Golf Tips - Grips

John: You may have realized if you watch the last four or five weeks of this teaching series that I spent very little time in explaining the grip. This hasn't been in a mission on my path, the reason is very simple. In my opinion, when the beginners learning to hit the ball and flying the ball and do all that's necessary to get that thing going, they really can't take to find the points of the grip at that particular moment. But I do want to stress that it's very important. Today, we're going to finish the lesson by explaining and checking these grips with both Remy and Ruth. Now let's take it right from the top here. Left hand sits on the club like this, at the base of the fingers and the palm just in the picture here. Underneath, first of all and then you come over the top, placing the thumb just down the side of the shaft. They've already done this but they're going to have it checked today. This line now, this is form between the forefinger and the thumb, should point towards the right shoulder. Now if the right hand is to work in unison with the left, middle finger will go over the index finger, the three fingers not the palm now it's all the three fingers around the shaft, and this dent in the palm is really made for the job. It goes over the thumb like this, a slight triggering action of the forefinger and you'll see now that there is another line which matches exactly that one of the left here, and both of these go up towards right shoulder. Now this vardon grip, gives us absolutely all the control that we need to play good golf. So I let you look at it one more time. There are slight variations of this grip which are acceptable, but that is just about as good as we could hope for. Okay, let's go over and check the grips of Ruth and Remy right now. Ruth, let me just have a look at this. Can I? Put the club down behind the ball please, get your stance ready. Now a little bit of a problem creating upon, it's there. The hand has got a bit weak, the left hand. So we're going to make it a bit stronger by putting it on top like this, as I showed the viewers a moment ago, and the thumb, left thumb, slightly on the side of the shaft, not too much, that's good. When you look down for a natural position, if you're wearing a watch, always you'd see just the watch face. And you'll see these two knuckles fairly prominently from there. Can you see that? Ruth: Yeah. John: Okay, now right hand, and I think that wasn't too bad. Right hand, index and that's good. Three fingers around the shaft. That thumb covered by the palm, there you go. Not too much, that's good. There he is, he probably come to check it out with me. She is my faithful old dog, she is always with me on the lessons. That's very good. I don't think you even need to change that at all. It looks very good Ruth, keep it like that. It's really good. Oh! Beautiful, I'm proud of you. Super, common, off you go, keep that up. Now you've had a pretty good grip all along. There is only thing, the left hand is a little weak. Now weak in terms of golf means a position that is too much this side. Strong is this way. So we're going to strengthen the grip up a little bit. We're going to put you, so that the hand is sitting more on top. There you go. Alright, that's fine. Do you remember what I was telling to the viewers about this line here? It goes up to the right shoulder, that should check. If you see your hand like that, you know you're wrong. Okay, so it's terribly easy to check. Fine. Now your right hand on. Always make sure you get your club square first. That relationship having with the -- Now they come speaking French again -- with the target is so important. That's fine. Now we have the V here, this line and this line both going to the right shoulder. Alright, that shoulder back a little bit. Okay, now it looks really good. Now it's still a little bit too high. Let's cheat a little hand, I will put the ball back up on the tee for you just to give you a little confidence, and feel free to do that when you're practicing. Don't insist if it doesn't go too well and you're missing the ball, don't worry about it. It's not a problem. Coordination is the important thing and if you hit the ball better by changing it up, do so. You are still a beginner and we must figure out that. Confidence is the important thing here. Okay, off you go, a little bit lower now, down you go. There you are, beautiful! Now what I want you to do, Remy and Ruth, practice like this for a week, because next week it's the woods, and you're at home too get some practicing, because this is an exciting part of the program. I love introducing which to the players, you see the joy on their face when they went out, and this is going to be so important.