Can’t Hit it Straight? Check your Grip!
Hand placement is key to a successful, repeatable swing that provides straighter shots. Many clients I work with have their hands positioned incorrectly, causing a myriad of issues and inconsistencies. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when placing your hands:
1. The bottom side of the club handle should be placed through the first pads of your fingers – of both hands.
2. The top hand should turn away from your target. Your index knuckle should be in line with the outside edge of the handle. Which outside edge? The same as the top hand – since my left hand is my top hand, I look for my index knuckle to be in line with the left outside edge of the handle. If you go over too far it will feel completely awkward and be out of position.
3. The heel pad of your top hand should be visible.
4. The palm of your bottom hand needs to cover the top thumb and then the fingers can wrap around the bottom of the handle.
5. The V’s of both hands should point at your back shoulder.
I like to point out to my clients if they hold the club more in their fingers (instead of the palms) and place their hands away from the target when placing their grip, they will be able to turn the hands/wrists/forearms towards the target through impact and into the follow through. This is the motion of the much coveted and sought after release that squares the club face and hits straighter shots!
The Grass is Greenest in Your Own Fairway… Let’s work to find it more often!
Sarah Bidney, PGA Teaching Professional, has been helping golfers improve their games since 2002. Having taught in Naples, Florida, and Park City, Utah, she returned to Iowa in 2008 to grow the game of golf in her home state. Currently Sarah is the only woman to be named the Iowa PGA Teaching Professional of the Year (2010 & 2012) and is a 2-time Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional. Sarah loves to help clients of all ability levels improve their game and their enjoyment of golf. She resides in Urbandale, Iowa, with her spouse and two children. Sarah writes a bi-monthly golf pro tip blog series, published every other Friday, in the hopes of helping golfers across the country improve their life-long love of the game.
Sarah Bidney, PGA
2010 & 2012 Iowa PGA Teaching Professional of the Year
2012 & 2013 GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional
2012 U.S. Kids Top 50 Kids Teachers – Honorable Mention
Video courtesy of Sarah Bidney
Photo: Copyright: scusi / 123RF Stock Photo
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