The Grip Posture Ball Placement Aiming The Ball Routine The Grip There are three types of grips that are widely accepted. The first grip is the oldest of the group. It is called the baseball grip. This was the grip that was used in the beginning of golf. It entails two, hands that hold on to the club much like a baseball player would hold on to a baseball bat. The second type of grips is called the Overlapping Grip. In this grip, players hold their hands much like the baseball grip, but when the hands are together the right pinky finger lays on top of the left index finger. (Opposite for left handed hitters.) This type of golf grip became a major gripping style because it allowed players hands to work in unison. The final type of golf grip is called the interlocking grip. It is probably the most used grip by the professional and non-professional players alike. In this grip, instead of the right pinky finger overlapping the left index finger, the two fingers actually cross. What I mean is that the right pinky fine is in the place of left index finger and the left index finger is in the place of the right pinky. (This is kind of like folding your hands with the first and last fingers of each hand. Posture Posture is one of the most important features of a golfer's game. It is important for a comfortable swing. It is important for balance. And because it is such an important feature, it deserves a good look. The stance and posture, come into play as you set up to hit the ball. It is in the stance, that there are definitive steps to setting up and certain positions that the player should be in. As a golfer, in the stance, you should find yourself in a comfortable position, with a body slightly bent forward. Your knees should be bent and your arms should be holding the golf club comfortably. Below are a set of quick instruction to get into your swing: Stand up with a club in your hand. Hold the golf club in your hands parallel to the ground. Slowly bring your hands down to the ground and bend forward at the waist. (This should be a comfortable position.) Now bend your knees slightly. Congratualations! This should be your ready position to hit the ball. In this position, your legs should be spread out far enough that you can support your swing without being off balance, yet your legs shouldn't be spread out so much that you can't make your swing correctly. Also, when using a driver, your stance will have to be wider that for a sand wedge. So the bigger the club the wider the stance. This is a general rule of thumb. Ball Placement Now that you have the correct stance to make your swing, let's discss where to place the ball for your swing. Now the proper position for ball placement changes with the club. There is a very logical order for the ball placement, so I will give it to you. When using a driver, the golf ball should be just inside of your front foot. When using a 9 iron, the ball should be placed center between your feet. And the other clubs fall somewhere in between. The exact position will have to be found out by trial and error. Aiming The Ball Aiming the ball, occurs by a few things. First, in your stance, the front of the toes should line up parallel to the line between the ball and the target. The club should be perpendicular to the line between the ball and the target. These lines are all visual lines on the course, so when you practice, I have a suggest. When you decide where your target line is, line up an extra golf club on the ground parallel to this line and then use it to line up your feet. That way your feet will line up parallel to the target. Routine In the final steps of a golf shot, many pros recommend something called a routine. A routine is something that you do exactly the same every time you swing a club that blocks out everything else around you and gets your ready for your shot. Some people take a few practice swings to warm up. Some people adjust their club. And still others just plain block everything out. Do whatever makes you happy and comfortable ... just do it everytime. This helps you to relax.