PRO'S CORNER
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I
f you've been cooped
up this summer or
haven't had the chance
to play a lot of golf, you
know that first or second
round getting back in the
game can be interesting.
Here are three things you
can always check to make
sure you're giving yourself
the best chance at success:
POSTURE
Having the correct pos-
ture will allow you to
make the correct turn
while keeping your golf
club on plane. Golfers
should always have a
slight spine tilt, bending
forward from the waist. A
slight knee flex is a must
and your feet should be
under your shoulders so
you feel stable on your
feet, not too far back on
your heels or too far for-
ward on your toes.
Here's how you can check
for proper posture:
v Stand up straight with
your legs locked, parallel
to your target.
v Grip the club and bring
it up so the end of the grip
is pointed at your belly
button.
v Bend forward with your
upper body so your hips
stick out, and let your arms
hang straight down.
v Bend your knees slightly
and maintain a straight
back. Don't slouch!
GRIP
Having a proper grip
will allow you to rotate
your forearms and hands
through impact.
The placement of the
hands on the club is critical
for good shot-making.
Keep in mind that we are
all different. Some of us
have small hands and fin-
gers, and some large. The
type of grip you choose,
whether it be overlapping,
interlocking, or the 10-fin-
gered type, is a matter of
personal preference — just
as long as the hands are
positioned correctly.
Here's the best way to grip
the golf club:
v Square the club face and
position the handle across
the base of the fingertips of
the left hand.
v Roll the palm over the
club until the left thumb
rests straight up and down
slightly to the right side of
the handle.
v The line formed by
the thumb and the index
finger will point between
your nose and right
shoulder.
v Position the right palm
around the left thumb. The
left thumb should rest in
the crook of the right palm
and your grip pressure
should be constant, not too
tight or too loose.
ALIGNMENT
It is one thing to think
you are set up correctly,
and another to actually be
set up correctly.
Here's how to make sure
you are aligned properly:
v Your feet should be
aligned slightly left of your
target, your shoulders
should be square to your
feet, and your golf ball
should be on a direct line
to the target.
v Use alignment rods to
help with your aim when
you practice. Think about
the railroad tracks. The
right side of the track
should be your ball on the
target line and the left side
of the track should have
your body square to the
golf ball.
BOOK
A
TEE
TIME
BASIC
INSTINCTS
Mastering these tips
will give you the best
chance for success
BY TOM BURLEY
Head PGA Professional
