Grips, Postures, and Mentality- The Tools For a Successful '13 Golf Season

Getting ready to enter another season of golf?  We have a few tips to help your game.

Correct grip
Putting your thumb farther down the shaft than the lead knuckle increases the hold of the fingers and allows more lever of the club. Make sure that your thumb is to the right side of the center of the shaft (left thumb to right side, right thumb to left side). Too many golfers these days tend to grip the club too tight.  A light grip pressure is good. Hold the club like you’re holding a bird in your hand. This placement levers the club properly and creates the most club head speed.

Posture
The single most important and frequently overlooked fundamental in golf is the setup position, including posture and stance. Posture affects the efficiency of your golf swing, and your stance is the framework for your swing. A popular stance is the athletic stance; feet shoulder width apart, slight bend at the knees and slight bend at the waist. This stance will set your shoulders, back, and hips to evenly distribute your weight on each foot. This distribution of weight provides a stable base. Remember that comfort and consistency is important. Another overlooked part of the game is stretching. Stretching warms and prepares the body for activity. Having a stretched, evenly distributed stance and comfortable posture can reduce back pain and make for a more enjoyable round.    

Mental training
Having a positive mind set is a simple way to improve your score. When approaching your next shot, think positive about your swing and the desired result. A basic rule of thumb, “if don’t…then don’t.” If you’re having negative thoughts about your shot, take a step back and mentally review. As many golfers have said, the game of golf is played in the space between your ears.

Create goals
Another simple rule is “motion with direction.”  Create pre-season goals or a road map for where you want to go, and more importantly, keep track of your progress. Whether your goal is breaking a score of 100 or 90 or improving certain aspects of your game, track your progress. In addition, set yourself up to succeed- not fail. Hit the driving range and work out kinks or practice the short game (chipping and putting) if you know this is an area that needs improvement. It is important to develop a plan when trying to improve your golf game- and as important is keeping track. Without a scoreboard how can we know if we improved?

Club fitting/regripping
Just like anything else in life, using the right tool will provide the best results. Not every sized club works for every golfer. It is vital to use the right sized club for your body profile. Major golf retailers offer swing sessions in order to pinpoint the correct tool for your game. If this year isn’t the right time to purchase new golf clubs you might want to consider regripping.  Regripped clubs provide a new and improved feel that is certain to shave a few strokes off your scorecard.

As with many things related to golf, do what works best for you. Golf is an individual game with individual results. What's most important is to have fun, enjoy nature, and stick to the basics. Happy golfing!

Steven Sienkiewicz - Supervisor

Richard Angelo - Director of Golf

Dearborn Hills Golf Course

1300 S. Telegraph

Dearborn, MI 48124

(313) 563-GOLF(4653)

www.dearbornhills.com