The Grip and Setup

Contrary to popular beliefs and teachings, the primary purpose of the grip is to "launch" the club head to "orbit". Consequently, if this maneuver is not precisely angled correctly, the club head will orbit but will not be able to successfully land smoothly. This may be an unusual analogy but the swing - up swing and down swing - is directly related to the movement of the shoulders. Therefore a smooth and correctly angled takeaway is necessary to achieve an accurate ball flight.

In addition to the grip, the set-up is also necessary. Set up relates to the position of the arms and hands to the club grip, the club shaft position and its height.

Additionally, the right pinching fingers (thumb and forefinger) need special mention. How tight should it pinch the grip? It should be tight enough to steady the club firmly (for pro-like consistency) but not too tight to encourage the right arm to takeover and derail the shoulder swing.

Here is a point by point instruction:

• Grip the club ala Hogan and lay the club head behind the ball.
  
• Drop the grip and let it stay where it wants to stay (gravity). The hands are directly below the chin. The club is more of a right angle than straight to the ball.
  
• Place the grip a little left just to make sure it lines up with the left arm.
• Now you should have that feeling that you can lift the club head with the right hand. It must be a nice and confident feeling.
• Feel that confident feeling; else start again.

More about the confident feeling... For me, it is feeling or being aware of the point of the V, where the right forefinger and thumb meet - at the instant before the club is taken back. That point is where the right hand brings up the club. The effort of the right hand bringing the club is like a fly-fisherman flinging his fishing pole backward. It is not a visual direction but rather a by "feel" direction. NOTE: ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THIS IS THE COCKING OF THE CLUB BY THE RIGHT HAND IS DONE FIRST, THEN THE LEFT SHOULDER COMPLETES THE BACKSWING.