OK, in my last post I told you, about how to 

 ”There are three main components with all good golf swings. You, the club, and the connection you make with planet earth.

 I will cover in the future, bad grip positions. But for now, I would like to continue on with the process of setting your hands up in the correct position, aligning them with your body. And showing you how the ball and club head position can effect things.

Grip Pressure:

The hands are the starting point in which every player controls the club head.  If we do not have control of the club-head, then we will not control of the ball.

A grip that is placed on the club to lightly or loose will generally become loose during the swing. On the other hand, a grip that has been placed on the club to tightly, creates the reverse. Making the feel for the club head limited and create negative and untimely striking of the ball.

Every player has small differences or preferences to grip pressure, but we are all trying to achieve the same thing. I read recently, of a player who suggested, when we grip the club. That we should imagine or feel like were letting gases of pressure, seep through our hands. Imagine that, smoking hands.

No, but joking aside its not a bad analogy to try and imagine this, to help you from over or under gripping the club.

Keeping the feel of the club head is vital, but also being able to hold the club so the club cannot turn in your fingers, and keeping the wrist free from any tension, is also a must.

Adrian Whitehead

Firstly, I should apologies for my tardiness in not writing sooner. If you have been following the last few weeks, you would have noticed some changes to the site, which I think I am finished with, for now. But as I’m new to this system, its taking longer than I thought. Sorry about that!

Now then…

This weeks thoughts.

The destruction of golf.

Working in the golf industry for nearly 30 years. The more worrying aspect that has crept into our beautiful game in the last years, has been the introduction of the slugger.  The neanderthal type creature that’s only desire to hit the ball as long and as far as possible, has somehow managed to creep into the main stream of golf, making skill redundant.

Both courses and  competitions have been arranged for them, and equipment is definitely been designed for them in recent years, which only lends itself to the destruction of the game. It wasn’t that long ago where golfers used say “all he can do is hit a long way”, he has no skill. Well, guess what, there here, players with very little skill other than an ability to hit the ball along way.

Never was this more evident, than in this years British Open. Links golf, windy, rain and tough rough, normally was enough to control players, but not now. Now, we also have to have a course that is 7,200 yards plus, normally this wouldn’t be a problem on a manicured park land course, where the only problem is the sun. But on  links course in a storm 7,200 is more like 7,500.

As we watched the week unfold, great players were dropping away one by one not even making the cut, one slip and your round was over and your competition. So when we came down the final straight basically we were left with about 6 players, 5 sluggers and a player who had been brought up on links golf.

Now I’m not saying that this player can’t hit the ball, far from it. It wasn’t that long ago where he him self was considered a long hitter. But he still had enough power and more so skill, to work the ball around, and the only saving grace about the whole week was he won, and in my mind saved the tournament.

The other ironic thing about the whole competition was that a 60 year old was still in there fighting it out with the boys, cause he has the ability not only to hit the ball, but also work the ball. His only problem was, that even he ran out of steam during the third round and didn’t have enough to get it back.

Golf at this moment is definitely going down a new road. In my last article, I wrote about the lack of charismatic charisma, that is missing from our players, faceless accountants. But also now, we seem to be going down the path of slugger, the once golfer who was only destined for freak shows Like “the longest hitter in the world”, our now the only requirement to play tour golf. Gone are the days, so it seems, where players had to work a ball and think. 

Even kids now days are trained only to do one thing, hit it a long way. The good player even now, still hits the ball around 275 to 290 yards and it doesn’t matter what people say, and ten years ago that would have been plenty enough. But now the average stats are 305 to 320.  So now, players are being told, if you can’t hit that far, get in the gym, bulk up, to find the added distance.

The tour officials I’m sure are acutely aware of these problem as its been coming for along time maybe 30 years or more. And when they tried to do something about it, like tightening the courses, the players only got straighter and still hit further, making once great golf courses to short to play.

They also tried making courses so difficult surrounding greens with water and alike to see if this would slow the players up. But then the owners of the courses started complaining as no body was going to play, as they were to difficult.

Trying to find this happy medium has been a long time problem and as new event officials come and go. More and more it seems to be, that were left with only one option, The Slugger.

Adrian Whitehead

The Perfect Grip

Neutral golf grips are a fundamental part of any golf swing, and you cannot compromise on time and practice when it comes to learning the correct grip.

The grip not only stabilises the club, it also helps to control the club head and creates a working relationship with arms, providing the base between for the swing and its synchronicity with the body. When learning the grip it is also imperative to understand the correct grip pressures that are required, as well as the correct placement of the hands on the grip. To many players strangle the golf club not allowing the hands to work, naturally. At the same time though, to loose a grip also       creates a detrimental effect, both leading to a lack of club head control.

In this picture you will notice how the player takes the club into the fingers in there left hand. This is vital for a perfect grip and must be ensured before the hands start wrap round the club.

 

 

In this picture you will notice, that as the fingers start to wrap around the club. The club is being pushed up towards the top of the fingers, which is ideal.

 

 

 

Now the the fingers completely wrap around the club and the thumb gets placed on top of the club, slightly right of    centre as you look down. You will also notice that the hands are below the top of the club , leaving a   centimeter free, which creates better control and feel.

For long-term players, the grip should always be kept in mind as it can be known to deteriorate. A solid grip not only creates harmony with the club, it also creates confidence, and helps to ease negative thoughts. My first coach taught me that it was much better to focus on what you should achieve rather than worrying about what your problems are. A neutral grip can help a player develop positive thoughts towards their game and also enable them to develop a natural and instinctive swing.

 

Now taking the right hand, you do the same again. Firstly, place the club in the fingers for the preparation of wrapping the fingers around the club.

 

 

 

Now you see in this picture, as the player wraps the fingers round the club more, they also interlink the little finger from the right hand, between the third and forth finger on the left. And they start to compress the right hand towards the left hand thumb.

 

 

Now the right hand is complete. As both hands gentle compress together and the right hand covers the thumb of the left. You will also notice that the thumb on the right hand is then placed left of centre.

 

 

 

In this picture the player has changed his linked fingers from a interlock over to an overlap or Vardon grip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Looking down on top of the grip. We notice that there is great solidity between the fingers and hand, leaving no gaps or any visual site of the left hand thumb.

As I mentioned earlier, its important not to over strain the grip pressure and I read recently a professional, who said about his thoughts when taking the grip. Were he felt he was allowing gasses to escape out through the hands, when holding the club.

I like that.

Allow the gasses to escape but do not become loose.

 

 

 

 

Points to remember

• Don’t hold the club to high in the hand, hold it initially in the fingers. The club will get drawn up towards the hand, as the fingers wrap round the club.
• Do not hold the club to high, leave at least a centimeter free.
• When placing the right hand on to the grip, do not over extenuate the finger connection. Whether you place your finger gentle between or lay across the other fingers, is up to you and your coach. But never, NOT allow the right hand to be able to come over and cover the thumb on the left hand.
• Keep the grip pressure light but not loose.
• And feel most of the grip pressure from the last three fingers on the left hand and the middle two fingers on the right.

In this final photo, you can see a compact grip with no gaps or over tension showing in the fingers, normally noticeable by white knuckles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre Shot Thoughts! Over thinking before taking a shot can often be a problem for golfers but with the correct training, a player can learn the art of becoming a sub-conscious golfer. The grip can help you prepare for a shot and help to create a trigger that turns you from an over-thinker to a sub-conscious player. It is also important to remember that almost 80 percent of swing flaws can be related back to either the grip or the posture.

Swing flaws such as: over thinking and anxiety, can lead to miss-hit balls and bad direction. When taking a golf lesson, it is important for a player to aim for more club-head control, which will help you to control  better flight, distance and direction of the ball.

One of the best ways to practice your grip, is to just go in the back garden with a club and practice it. You don’ t need to hit golf balls in the outset, just learn how to mould the hands to a comfortable position. And ensure you check you doing it correctly with the your professional. It is also good to be able to see yourself so helping you build a better picture of your swing. In the case of the grip use a mirror or window to see your self, and see if things are all, OK.

Quote:  “Fairway: A narrow strip of mown grass that separates two groups of golfers looking for lost balls in the rough”

 

When setting up a golf swing, if the hands are placed in a neutral position, then the club head must also be held in a neutral position. The three pictures below illustrate how the club head should look at the start of the swing. I will discuss about this, later in the lesson programme. But for now don’t forget the club head when training your grip.

 

The Club Head; As you can see, it is very important for the club head to remain at a right angle behind the ball and to retain that position throughout the swing.

 

Closed Blade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Blade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Square Blade

 

    As golf seems to be moving into a new era, and the  almost certain arrival of the corporate golfer, with the  faceless player with logos adorning every space that  can be found. I was starting to think, where is golf going  and what will we be left with, in a few years.

Of course, the new breed of player does come with  talent dripping from there fingers and the ability to  never crack under pressure. But saying that, they also  have about charisma of an accountant.

They pop up once year, win their event, only to disappear, back into golf’s darkest regions to await there time again.  Maybe the only surprise that the golfing public has now days is when they take there hat off, only to reveal themselves from behind the mask.

What has ever happened to those players with character, charisma, and the ability to crack up, down the home straight making it interesting for the on-viewing television public?  Even as far back as the mid ninety’s the accountant players, so to speak, were already arriving. With their same hair styles, same clothing and shoe manufactures and all swinging the same way, and hitting the ball miles and better than ever before. The only saving grace then was that we still had people, with the it, that something that stood them out from the rest. Faldo, Langer, Norman, Daly, Seve, Couples, Fuzy Z, to name a few. Even as far back as the sixties or further, golf has always carried the charismatic player, Hagan, Jones, Hogan, Player, Palmer, Watson, Nicklaus, Trevino, Jacklin, all had something, that was more than just a golf player.

There is no doubt that these players are better, they play better courses, they have better equipment, with larger amounts money to play for. But, you get the feeling that if you could hide an alien into the golfing attire of today, it wouldn’t be noticed till they take there cap off.  Even the players who have any sort of personality, like Mickelson, Westwood, Els, Miguel angel Jimenez are as some would say, going into the twilight of there careers, and even the legendary Tiger seems to have a found a Tiger trap that he may not get out of, and what do we have left. The petulant MciLroy, who until recently was noticed more for his similar hairstyle, that resembled side show Bob. The Californian kid with the orange frying pan, on his head and Poulter with his fashion sense.

Of course every sport has its ups and downs, but golf has always supplied us with men and ladies you knew, from Ray Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Brian Barnes, Weiskopf, Olazabal, Woosie, Darcy, Miller, Chi Chi, all players who could win and yet fail.

Tennis on the other hand has its purple period at present. 4 great players competing at there very best with maybe two of them, being the  the greatest tennis players, who have ever lived.  I’ve was reading recently  that even the best or the more senior of the film directors out of Hollywood, are also not that interested in running back to make films. As they say, there isn’t enough actors out there with character or that interest them.

If this is the case, then maybe golf not so bad off, but my god wouldn’t it be great to see the like’s of Seve Ballesteros marching down the fairways, whacking the ball into the crowds and then producing a shot that almost nobody else could do. Or the final day when 7 of the top ten cracked down the final stretch.

Wow, wasn’t it exciting, fun and interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bleachers

There three basic grip patterns: 

Basic Grips

                 Baseball grip                  Interlocking Grip                   Overlapping Grip

• The Baseball grip which is ideal for people with small hands. Generally this grip is used by junior players when they start playing golf but it can also be very beneficial for some adult golfers.
• The Interlocking grip is better suited to players with small to medium sized hands. It is ideal for ladies and for men with short fingers.
• The Overlapping grip or the Vardon grip is regarded as the best grip, but it is only suited to players with large hands or long fingers.

It is imperative to decide which grip suits you best before continuing on. Your golf coach will help you with this decision and it is important to take their advice. Whatever grip is most suited to you; there is a strong chance that it will feel uncomfortable at first. It is important to stick with it and to ignore the discomfort as you initially begin to practice with it.

Adrian Whitehead, PGA Professional.

Next Session: How to hold the club

Hello, I’m Adrian Whitehead and I’d to welcome you to the iThoughts Golf Programme. If your Serious about learning or improving your golf, but want a fun in a relaxed atmosphere in which to do it, then you’ve come to the right place.

Our residential golf school courses offer carefully structured golf lessons and tuition with a maximum group size of four students. So you won’t be lost in the crowd! We believe that being a truly effective coach goes way beyond having an in-depth technical knowledge of the golf swing.

Our concentrated golf programme offers the opportunity for significant improvement in as little as 2 days. The 2 day residential golf instruction programme gives you time to learn, practice and play under the watchful eyes of your professional

We have also available at Adrian Whitehead Golf School, many different golf packages, where you can learn the art of golf while relaxing in the beautiful town of Kenmare in the south west of Ireland.

You can get more information about courses and packages by going to www.adrianwhiteheadgolfpro.com