Before you ever take the club back to begin your golf swing, it's important to have a proper stance and grip. These fundamentals play a much larger role in hitting successful shots than most beginners imagine. The grip represents the one way in which your body is connected to a primary piece of equipment. The stance is your body's link to stability through the swing. Put the necessary time in to master these elements and you'll find that striking the ball well becomes considerably easier.
Hands on the Grip
Place your hands on the grip with the right hand below the left (for right-handers). The hands will come together in one of two ways--either interlocking or overlapping. An interlocking grip connects the hands by placing the right pinkie between the first and second fingers of the left hand, interlocking them on the club's grip. Overlapping connections are made by laying the right pinkie on top of the space between the first and second fingers of the left hand. Choose the method that is most comfortable for you.
Aligning Your Grip
The best way in which to make sure that your hands are properly aligned on the grip is to look for the "V" created by each hand at the juncture of the thumb and forefinger. The "V" on the left hand should point at your right eye. Position the "V" on your right hand to point at your chin. It may be easier to place the left hand on the grip first, set your "V" in the proper place and then add the right hand.
Placement of the Grip in Your Hands
Hold the grip so that the contact occurs with your fingers rather than palms. A grip held in the palms tends to make it difficult to keep the correct grip pressure and detracts from the "feel" you hope to gain in an ideal grip. Maintain grip pressure that is only tight enough to keep control of the club through the swing. It's advisable to make several practice swings to accurately gauge this.
Feet
A proper stance begins with balance. Your feet should be shoulder width apart (slightly wider for the driver). The right foot needs to be set perpendicular to the target line (for right-handers). The left foot should be pointed outward, in a quarter turn. If you are uncertain about the alignment of your feet to the desired target, take a golf club and lay it down along the toe line with both feet squarely placed perpendicular to the target. If the club shaft points at your target, you are properly aligned. You can then return the left foot to its quarter turn outward.
Knees, Head, Spine and Arms
The knees in your golf stance need to be slightly bent and pointed inward. The flex in your knees should be comfortable and provide stability. It's important for your arms to be as close together as possible, with the left arm fully extended and the right arm very slightly bent. The head should be bent comfortably, allowing you to look down on the ball without arching or bending your back. The spine should be fairly upright, angled over just a bit from a bend in your hips.
References
- "Ben Hogan's Five Lessons"; Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind; 1957
- "Golf For Dummies"; Gary McCord; 2006
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