The grip
Golfers need a solid grip in order to hit the ball well. Take your left hand and put it at the top of the shaft. Place the small finger of your right hand into the space between the forefinger and the middle finger of your left hand. Make sure your thumbs are in alignment down the shaft of your club.
Grip the club at about a "5" on a scale of 1 to 10. You don't want to hold the club any tighther because it will prevent you from getting the ideal rotation on your swing.
Firm left side
Keep your left side firm when you hit the golf ball. You should not have any bend in your left elbow at all during the backswing, downswing or followthrough. The straighter you can keep your left arm and the firmer you can keep your left side (rib cage and left leg) the better chance you have of hitting a long shot that is accurate.
Finish your swing
Many golfers at all levels of play have a tendency to quit on their shots shortly after contact. This is especially true when a golfer faces a critical shot late in a match or tournament. The golfer wants to see how he has hit the ball so he does not follow through adequately and lifts his head to follow the flight of the ball. This will cost a golfer accuracy and distance. Finish with your hands high so your club is at shoulder level.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
