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5 Secrets of the Game
By Paul Strande
Secret #2: Get Control of Your Game
Because of its location, gripping the club at the butt end and above the right hand, the left hand has to control a majority of the club's weight. If you don't have control of the butt end of the club, you don't have control of the clubhead. The club should run diagonally across the fingers under the left pad. See Illustrations below. During the golf swing, a tremendous amount of centrifugal force is generated due to speed and the club's weight. Centrifugal force is an outward motion away from the center. A golfer making an outward motion on the DOWNSWING is unlikely to hit many good shots because the ball will strike off-center towards the club's heel or hosel.
Gravity and torque are other forces golfers are faced with in a full swing. Gravity will pull or throw a club down to the ground. This will cause a golfer to strike the ground before striking the ball. In golf terminology, we call this a "fat" or "heavy" shot. Torque is the twisting of the clubhead. The way a golf club is designed, the clubface protruding away from the shaft, the clubface will twist — or torque — to the right on contact with the ball. Should the clubhead twist or torque at impact, a dramatic slice likely occurs. Can you imagine a golfer without any control of these forces hitting many good shots? The answer is no. Look at the following left-hand grip illustration. This grip should combat these forces and help you lower your scores.
| This grip is okay for holding a putter, but not okay for holding a wood or iron when making a full swing. You don't need wrist action for putting. |
The grip below is a control or power grip. Notice the butt of the club located below the lower heel-pad under the "X". The heel-pad must support the club's weight with the fingers.A hole that forms on the glove rather quickly is a good indication of an incorrect left-hand grip. |
Notice the "V" pointing to the right shoulder with the top 2-3 knuckles in view. When the "V" points to the left shoulder, with no knuckles in view is the main cause of slicing. Also, this grip provides maximum vertical wrist-break for power. |
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Left-hand grip practice drills:
1. Grip the hosel or shaft like a fishing rod. This helps to form the fingers to the shaft.
2. Spin the club counter-clockwise with the fingers and thumb and catch it. You can't spin the club unless it's in the fingers. This helps build finger, forearm strength and dexterity in the left hand.
The right-hand grip also is important. The right hand forms a unit with the left hand so they work together. Many of my students have come to me with the myth that golf is a one-sided game, and that the right hand is just along for the ride. A golf club is too heavy to control with just one hand. This is my response to this thinking: Golf is a two-sided game, and the left hand guides the right and the right hand guides the left. In other words, they work together. You don't see any birds flying around with one wing, do you? A golfer who doesn't use their right side is eliminating 50 percent of their resources to swing the club. The purpose of this article is to explain how to strengthen the left side with a stronger left-hand grip. The following are some basic tips for the right hand grip:
The club runs diagonally across the fingers as well; the thumb and forefinger form a "V" also pointing to the right shoulder; the right-hand lifeline covers the left thumg; the palm faces the target; and the right thumb is to the left side of the shaft at an 11 o'clock position.
Paul Strande, PGA Professional
Crystal Lake Golf Club
Book a lesson with Paul
© Copyright 1997-2009, TeeMaster Corporation, All rights reserved.
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