Weekend Golfer Musts….

If you are lucky, you get a chance to play golf about once a week, so with very little time to practice or play, how can you improve your golf game?

First, you must start with fundamentals. Correct grip, posture and aim are essential to improving your swing. Jack Nicklaus states in his book, "How well you swing the golf club depends almost entirely on how well you prepare beforehand."

The grip: So let's talk about the grip (all directions assume a right-handed golfer; lefties should reverse the rights and lefts):

In the left hand, the club fits diagonally from the first knuckle of your forefinger across the palm and underneath the bottom pad. The "V" formed between your left thumb and forefinger should point toward your right shoulder and there should not be a gap between the thumb and forefinger. Now place the top pad of right hand on the left thumb and close the right hand around the club. The right pinkie overlaps the forefinger of the left hand and the right hand is extended down the shaft as far as possible.

Getting your hands in the correct position and maintaining a relaxed tension level will allow the club to swing freely to create club head speed, which equals distance.

Posture/balance: Starting with the correct posture and balance is critical to playing good golf. Every tour player starts his/her swing from a balanced position. This athletic position at address enhances balance throughout your swing.

Start with your feet about shoulder width apart with your weight distributed about 50-50 between your feet. Bend from your waist as your shoulders moves forward over the edge of your toes. Your hip should move back behind your heels. Flex your knees slightly to get the weight in the middle of your feet -- it should not be on your heels or toes.

Proper aim: Good golf shots require proper aim. First aim your clubface where you want the ball to start, and then align your body parallel to the clubface aim. Poor aim and alignment will produce a bad golf swing because your body will react as you try to make the ball fly toward the target.

Putting it together: In summary, from this solid setup position you can work on a tension-free, well-balanced golf swing. Focus on good tempo, low tension level and good balance as you are swinging the club. Good balance allows you to hit the ball with good tempo and a low tension level, which leads to consistently solid hits and more club head speed at impact.

I know it sounds too easy to be effective, but mastering the fundamentals is the only way to make lasting improvements.