I continue to recommend a strong left hand grip on the club with at
least 3 or 4 knuckles showing.
Remember with this in place on the club, it requires that the left
arm and hand need to be leading your downswing and your left
palm should be facing the ground at impact to prevent a low
ducking hook.
A good full hip turn on the backswing with left side leadership
on the downswing will produce powerful, long and straight shots.
Although certainly out of vogue in modern instruction, most if not all great
drivers of the ball for length and accuracy in history allowed their left heel
to rise sufficiently on the backswing. Nicklaus, Snead and Jones come
quickly to mind. All three allowed the left heel to rise approximately 3
inches. As the heel rises on the wind up the weight rolls inward and up
on the left instep. This allows the left hip to turn well around (another thing
not taught today) to allow the club head to be delivered properly and easily
to the inside of the target line.
I am amused each time I hear one of the so called guru golf commentators comment on how unorthodox Jim Furyk's swing is. I believe it is a wonderful arc he makes albeit seemingly an outside to inside big loop. If he were to turn his loop to the inside and then up slightly across the line at the top, his swing would resemble the swing of the great Bobby Jones. So don't laugh, just copy it.
Nearly every golfer who comes to me for instruction has
a very weak top hand grip on their club.
By that I mean the V formed by the thumb and first finger
of the top hand on the club points nearly to the chin of
the player. A right handed player should place his left
palm more on top of the shaft so that he can see at least
three knuckles from the address position with the V
pointing towards the right shoulder. Fit the right hand
on the club so that the V points in the same direction.
Remember, a stronger grip for better distance.
If you have been told or try to swing inside out on the downswing FORGET
IT!!!
A few years ago while having dinner with the late legendary Sam Snead, my
wife Michelle, a PGA Class A professional in her own right, asked Sam if he
tried to swing inside out which is so commonly taught.
Without looking up from enjoying his salad Sam said emphatically NEVER !!!
If. A person really succeeds in swinging inside out, chances are he or she
will be plagued with a duck hook.
In order for the ball to go straight the clubhead must meet the ball with
the club face completely square on a path directly to the intended objective.
Most of the students who come to our school for lessons who are beyond the beginners stage and play regularly are plagued with swinging outside the intended target line which pulls the ball left of the intended target. If the clubface is closed at impact the ball will not only start left but will curve left. Both results are caused by the arms and hands beginning the downswing rather than being led by the hips moving along the line of play toward the target. In other words the right leg and foot are stuck on the ground as the downswing begins which throws the shoulders, arms and club on the outside of the target line. Shift your hips laterally along the line of flight prior to the arms and shoulders moving as the first move on the downswing.
The classic golf swing over time has proven to be the most reliable method for consistency in a golf swing as it applies to every club the player uses. Bob Jones stated in 1930 that "so long as man is constructed as he is, the principles for correctly striking a golf ball are not likely to change". To get a feel for this method, stand erect holding a club with arms extended and elbows pointing to the ground. Rest the shaft of the club on the right shoulder. (Right handed players) Now turn the right side (hips and shoulders) away from the ball until the club shaft points well to the right of your objective. Next, swing the hands, arms and club straight down from this position, down and up to where the club shaft is resting above the left shoulder. This is the basic shape of the classic swing.