How a golfer should hold a club is among the swing’s most overlooked fundamentals. You have to hold the club tight enough so it doesn’t slip out of your hands, but not so tight that you “strangle” it. Gripping the club too tight prevents the hands and wrists from releasing. You also have to execute other fundamentals to squeezing the most out of your swing.
Below are five keys to getting the most fro your swing:
• Use moderate grip pressure
• Keep the wrists and hand supple
• Drop the club to the inside
• Shift forward before turning
• Transfer your speed to the ball
Many golfers grip their clubs too firmly. This causes a series of negative reactions—including coming over the top and not releasing the club.
Use moderate grip pressure. This keeps the hands and wrists loose and supple as long as possible. Increase the pressure slightly as you start your downswing.
Also, make sure you drop the club to the inside of the target line as you come down. To do this effectively, you’ll need to get your body out of the way. If you do it right, you’ll feel as if you’re dropping the club straight down.
Next, shift your weight forward slightly before turning. You want your legs and chest to start rotating through the shot to hit the ball crisply. But be careful. Rotating too early produces a glancing blow.
Finally, transfer your swing speed to the ball. But don’t overswing. A good tip is to pick out a spot on the ball’s back. Then give it a good thump—almost as though you were hammering a nail.
Follow these five keys to squeeze the most out of your swing. If you do, you’ll get a ton of “pop” out of it—exactly what you need to drive the ball straight and long.
