Over the next few months, we would like to help you improve your golf game. In golf, the most important things you need to do well are the basics, which are grip, aim, alignment, stance and posture.
This month, we want to give you some tips on gripping the club and your alignment.There are many different types of golf grips out there: strong, weak, the baseball grip and many more.

However as a beginner or a golfer trying to improve their handicap, I recommend a neutral grip. What does neutral mean? It is the mid-point between the strong and weak. Back in the 1960s we were told that a neutral grip was with our thumb on top and the hand straight up and down. Let’s test that. I hold my left arm out, with the hand straight up and down. As I turn my hand as far to the left as it will go, it will only turn to palm up. If I return to the original position and turn it the other way, it goes twice as far. So the mid-point is the hand in a position with the left thumb pointing at an angle between having your hand with your thumb straight up and palm down, with the middle and index finger outside, and  knuckles showing. This, strangely enough, is the way your arms hang naturally at the side of your body, hence this is the best place to take your left hand grip. Let your left arm hang down by your side naturally, with very little tension. Get the club under the heel pad of your left hand with your thumb on the top of the club at about 1.30 with two knuckles showing. Once you do that, place the right hand on the club in the bottom joint of the fingers, palm to palm to the left hand. This way the two hands fit as they should naturally. When this happens, both “V’s” created between the thumb and index finger of each hand are going somewhat to the right of your head, between your neck and your shoulder. The grip is not complete until you check not only the grip, but also the clubface position. I have seen a lot of people with a great grip but an incorrect clubface; that does not work out. Learn to grip it at your side. Learn to grip it in as relaxed a way as possible. Remember grip it under the heel pad of your left hand with a little pressure in the last three fingers. Right hand palm to palm with the left and in the fingers. Hands snug together. Get this grip and you are on your way to learning to control the clubface and learning to control your golf ball.

Tips to work on your alignment.

It is hard to find the correct aim if the curvature in your golf ball slices or draws. The golf ball will slice or draw more with your driver than it will with your 9-iron, and that makes aiming become very difficult.. Here is a little tip on how you can work on it. Put two clubs down, one slightly in front of your feet and one along the ball line. Try to line up your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, eyes and arms all parallel to the left of your target line. I talk about two things when I talk about aim; I talk about aim and alignment. Alignment is making sure that all your body is co-ordinated: feet, knees, hips, shoulders, eyes and arms. The most important in that group are your eyes, shoulders and arms. Get them aligned so that everything is well-co-ordinated, parallel to the slight left of your target. Once you have your alignment, then you can find your aim. Turn your alignment so that you are parallel to the left, with your body and right on it with your clubface. The bottom edge of your clubface should aim directly to your target. That is how you find your aim, and that is how you find your alignment.
We know you will find these tips helpful and we hope they assist you to get the most out of your golf game.
If you would like more information on the Inland Golf Society then see our ad in this magazine or view our web pages www.inlandgolf.info .
Enjoy your golf.