Putting your hands on the club correctly for you.

This tutorial is the most important part of your learning. If your hands and fingers on not on the club correctly for you, you will not reach your potential.

Facts about your grip:
-Your top hand should be turned away from the target an amount equal to the amount it is turned away from the target when your arms hang to your side. The thumb of your top hand will be on the side of the grip away from the target and the thumb of your bottom hand will be on the side of the grip toward the target.

-The fingers of both hands are on the club, not the palms.

-The palm of the bottom hand should point at the target matching the club face.

-Your grip pressure should be light. How light? Sam Snead used the analogy of holding a small bird. I don't know about you but I've never held a small bird. Use your right hand and place it on your left forearm so you can feel the hair on your arms and the texture of your skin. Now you have an idea of the amount of tension. What part of your hand did you use to feel the hair on your arm and the texture of your skin? If you said fingers, move the top of the class. We feel with our fingers and fingertips not our palms.

Why is getting a correct grip so difficult? I believe it's instinct. I've never seen a beginning golfer with a correct grip. They use what I call an instinct grip. Their hands are turned with the palms facing each other, the grip in their palms, and their thumbs on top of the grip. A great way to hold the club if the object is to pull the club. A lousy way to hold the club if you wish to swing it.

The instinct grip feels secure with little or no movement of the club or hands and arms. When you have the correct grip for you, the club feels less secure and you feel the movement of the club and your hands and arms. This does not mean the hands and fingers move off or around the grip when your swing the club.

Take the time and effort to put your hands and fingers on the club correctly for you. It will pay off handsomely.

Next time: How the club and your hands and arms move when you swing.