A good golf swing starts off with the correct golf grip. There is however no such thing as one correct golf grip. This is the first of a three part series in which I will give you all you need to know to get the correct golf grip for you.
No two people are identical (ok so there are a few twins out there jumping up and down – well I count you guys as one). We are different heights, weight and have different size hands, arms legs and stances – all of which determine the correct golf grip for each individual.
A good grip is a compromise between power and control, and it does not matter much which type of grip you favor. The important thing is that the hands should work together in the swing. If the hands do not work together your ability to control the clubface and create clubhead speed is impeded.
The following is the technique for getting your hands on to the golf club for the correct grip.
For this illustration I will refer to the target hand and the non-target hand – left and right hand respectively for right handed golfers and right and left hand for left handed golfers.
Target hand. Let your target arm hang naturally by the side of the grip before bringing it across to take hold of the club. About 1 inch of the grip should protrude above where it rests across your hand. Your thumb should fall slightly to the non-target side of center, and your third and little fingers should grip hardest. These are important pressure points. The club must rest diagonally across your fingers, seated underneath the fleshy pad on your left hand. The V between your thumb and forefinger should point somewhere between your chin and your non-target shoulder. Your target hand supports the club and maintains the club head in the correct position through impact with the ball. The target hand is the strong hand in the grip.
Non-Target Hand. Once you have the club correctly positioned in your target hand allow your non-target arm to hang naturally by your side. Bring your hand up to the club and grip the club so that the shaft is supported by the joints of all, except your index, fingers. Imagine holding a rock that you are going to throw to skim across a pond. This is the same feeling you want. The fleshy part of your non-target hand is then wrapped over the thumb of the target hand to form a V between your thumb and forefinger. This V should point roughly between your chin and your non-target shoulder. Your non-target hand is going to release the club head just before impact. The release gives the club head the power and speed to get maximum distance.
By matching the V’s formed by the thumb and forefinger of both hands you set your hands parallel to each other, which encourages them to work as a unit during the swing.
Practice gripping the club for a week or until such time as you are comfortable that your hands are working together.
That concludes Part 1 of The Correct Golf Swing. I hope you have found this information useful. In Part 2 I will cover the three different types of grip.
By: Lawrence Bredenkamp
About the Author:
Learning to play better golf need not be difficult.
Whether it is your driving, your iron play, your short game or putting get the basics right and the game becomes easier. Its similar in a way to driving a car – at first there is so much to do and remember but after a while it becomes second nature.
The secret is to practice and practice the right things as Bob Eldridge and his team will tell you over at Pure Point Golf.
Learn to play better golf and practice the right way! Hit ‘em straight and hit ‘em long.
Happy golfing!
