I often have Beginners commencing lessons or group programs wondering what they must first do to progress in the game. The most important part to the swing is actually the foundation you build before you swing. This is called the set-up and if you've been to one of my classes, you will often hear me state that in order to build a swing that will last, you must first learn to master set-up which includes: the grip, posture and ball position. Once these are learned and replicated every time you're over the ball, your chances will greatly increase to building a long-lasting efficient golf swing.
The first element is practicing the grip. The best way of ensuring the grip is applied correctly is firstly placing the right hand on the shaft below the grip. You want to ensure the right hand secures the clubface in a square position while you put your left hand on. When placing the left hand on, just ensure the club starts on the line below the pinkie and then angles across to the middle of your index finger. You then wrap the hand on top of the club ensuring the line created between the thumb and index finger is pointed at the right shoulder. Once the left hand is secured, you would then have the club positioned in the middle of your fingers of your right hand. You would then slide the hand on top of the left ensuring the groove below the pad of the right thumb is sitting into your left thumb. From there you can either interlock your pinkie of your right hand underneath your left index finger or on top. Just ensure the line created between your thumb and index finger is once again pointed at your right shoulder.
The next step is your posture. Just ensure that you firstly keep your back and legs straight and then tilt from your waist to a 45 degree angle. Once you have tilted, you can then slightly flex your knees. In terms of distance from the ball, you want to make sure you're roughly a handspan away between the end of the grip and the body. You then want to slightly bump your left hip to the left so the hip lines up straight with your left shoulder. Next you want to have the hands slightly forward of the clubface. Try when standing in this posture to have your body square. This simply means that your feet, knees, hips and shoulders all face in the same direction.
The last step is ball position and width of stance. The rule of thumb is that with the wedges (PW and SW), you want to place the ball position in the middle of the stance. The stance would also be fairly narrow (Slightly under shoulder width). With all the numbered irons, you want to have the ball position slightly forward of centre. The stance will also get slightly wider the longer the club. The fairway woods and hyprids will have the ball position slightly more forward than the numbered irons and with the driver, the ball position will be opposite the left heel.
If you'd like any further help in with learning the fundamentals, just contact myself at David Waters Golf.
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