The Proper Golfing Handbook

CHAPTER 1

THE FOUNDATIONS: HOW TO ADDRESS THE GOLF BALL

If you can get everything right at address, you're halfway to hitting a decent shot. And well on the way to being consistent, too.

The set-up consists of several parts that all connect with each other. At the end of this chapter I'll show how they all blend together when you address the ball on the course. But first I'll give you more detail about aligning the clubface, the grip, eliminating tension, ball position, stance and aligning your body.

ALIGNING THE CLUBFACE

First some definitions:

  If the clubface is pointing at the target it is square

  If the clubface points to the left of the target it is closed

  If the clubface points to the right of the target it is open

Clubface positions

At address, with the club on the ground, the bottom edge should point at 90 degrees to the target line. (Some golfers get this wrong and align the top edge, which closes the clubface.)

At address, the bottom edge should point at 90 degrees to the target line

THE GRIP

The left hand goes onto the club first. The photo shows two points, the middle crease of your index finger and the crease by the pad on your palm. Place the club in your hand so the handle of the club runs between these two points. Then wrap your fingers and hand around the handle. From above, you should be able to see the first two knuckles on the back of your hand.

The club handle goes between these two points on the left hand

Wrap your left hand and fingers around the handle

You should be able to see two knuckles on the back of your hand.

The club is supported by the meaty pad of your palm. The thumb sits on top of the handle or slightly to the right-hand side so that it supports the club at the top of the backswing.

The left hand's thumb sits on top of the handle or slightly to the right-hand side

If your grip is correct, it should be possible for you to take off the thumb and three smaller fingers and hold the club just between the pad on your palm and your index finger.

If gripped correctly, you should be able to take off the thumb and three fingers

Another test to see if you have the correct grip with your left hand is to take off your thumb and index finger and hold the club with just your three remaining fingers.

You should also be able to take off the thumb and index finger

The right hand goes on next. Identify the crease at the base of your middle two fingers, where they join the palm. Also identify the middle crease of the index finger. The club runs through these three creases. When the index finger is wrapped around the handle it forms a trigger finger.

The club handle goes between these three points on the right hand

The index finger wraps around the handle as a trigger finger

There are three ways you can position your right hand on the club:

  The split-hand grip

  The interlock grip

  The overlap grip

Most golfers choose the interlocking or overlap grip.

But the best thing for you to do is to try each of them and see which feels most comfortable for you.

For the split-hand grip the hands are not connected to each other but the little finger of your right hand touches the index finger of your left hand.

This grip is good for people with small hands or not much hand strength.

Split-hand grip

For the interlock grip the index finger of the left hand is interlocked with the little finger of the right hand as shown below.

This is good at giving a secure grip which helps the golfer to control the clubface.

Interlock grip

For the overlap grip the little finger of the right hand slips into the gap formed between the index and middle fingers of your left hand.

This is used by many golfers creating a single, secure holding grip.

Overlap grip

Whichever grip you use there should be equal grip pressure between both hands, and this balanced pressure should be maintained throughout the swing.

You have probably heard the expressions 'strong grip' and 'weak grip', so I'll define them here.

If a golfer has a strong grip, it's as if their hands have been rotated clockwise on the club's handle - the back of their left hand points at the sky and their right thumb is on the right side of the club.

A strong grip is helpful if you want:

  More distance

  To stop slicing (a shot that unintentionally starts to the left and curves to the right during flight)

  To draw the ball (a shot that intentionally starts to the right of target and curves to the left to finish on target)

Strong grip

If a golfer has a weak grip, it's as if their hands have been rotated anticlockwise on the club's handle - they can't see any knuckles of their left hand and on their right hand the crease between their thumb and index finger point towards their left shoulder.

A weak grip is helpful if you want to:

  Hit the ball higher

  Put more backspin on the ball (so that the backwards rotation of the ball means that it is spinning backwards on landing and stops quickly)

Weak grip

VIDEOS

To see a video of Julian demonstrating the golf grip, please tap the QR code

TENSION

How tightly should you hold the club? The answer is fairly loosely. If you were to score your grip tension out of ten, it should never be more than five.

Check this by gripping the club, then turn your wrists until the club is vertical. Gradually ease your grip until the club is about to slide downwards. This is the ideal grip strength. Now, keeping the grip constant, release your wrists until the club is horizontal, pointing in front of you. This lets you feel the right amount of grip tension. (Often tension increases during the swing, going from relaxed to tight, which slows down your potential swing speed and stops the natural flow of your swing, so should be avoided.)

1. To check your grip tension, hold the club vertical and gradually ease your grip .

2. . until the club is about to slide downwards - here it has been loosened too much and the club has slid down

3. With the correct grip, release your wrists - you should now feel the right amount of grip tension

BALL POSITION

Imagine the golf swing as a big circle. The bottom of the circle is in the middle of your stance and if the ball is there you are more likely to hit under it consistently. This works well with irons from 6 to SW (sand wedge).

For the driver, the ball is teed up so it should be further forward in your stance. Here the arc of the swing is starting to rise after it has passed the centre of the stance and we want to hit the ball in the middle of the club. The higher the tee, the further forward the ball should be, to a maximum of your front heel.

For the 5 iron, hybrids and fairway woods, the ball position is between these two extremes.

Ball positions (right-handed golfer)

STANCE WIDTH

The width of your stance is important:

  Too wide restricts body movement and leads to more of an arm swing

  Too narrow leaves you unstable

The best width of stance is your natural stride. To find this, face away from the target, keep your front foot still and take a stride with your back foot. Then rotate both feet to face the ball.

I recommend the following method to position the ball correctly in your stance:

  Face the ball with your feet together

  Move your left foot half a pace to the left

  Then move your right foot half a pace to the right

This gives a set-up with the ball central:

  For the driver you move your left foot less and your right foot more

  For woods and hybrids move your feet to give an intermediate ball position

Move your feet like this to give the correct ball position (right-handed golfer)

BODY ALIGNMENT

The only thing that points at the target is the clubface, which is aimed down the target line. Everything else is aimed slightly to the left, on a line parallel to the target line. The distance between the parallel lines depends on the club's length and the golfer's posture (if they're bending over the distance is greater).

When taking your stance make sure that your feet (strictly your heels) are aligned parallel to the target line, then do the same for your knees, hips and shoulders. In practice...