Each chapter of the book is the equivalent of taking a private lesson from a teaching professional. This lesson on the golf grip is forty-seven pages long and uses eighty-eight color photographs to explain the golf grip and the process of establishing the golf grip. Where applicable, appearing in the photographs is a check mark or an "X" indicating that what is being illustrated is either correct or incorrect. You won't have to refer back to the text to determine if the photograph you are looking at is illustrating something that is correct or incorrect. You will know immediately by the mark on the photograph.

Chapter Description

In short, this chapter explains all you need to know about how to take your left-hand grip, your right-hand grip, and how to join both hands to form a grip that functions as a unit. Where and how to place the golf club grip in the left palm and where in the fingers of the right hand is fully explained and shown in detail using color photographs and step-by-step instructions. The overlapping, interlocking and baseball grips are discussed and illustrated so that you can try each grip and decide for yourself which grip is best for you. Instruction on topics such as: grip pressure, should you wear a golf glove, how to prevent your thumbs from slipping off the golf club grip during the golf swing, how to prevent the club from slipping out of your hands during the golf swing round out the chapter. The Golf Grip gives step-by-step instruction on how to take your golf grip. First with your left hand and then with your right hand. You learn to position the golf club behind the golf ball first and then take your golf grip so that when you are finished, your hands are in the correct position relative to the clubface. Finally, you learn what to look for so that you can double check your grip and ensure that your golf grip is correct. A bad grip is disruptive to swinging a golf club so it is imperative that you learn how to grip the golf club correctly.

Details About this Chapter on The Golf Grip

The Left-Hand Grip

Learn what features of the left palm are used to grip the golf club.Learn how to use these features to grip a golf club.Where in the left palm do you position the club?Learn how to avoid blisters as you learn and practice the golf grip.Using two points of contact, learn how to pick up the golf club.Learn to close the gap between your left thumb and index finger.Learn how to create a vise-like grip with your left hand.Learn to position the left hand so that it doesn't slide off the golf club during your swing.Learn what to look for so that you can double check your grip to see if it is correct.Easily learn from the step-by-step instructions on how to take your left-hand grip.

The Right-Hand GripLearn how to hold the golf club in the fingers of the right hand.Learn how to begin the right-hand grip using the contact points of the two middle fingers.Learn how and where the right hand overlaps the left hand.Learn when and how to close the gap between the right thumb and index finger. Learn that only half of each thumb contacts the golf club - which half contacts the golf club for the right-hand grip?Learn how to position your thumb so that it is unlikely to slip off the golf club grip during your swing.Follow easy step-by-step instructions and learn how to take your right-hand golf grip. Learn what to look for so that you can double check your grip to see if it is correct.

Joining the Hands of Your Golf GripLearn the details the overlapping grip, the interlocking grip and the baseball grip.Learn the right and wrong ways to overlap or interlock your hands.

Other Topics CoveredWhat is a strong or what is a weak grip?The significance of strong and weak grips. How much grip pressure should you use and how can you test it.Should you wear a golf glove? Learn how to practice your grip.

The Modified Left-Hand GripTypically, the left-hand grip is taught as a palm grip. However, it doesn't necessarily have to be. This section explains how to modify the left-hand grip so that it is more of a finger grip. Tom Watson offers similar instruction in his book, The Timeless Swing, pages twenty-two and twenty-three. He holds the club a little more in the palm than what is offered in this book. It's worthwhile to know about these grips.

Simulating the Position of the Forearm, Wrist, and Hand

Once you know how to grip a golf club, with your elbows on the table and using an old club that is cut off just below the grip or a piece of wooden dowel of similar size and length, you can see and feel how the hands, wrists, and forearms interact with each other. While cocking and uncocking your wrists, you can feel and see how the forearms rotate and what the hand and wrist positions should be at the top of the backswing. This is a very useful exercise and one that gives great insight to the position you are striving to achieve at the top of the backswing.

A Final Thought

"Important is the golf grip. More important is hand action. Having a good golf grip does not guarantee good hand action. The golf grip is a prerequisite to learning the hand action of the golf swing." - The Author, James Lythgoe