down naturally from your shoulder. Place your fingers on the grip as if you were picking up a suitcase. As you can see, most of the grip is in the fingers. Peggy Kirk Bell, LPGA Hall of Famer, believes this is the easiest way to get your left hand on the club properly. You will notice that the line formed by your thumb and index finger points in the general direction of your right shoulder. That same line on your right hand will be between the shoulder and your chin. The grip will vary a little from player to player, some will see two knuckles, some three on the back of their left hand.
As you work to improve your grip, make sure you don’t grip the club too tightly as this will create tension in your arms and hands, restricting the proper release of the clubhead. Proper grip pressure is very important in the timing of the release through the ball.
Remember that golf is a game of a lifetime. It is much more enjoyable if you hit more good, consistent shots. Consult a Woodlands Performance Center Instructor to assist you in the application of the fundamentals. Now...go get a grip on it!
Senior Teaching Professional
Canongate I Golf Club
I have been teaching golf for over 38 years. During that time, I have learned the importance of making things as simple as possible for my students. Golf is a simple game that is made difficult by people that play it!
Think about it. You simply swing the club away from the ball and return it back square to the intended line, moving at an optimum speed. To play the game better, this movement needs to be consistent. Consistency starts with good pre-shot fundamentals. The four primary fundamentals are: grip, alignment, ball position, and posture. Let’s focus on first things first: the grip.
The grip is the most important fundamental in golf. Your hands are the only connection you have to the club, which makes contact with the ball. In order to consistently hit good shots, your hands have to be placed on the grip so they compliment each other and work together.
Keep in mind that golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Some have small hands; some have large hands, short fingers, long fingers, etc. There are three basic grip options: (1) ten finger (sometimes called the “baseball” grip), (2) interlock, and (3) overlap. The overlap is the most commonly used grip.
The ten finger grip is best for players with very small hands, such as some ladies and junior players. The interlock grip is used a lot by players with medium hand size, but some players with large hands also prefer it. The little finger on your right hand interlocks with the index finger on the left hand (for a right handed golfer). The overlap, or “Vardon grip” is used by a large number of players worldwide. The little finger of your right hand overlaps into the gap between your index finger and middle knuckle on your left hand (for a right handed golfer).
The proper way to place your hands on the club is to let your left arm hang down naturally from your shoulder. Place your fingers on the grip as if you were picking up a suitcase. As you can see, most of the grip is in the fingers. Peggy Kirk Bell, LPGA Hall of Famer, believes this is the easiest way to get your left hand on the club properly. You will notice that the line formed by your thumb and index finger points in the general direction of your right shoulder. That same line on your right hand will be between the shoulder and your chin. The grip will vary a little from player to player, some will see two knuckles, some three on the back of their left hand.
As you work to improve your grip, make sure you don’t grip the club too tightly as this will create tension in your arms and hands, restricting the proper release of the clubhead. Proper grip pressure is very important in the timing of the release through the ball.
Remember that golf is a game of a lifetime. It is much more enjoyable if you hit more good, consistent shots. Consult a Woodlands Performance Center Instructor to assist you in the application of the fundamentals. Now...go get a grip on it!
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