The way you place
your hands on the golf club will have a direct relationship to the flight
of your ball. If your grip is too weak, the clubface angle at impact will
be off line, which will cause the ball to curve. The bottom edge of the
clubface needs to be straight to the target line in order for the ball
to fly straight toward the target. A good golf grip would be considered
neutral, that is, neither weak nor strong. A neutral grip will allow your
hands to react properly to an aggressive swing.
Gripping the club while the club head lies on the ground positions
the club in the palm of your hand rather than in your fingers, which
will weaken your grip. Be sure to grip the club while standing upright
with the club head toward the sky.
If your grips are worn out and slick you will be inclined to squeeze
the club too tight, creating a lot of tension in your arms and shoulders,
which will cause a short, quick swing. Your grips also need to be
the correct size. If the grip is too large, your hands are slow to
react to the swing, and if the grip is too small, your hands will
overreact.
For best results in improving your golf game, consult your local PGA
Pro. He or she can help you identify specific areas for improvement
and prescribe the practice techniques that are right for you.
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1.
First let us clarify which hand is the top hand and which hand
is the bottom hand so that we can relate to both right-handed
and left-handed golfers. For a right-handed golfer, the left
hand is the top hand, and the right hand is the bottom hand.
For a left-handed golfer, the right hand is the top hand, and
the left hand is the bottom hand.
2.
Start
by standing and holding the club in your bottom hand (right
hand), where the grip meets the shaft. The shaft should be at
an angle where the club head is at your forehead, toward the
sky, and the grip is at your waist. The club should be completely
vertical.
3.
Touch
the club in the fingers of your top hand (left hand)...
4.
and
wrap your fingers around the grip.
5.
Next,
lay the rest of your top (left) hand on the grip, so that the
palm lightly touches the grip.
6.
Slide
your bottom (right) hand toward your top hand, and keep the
grip in your fingers until both hands touch.
7.
Either
interlock your pinky finger and index finger, or have your pinky
overlap your index finger. Hold the club as if you were holding
an egg -- not too tight. Your hands will naturally squeeze tighter
when they need to during the swing.
8.
The
finished grip should be essentially with the fingers, rather
than with the palms of your hands. Holding the club in your
fingers will allow you to keep your arms extended during the
swing, which will generate more clubhead speed.
9.
When
you make the mistake of holding the club in the palms of your
hands, your elbows bend, causing a lack of extension, which
decreases clubhead speed.
10.
For
the advanced golfer, you should check that the "V" of your bottom
(right) hand should be pointed between your chin and back shoulder.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICE: Practice by following the steps
listed above at least ten times a day, for one month. After
one month, go over the fundamentals once a month. The grip may
feel a little awkward at first, but after one month of practice,
the grip will feel powerful and comfortable.
Gripping the club while the club head lies on the ground positions
the club in the palm of your hand rather than in your fingers, which
will weaken your grip. Be sure to grip the club while standing upright
with the club head toward the sky.
If your grips are worn out and slick you will be inclined to squeeze
the club too tight, creating a lot of tension in your arms and shoulders,
which will cause a short, quick swing. Your grips also need to be
the correct size. If the grip is too large, your hands are slow to
react to the swing, and if the grip is too small, your hands will
overreact. 
