365 One-Minute Golf Lessons: Quick and Easy Stroke-Saving Tips

Chapter One

Basic Lessons

1 Basic Grips

Almost every golfer uses one of two basic grips, the Vardon, or overlap, grip and the interlocking grip. A few players prefer a third grip, the baseball grip. Choose the one with which you are most comfortable.

• The Vardon (or Overlap) Grip. With the left hand on the grip of the club — you should be able to see two and a half knuckles — place the right hand on the club so that the left thumb fits snugly below the base of the right thumb. Place the left pinkie over the division between the right index and middle fingers. This is the "overlap." Most good players use this grip.

• The Interlocking Grip. Follow the instructions for the Vardon grip, but instead of overlapping the pinkie, wrap it under and around the index finger.

  It is generally thought that this grip allows too much wrist action, giving the golfer a tendency to hook the ball. But the Vardon grip can be a tough proposition for golfers with small hands, as evidenced by the fact that Jack Nicklaus interlocks.

• The "Baseball" Grip. The fingers neither overlap nor interlock — every finger touches the grip of the club.

2 The Basic Address

• Width of Stance. The widest-just beyond shoulder width — your feet should be is when you hit driver. The shorter the club you're hitting, the narrower your stance becomes.
• Distance from the Ball. With a club in your hand, stand up straight. Now bend the knees slightly and put the clubon the ground. That is how far you should stand from the ball. In other words, the length of the club determines the distance. Thus, the shorter the club, the closer you'll stand.
• Ball Position. Some golfers insist that you play the ball in the same position for every shot. But the general rule is that you should play the ball opposite your left heel for woods and long irons and toward the middle of your stance for middle irons. Open your stance and play the ball almost off your back heel for short-iron shots.
• Head Position. For full shots, your head should remain slightly behind the ball. In some instances, usually on greenside chips, you'll play the ball back in you stance and your head will naturally be ahead of the ball.
• Shoulder Position. Your right shoulder should be slightly below your left.

3 Basic Alignment

There are three alignments:

1. In a square stance, an imaginary line drawn from your right toe to your left toe is parallel to the target line.
2. In an open stance, the left foot is drawn back from this imaginary line.
3. In a closed stance, the right foot is drawn back from the line.

4 The Basic Swing

Begin the backswing by drawing back the clubhead low to the ground. Do not break the wrists and do not "pick up" the club with your hands. As the backswing progresses, the wrists should break naturally.

Pause slightly when the club reaches the top of the swing and the shaft of the club is approximately parallel to the ground. At this point your weight should be concentrated on the inside of your right leg.

Your hips should lead the downswing, followed by your shoulder and arms. As the club swings through the impact area, your arms should straighten, your hips should open up, and your weight should shift to your left side. As you finish your swing, the only part of your right foot that should be touching the ground is your toe.

5 The Basic Drive

Tee the ball so that its center is just above the top of your clubhead. The ball should be opposite your left heel so you make contact on the upswing. Swing the club back slowly and low to the ground.

6 The Basic Fairway Wood, Long-Iron, and Middle-Iron Shots

Play the ball a few inches inside your left heel. Much is made of hitting the ball with a sweeping motion, but that leads to tops (hitting the top of the ball). It's better to think of hitting down and through. Above all, however, remain steady throughout the swing.

7 The Basic Short-Iron Shot

Short-iron shots differ considerably, based primarily on the lie, the distance to the hole, the hazards, and the weather conditions. But certain fundamentals apply to all short-iron shots:

1. Open your stance slightly.
2. Flex your knees more than usual (the shorter club length almost forces you to do this).
3. On a full short-iron shot, finish the backswing in the three-quarter position, with the club pointing up and over your head.
4. Avoid hand or wrist action except on the most delicate shots.
5. Hit with a descending blow.