Transcript: How to Grip a Golf Club Correctly

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona. Today we are going to discuss one of the most overlooked fundamentals in golf, the grip.

Why is Golf Grip Important?

The correct grip gives golfers three significant advantages. First, to a large degree the grip controls the face position of the club at impact. With the correct grip you have a better chance to hit straight, solid shots.

The second, if you place your hands correctly on the club, you can be a powerful golfer. The only physical connection to the club is through your grip and correct hand placement will help you hinge your wrists correctly during the swing and wrist hinge is an important power source.

Finally, during the course of the swing, the club travels some 35+ feet and the entire time you must keep your eyes focused on the ball. If you place your hands on the club correctly you will be able to feel where the club is in space to optimize both power and control.

Perfecting Your Grip

To assume the correct grip, right hand golfers should follow this procedure:

1. Hold the club about 3 feet in the air and in front of your body. Make sure the face of the club is square, not open or closed.
2. Place the club at an angle through the fingers of the left hand. The club should touch the base of the little finger and just above the first joint of the index finger (on the dots).
3. Place your left thumb toward the back side of the shaft-a 1:00 position for the right-handed golfer.
4. With the left hand grip completed:
   a.the left thumb should rest at 1:00
   b.you should be able to see the knuckles of the index and middle finger in the address position
   c.the thumb and forefinger V should point between your right shoulder and right ear.

Adding the Right Hand to the Grip

Now it is time to place your right hand on the club. Place the club in the fingers of your right hand at angle. Position the club handle so it touches the dots. This locates the club handle between Section 1 & 2 of the right ring finger, directly on Section 2 of the middle finger, and between Section 2 & 3 of the index finger.

Cover the left hand thumb with the lifeline of the right palm and make sure that the V formed by the right thumb and forefinger is parallel to the V on the left hand.

Putting the Grip Together: Common Golf Grips

The hands must work together as a single unit when striking a ball so it is best to link the hands together in one of three ways:

1. The Vardon Overlap is the most common grip among professionals.
2. The next most common grip is called the Interlock.
3. The least common but an effective connection is the Ten Finger Grip.

Golf Club Grip and Pressure

Finally, to hit the ball farther use a light grip pressure. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is light and 10 is tight, I recommend a pressure of 3 or 4.

Remember: Ben Hogan said “good golf begins with a good grip”. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but once you get used to it, you will hit the ball straighter and farther.

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Transcript: Correct Golf Posture

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.

Why Is Correct Golf Posture Important?

Correct posture plays a vital roll in golf. It puts you in position for balanced, powerful and consistent ball striking. With the correct posture, you can swing the club through impact with the little or no manipulation for consistent results.

The correct posture in golf puts you in an athletic setup which helps you create effortless power. It also creates the angle for you swing.

Correct Golf Posture

The right hand golfer should use the following setup:

1. Set your feet shoulder-width apart. The outside of your shoulders should fit inside your insteps.
2. Flex your knees only slightly for good balance. Your knees should be over the balls of your feet and your quads should be tension free.
3. Bend at the hips. Never allow your spine to slouch.
4. Your spine should be angled forward toward the ball, enough to create a right angle with the shaft of the club. Your spine will become the hub of your swing.
5. Make sure that your weight is centered on the balls of the feet. Never position too much weight on your heels or toes.
6. Tilt your spine slightly to the right. This side tilt keeps your head behind the ball, which is critical for power.
7. For driving, set 60% of your weight on the right foot and tilt behind the ball slightly more than irons.

Remember, the setup writes the script for the swing. Your posture forms the foundation for your swing and good posture will make the swing simple and easy to repeat.

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Transcript: Golf Swing Basics

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.

Golf Swing Basics

If you want to produce better golf shots, you must first understand the concept of the basic swing. First, let’s discuss terminology. According to the rules of golf, the ball must be played as it lies on the ground-except for tee shots at the beginning of each hole. The ball rests on the target line-this is an imaginary line from the ball to the target-and the golfer must stand on one side of the line when hitting.

Golf Swing Shape

Since the ball is at your side, the swing will be circular in shape. Imagine your swing as a wheel. The spine or torso is the hub of the wheel, and your lead arm and the shaft of the club form the spokes. Since the ball is on the ground your swing path will follow an inclined plane as it tracks through the ball. This angle is not horizontal-like a merry-go-round-and not vertical-like a Ferris wheel. It is inclined, tilted somewhere in between.

Golf Swing Posture and Position

To send the ball to your target, you first aim the face of the club at the target. You then position your body parallel to the target line and bow at the hips so your torso tilts and faces the ball. This bending at the hips will help you direct the motion of the swing around and down at the correct angle through the impact zone.

Once you set up correctly, you simply make two turns. During the back swing, you turn your shoulders at a right angle to your spine until your back faces the target. To swing through and hit the ball you shift weight forward and turn you trunk until your belt buckle faces the target. This turning back and through is called the pivot and it serves as the motor for the golf swing.

Your arms and hands play the most important roll in hitting a golf ball. As you swing back, you hinge your wrists and form an L shaped lever between the lead arm and the club’s shaft. On the down swing, once you have shifted toward the target and you have begun the second turn, this powerful L is released toward the target, accelerating club through impact.

To produce consistent, solid shots, you must stay in your posture while swinging and you must finish in balance. Remember, the key to success in golf is to focus on fundamentals. Understanding fundamental nature of the swing will help you become consistent.

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Transcript: Correct Golf Ball Position

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction for Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Importance of Golf Ball Position

Placing the ball in the correct position in you stance is critical to arriving in the correct impact position. Impact is the moment of truth in golf. The ball’s flight is completely determined when the club strikes the ball and with the ball positioned correctly in your stance, you can consistently control the flight of the ball.

Swing and Ball Position

Think of your swing as a wheel around your torso. As you swing, your club orbits around and up, then down and back around to the finish. As the club approaches impact, the ball is on the turf and the club should be descending into the ball. The club contacts the ball and continues down into the turf. The divot should be on the target side of the ball. Shorter irons-like a 9-iron-are designed to strike the ball at a steeper angle. Longer the clubs are designed to swing at shallower angles.

Clubs and Ball Positions

To assure that the club head arrives at impact with the correct angle of approach, right hand golfers should use the following ball positions:

• For short irons-wedges, 9-iron and 8-iron-play the ball in the center of your stance. This position encourages a steeper angle at impact, producing a divot on the target side of the ball.
• Play your middle irons-7-iron, 6-iron and 5-iron-one ball left of center. This position encourages a slightly shallower angle of approach with a slight divot on the target side of the ball.
• For you long irons, hybrids and fairway metals, play the ball two balls left of center. This position places the ball at or near the bottom of the swing for the shallowest angle one can achieve when the ball is on the turf.
• For driving, the head of the club should be ascending slightly. To encourage an ascending hit, position the ball even with the inside of your left foot, at least three balls left of center.

Understanding and using the correct ball position is important for consistent ball flight control. Practice and use these positions and your ball striking will improve.

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Transcript: How to Hit Longer, Straighter Drives

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction for Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Today we are going to discuss one of golf’s most thrilling and important shots, the drive. Arnold Palmer once said that a long drive is good for the ego. But drives must also be fairly straight and if you follow my advice, you can have the best of both worlds.

Driver Features

The driver has two unique features that you must understand to use it effectively:

• The driver has the longest shaft of any club therefore your swing must be shallow, not steep. Steep, Ferris wheel like swings that are over the top produce bad drives.
• Your driver has the least amount of loft of any club-excluding your putter-and it is the only full swing club that is designed to ascend into impact.

Tips for Great Driving

To setup and succeed when driving, I recommend the following for right hand golfers:

1. Select a driver with enough loft for your natural swing speed. Players with low swing speeds should consider high launch drivers-13 degrees of loft or more.
2. Tee the ball high. At least 1/2 the ball should be above the top of the club.
3. Take a stance that is an at least an inch or two wider than shoulder width.
4. Stand slightly more upright and have your hands slightly farther from your body than your irons. You should be far enough away from the ball that your right hand is outside your chin. This promotes a shallow swing.
5. Tilt your spine to the right, away from the target and position 60% of your weight on your right foot.
6. Hover the club head above the ground behind the ball. Great drivers like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam, and Tiger Woods all do this to assure a smooth shallow takeaway.
7. When you swing, sweep the ball off the tee. Your club should never swing steep and hit the ground.

Driving Practice Drill

To improve your driving, try the following drill:

1. Set two tees in the ground and place a ball on the farthest tee.
2. Take your driver stance, then set your torso in an erect posture with your arms parallel to the ground.
3. Make shallow, round swings and fell the club swinging like a merry go round, around your torso.
4. Gradually bow forward and feel the club working around your torso at a right angle. Imagine a wheel with your spine as the hub and your arms and club working like spokes.
5. Make two practice swings and try to nick the first tee with the bottom of the club.
6. Address the ball and swing. Try to swing the club through the air and nick the tee.

Follow these driving basics and you can hit the ball both long and straight.

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Transcript: How to Get a Powerful Golf Swing

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction for Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hitting Golf Balls Longer

All golfers have one thing in common: they like to hit the ball long and straight. If you would like to hit the ball longer, you must first understand the sources of power in the swing and how to apply that power efficiently.

Power Sources in a Golf Swing

There are four power sources in golf and I will describe them for right hand golfers.

• wrist hinge
• a shoulder turn that swings relaxed arms
• lower body rotation on the through swing
• weight shift to the right on the back swing and then to the left on the through swing

Maximizing Impact in a Golf Swing

All of these sources must be applied in the following order to maximize power at impact.

1. On the back swing, keep your lower body stable and wind up your shoulders and hinge the wrists. These actions store up power potential for the hit.
2. From the top of the swing, shift your weight left before your shoulders and arms engage.
3. Next, rotate your hips. The arms and club will fall into the hitting area.
4. Lastly, release the wrist angle through impact toward the target.

Practice Drills for Powerful Golf Swings

To learn to produce more power I recommend the following L drill.

1. Place a tee in the handle of a 7 iron.
2. Take your normal stance and posture.
3. Make a 1/2 back swing to a position where your left arm is parallel to the ground. The tee in the handle should point at the target line and form an L with your left arm.
4. Transfer weight forward and rotate through to a position this is the mirror image of the back swing. The tee and your right arm will form the letter L.

The L drill will help you sequence and use your power sources correctly. In time, you will be able to perform these movements in your full swing. This will allow you to achieve your maximum power potential.

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Transcript: Chipping From a Good Lie

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.

Today I am going to help you understand and execute one of golf’s most basic and important shots, the chip. A chip shot is a shot that we use when our ball lies next to the green. Our goal is to get the ball into the hole in one or two strokes.

When your ball is sitting up in the grass and you have a good lie, the right hand golfer should use the following method:

Choose a Club for Chipping

Select a club that has the right amount of loft to make the ball fly approximately one pace on the green, then roll and stop next to the flag.

Chipping Fly to Roll Ratio

It is important to know the approximate flight to roll ratio for each club. Start with the following air to roll chart:

• Gap wedge: 1 to 1
• Pitching wedge: 1 to 2
• 9 iron: 1 to 3
• 8 iron: 1 to 4
• 7 iron: 1 to 5

Chipping Stance and Position

Use a narrow stance and place your hips and feet slightly open to the target line. Position the ball even with your right big toe.

Chipping Grip and Position

Grip down to the bottom of the club handle. Lean the shaft of the club toward the target. The shaft should be positioned more upright than normal so the toe of the club is down and the heel is up. Your arms and the club should form a lower case Y. This lever will remain intact during the swing.

Chip Shot Swing

Keep your eyes focused on the front of the ball during the stroke. On the back swing, use only shoulders and arms with very little wrist hinge. Your back swing length and follow through length will determine how far the ball flies. On the through swing, the club must descend into the ball and the hands must be past the ball at impact. Hold your finish, then watch the ball roll.

As with all short game shots, it is important to understand the setup and the fundamentals of a chip. With a little bit of practice you can become a great chipper.

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Transcript: How to Chip in Tall Grass

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.

Today I’m going to help you with one of the most troublesome shots in golf, a chip from tall grass. Even tour players would rather be in a bunker than face this shot. But once you understand the basics of the chip from tall grass, you can be effective.

As always, our goal when facing short shots from off the green is to get the ball up and in with one or two strokes. So let’s get started.

Best Golf Clubs for Chipping in Tall Grass

Out of tall grass, lower lofted irons-like a 7-iron or 8-iron-will not work. You must use a sand wedge or lob wedge for this shot.

The Tall Grass Chipping Shot

For the right hand golfer, here are the basics for the shot:

1. Use a narrow stance with your feet and hips slightly open to the target line.
2. Your weight will be positioned 70% on your front foot.
3. Grip the club near the bottom of the handle.
4. Position your hands in the middle of your left thigh.
5. Your arms and the club will form a Y.
6. On the back swing, turn your shoulders and hinge the wrists. The club head will rise up steeply.
7. On the down swing you will rotate your hips toward the target and let your arms and club fall.
8. At impact, trap the ball between the club face and the ground.

Your ball position and finish will determine the trajectory and roll when chipping from tall grass.

Chipping With Low Ball Roll

To hit the ball low with roll:

1. Select a sand wedge.
2. Play the ball off your right big toe.
3. At address and at impact make sure your hands are in front of the ball and that the shaft leans toward the target.
4. Finish with the club head low. Your arms and the club shaft will toward the grass a few feet past your body.

Chipping the Ball Higher

To hit the ball higher, with less roll:

1. Select a lob wedge.
2. Move the ball to the center of your stance. The club shaft will lean only slightly toward the target.
3. Finish with your arms and the club shaft extended toward the spot on the green you want the ball to land and with the club face looking up and toward the target.

All short game strokes require good fundamentals and practice. The time you spend working on chipping will pay big dividends when you add up your score.

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Transcript: Correcting a Hook Shot

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction with Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.

One of the common miss-hit shots in golf is the hook. If you understand the factors that cause a hook, then make a few adjustments to your swing, it can be easily corrected.

Direction control in golf is caused primarily by the face position and path direction of the club at impact. Hookers of the ball arrive at impact with a closed club face.

Correcting a Hook

To correct the hook, the right hand golfer should make the following change to square the face of the club:

1. Make sure that the V’s formed by your thumb and forefinger on both hands are set to point toward your right ear. This neutral position for the hands helps to produce a straight shot.
2. During the back swing, make sure the club face is toe up when the shaft is parallel to the ground. This is a square position.
3. At the top of the swing, make sure that your left thumb is directly under the shaft. This is a square position.

Hook Club Paths

Usually both the face and the path of the club must be changed to correct a slice. There are three paths that the club could follow. Using our clock for illustration, the paths for the right hand golfer is as follows.

1. For straight shots, the club must stay on the inside of the target line. The club should swing into the ball from 6:30, then exit at 11:30.
2. Slicers swing their club from outside to inside-5:00 to 11:00-which imparts slice spin on the ball.
3. Hookers swing their club from inside-7:00 to 1:00-which imparts hook spin on the ball.

If you hook the ball, your swing angle is too shallow and your club swings from inside to outside.

Hook Practice Drill

Once you have corrected the face position issues, I suggest the following practice drill:

1. Set a shaft in the ground one club length behind the ball and a club head length inside your target line.
2. Angle the shaft so that it is the same as the lie angle of your golf club.
3. Make practice swings that pass over the shaft.
4. Practice hitting balls with the club passing over the shaft.
5. Feel your swing working from outside to inside.

Once you understand the causes of a hook it can be corrected. Simply adjust your grip and then perfect your swing path. I think you will like the results!

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Transcript: How to Correct a Slice

Hello! My name is Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction for Troon Golf at the world famous Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The most common, chronic error in golf is the slice. Many golfers slice their entire life and do not realize that by understanding the factors that causes a slice, then making a few adjustments to their swing that it can be easily corrected.

When Does a Slice Occur?

Direction control in golf is caused primarily by the face position and path direction of the club at impact. Slicers arrive at impact with an open face.

Correct the Slice

To correct the slice the right hand golfer should make the following change to square the face of the club:

1. Make sure that the Vs formed by your thumb and forefinger on both hands are set to point toward your right shoulder.
2. Use a light grip pressure. If 10 is tight pressure and 1 is the lightest pressure, set your grip at a pressure of 3 or 4.
3. Make sure that through impact your forearms rotate counter clockwise. This is the correct release action to square the face.

Usually both the face and the path of the club must be changed to correct a slice.

Slice Paths

There are three paths that the club could follow. Using our clock for illustration, the paths for the right hand golfer is as follows.

1. For straight shots, the club must stay on the inside of the target line. The club should swing into the ball from 6:30, then exit at 11:30.
2. Spin on the ball.
3. Hookers swing their club from inside-7:00 to 1:00-which imparts hook spin on the ball.
4. If you slice the ball, your swing angle is too steep and your club swings from outside to inside.

Slice Practice Drill

Once you have corrected the face position issues, I suggest the following practice drill:

1. Set a shaft in the ground one club length behind the ball and a club head length outside your target line.
2. Angle the shaft so that it is the same as the lie angle of your golf club.
3. Make practice swings that pass under the shaft.
4. Practice hitting balls with the club passing under the shaft.
5. Feel your swing working from inside to outside.

There is no reason to slice golf shots for a lifetime. Simply adjust your grip and practice swinging from inside to outside. I think you will enjoy the results!

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