Fine Tune Your Fundamentals Now

At the start of every year, the PGA Tour players go through a re-tooling of their golf swings. They don't reconstruct their swings. They go to their golf instructors to re-enforce the fundamentals of their golf swing. Every year Jack Nicklaus would start out the year by spending time with his instructor, Jack Grout. Jack was without question one of the greatest golfers ever to play the game, and he still felt the need to start out each season the same way to insure he did not short cut his swing regimen. Therefore, it is time to re-enforce your fundamentals by following these few tips:

* Start out with some very basic stretching exercises. The best way to do this is to contact your physician to recommend some exercises or a physical therapist to set up a program that will meet your needs. Remember that when you do the stretching, to turn or bend, slowly. Do not bounce or jerk as this will injure the muscles.

* After stretching, it is time to work on the three most important fundamentals of the game: the grip, alignment and set-up. All three are necessary to increase your opportunity for success throughout the golf swing. The hands should be placed on the golf club in a neutral position, palms facing each other. Place the left hand on the club first, (this is a right handed description. Left handed golfers reverse the process). The grip should be placed so the fingers can wrap around the club. The thumb should be placed on top of the grip. The club shall then be placed between the first and second knuckles of the middle two fingers of the right hand. Wrap your fingertips around the club and bring the palm of your right hand down onto the left thumb. A "V" is formed between the thumb and index fingers and should be turned toward the right shoulder. The grip pressure should be equal and constant throughout both hands. You can allow the last three fingers of each hand to grip the club tighter than your thumb and index fingers.

* The alignment is the next most important part of the swing to refine. It is best to align your body so that you can promote the body to rotate through the golf swing to clear out of the way so the club can be returned back to the golf ball on the proper path. The object of the golf swing is to make sure you can have fluid movement through the entire swing. Align your feet slightly left of your target line. (This will be similar to an open stance).

* The set-up is next. Depending upon the club choice, the ball will be positioned from the middle of your stance to just inside your left foot. The sole of the club should be flat on the ground allowing for the proper angle of the shaft to occur. The grip of the club should be a fist to six inches away from your body. Flex the knees slightly. Bend from the hips to allow your arms to hang directly below your shoulders. The weight distribution should favor more on the right foot at address. This will allow you to make an easier transition on the back swing with minimal lateral motion.

From this point the swing may now be executed. The swing sequence is: the club starts briefly prior to the hands going back. The arms and shoulders turn until you can see your left shoulder behind the ball. The lower body turns very little on the backswing. The downswing is initiated by the lower body turning out of the way first, followed by your torso; then the shoulders, followed by the arms, then the hands and club back to and through impact. The swing is completed when all of your weight is shifted all the way through to your left side.

Practice these tips and visit your local PGA Professional to review your fundamentals to insure your beginning of the year fine tuning is giving you every chance to have a sound golf swing.