What is the most overlooked and misunderstood fundamental in the game of golf?
Without a doubt, it is the grip.
It is one of the few column topics which bears repeating from time to time, which is exactly why I have written about the subject multiple times in the past and plan to again today.
Remember, your body only has one direct connection to the club and it is through the hands. In the end, your hands will always get the final say in how the club does or does not move through impact.
Even though it is the most critical fundamental in the game, players give it so little attention or consideration when they are working toward game improvement.
If you are trying to improve with a fundamentally poor grip, you are essentially training your body to use a series of compensating movement patterns to off-set your grip mistakes. Trying to build consistency with a swing that is built around flawed fundamentals is simply hoping you can somehow consistently use two wrongs to make a right.
As I mentioned in a previous column of mine in 2006, when it comes to a poor grip, the left hand (on a right-handed player) is all too often in what instructors refer to as a weak position.
A weak left hand occurs when you grip the club with your hand turned too far to the left. This hand position puts your hand under the club rather than over the top of it, which does not allow you to square the club properly through impact. This often leads to high weak slices to the right, limited power and inconsistent ball contact.
Do you want to know if your left hand is potentially in a weak position?
Grab a club and head to your hallway the mirror. Place the club on the ground with your body facing the mirror, and gently apply your left hand as per normal.
If you look down at the back of your hand without straining your neck, are you able to see at least two knuckles on the back of your left hand?
Is the “V” formed by your thumb and first finger pointing to your right shoulder?
If you answered no to either one of these questions, your grip may well be in a weak position and causing a great deal of your frustration.
The next time you hit the range, work towards seeing between 2-3 knuckles on the back of your left hand and point that “V” to your right shoulder – you may very well see yourself hitting it better than you have in a while.
Clubhouse chatter
Are we seeing a resurgence in junior golfers in our city? It is starting to feel that way, with what appears to be an increase in school academies, school leagues and golf course programs across our city. Let’s hope this trend is here to stay.
Trevor Moore is a PGA of Canada professional and a TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor with the Titleist Performance Institute. Based in Medicine Hat, he runs his Advantage Golf Academy Services out of Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course and coaches the Medicine Hat College Rattlers golf teams. For comments or questions, you can contact him via his website trevormoore.ca or follow him on Twitter @trevormooreinc.
