| This process is multi fold1. Learn what YOUR | | | | It is important to understand that the |
| neutral grip is2. The CORRECT ball position | | | | forefinger and target side thumb both be on |
| for every club3. The CORRECT swing shape4. | | | | the same side and angle of the shaft for the |
| How far back YOU can take the club5. How to | | | | best support. The trailing thumb should be |
| play within YOUR styleYou will have many | | | | on the target side of the shaft. You never |
| options to choose from and I'll show you how | | | | want the thumbs to exert any pressure. |
| to find the ones that will work for you. | | | | Finally, in order for the hands to work |
| Once you have all of your "components" you | | | | together, they must be parallel to each |
| won't need to experiment any longer!WHERE TO | | | | other.POSTURERegardless of the player's level |
| START - GRIP AND POSTUREWhile this may be | | | | of golf anyone can get into a posture that |
| obvious to some you would be surprised by the | | | | looks as good as any Tour Player, it takes no |
| number of people that work on their swing | | | | athletic ability to get into a proper |
| without starting with their grip. There is | | | | posture! For full swing shots, other than a |
| only ONE neutral grip for any golfer! That | | | | Driver, the inside of the heels should be as |
| grip is where YOUR arm hangs down from the | | | | wide as the outside of the hips (for a Driver |
| shoulder socket and the angle of YOUR target | | | | the inside of the heels as wide as the |
| side hand. It makes no difference whether you | | | | outside of the shoulders). Push the hips |
| use an overlapping, interlocking, and | | | | sockets back and up so that the pelvis is at |
| ten-finger (baseball) grip. What IS critical | | | | an angle, not horizontal to the ground. As |
| is the angle the club lies in your hand.To | | | | you push the hips back, and up, this will |
| find YOUR neutral grip, first take your | | | | lower the chest and place the weight toward |
| address position, but without a club, and let | | | | the back of the arch of the foot. Simply |
| both arms hang downward from the shoulder | | | | unlock your knees, you'll feel a little |
| sockets with NO TENSION. Most golfers will | | | | pressure above the kneecaps, and let the arms |
| find that their target side arm hangs | | | | hang limply downward from the shoulder |
| somewhere between the middle of the target | | | | socket. There should be NO TENSION in the |
| side thigh to the inside of the thigh | | | | arms or shoulders. Some players like to tilt |
| (depending on the width of stance and/or the | | | | their upper bodies slightly away from target |
| width of the chest). As you look down at your | | | | as the final set-up adjustment and just |
| target side hand pay attention to the angle | | | | because your trailing hand is lower than the |
| it hangs. Some of you will see two knuckles | | | | target side hand this is acceptable, just |
| of the hand, some will see three, and some | | | | don't overdue it. Now you have YOUR grip and |
| may even see four. It doesn't matter how many | | | | posture.BALL POSITIONBall position is the |
| you see! Whatever the number, this is YOUR | | | | most misunderstood portion of the entire |
| bodies way of telling you its natural | | | | set-up. There have been many opinions about |
| tendency and that is the neutral angle for | | | | ball position. Some say one position for |
| YOUR grip! When you place your target side | | | | every shot, others say move it around |
| hand on the club it should be at the same | | | | depending on the club. All of the guesswork |
| angle you just saw.The club then runs | | | | is taken out however if the golfer would set |
| diagonally from between the first and second | | | | the club at address as the manufacturer |
| joint of the index finger to just under the | | | | designed it. All clubs, except for the |
| heel pad. Close the fingers and then close | | | | Driver, are designed so that the grip end of |
| the hand with the heel pad on top of the | | | | the club is ahead of the clubhead if soled |
| shaft with the thumb to the backside of the | | | | properly, this means the shaft leans forward, |
| shaft. This supplies pressure from the heel | | | | not vertical or backwards! If you address the |
| pad downward and the last three fingers exert | | | | ball, with say a 5 iron, and the shaft is |
| pressure upward. Then take the lifeline of | | | | vertical then even before you swing you've |
| the trailing hand, located between the thumb | | | | added loft and turned it into a seven iron! |
| and heel pads, and place it on the thumb of | | | | That same 5 iron is designed to have |
| the target side hand. The lifeline against | | | | approximately 8 degrees of forward lean at |
| the thumb exerts the pressure here; the right | | | | address. The best players in the world, using |
| forefinger should be separated, in a | | | | that same 5 iron, have upwards of 15 degrees |
| "triggering position", but with no pressure. | | | | at Impact! This turns it into a 3 iron! |