If you’ve met Grant, then you’ve probably heard him say the word ‘Lekker’ which is a friendly South African term for ‘Great’. The word pronounced like lacquer is a compliment when you get something right, and it can also be used when you have a lekker time at the beach, or a lekker barbeque with family.
We want your lessons to be lekker, so in this five-part series, we begin with the word GAASP and the letter G which stands for Grip. Whether you’re a beginner at golf or a single figure handicap, every fundamental begins with GAASP. You might already have heard or seen the word GAASP, but do you know how important it actually is for your swing.
GAASP stands for Grip, Aim, Alignment, Stance and Posture, and in our five-part instruction series, we are going to explain each letter.
Your grip is the only connection to the golf club and can contribute as much as 80 percent to the direction of the ball. The three main grips which are named overlap, interlock and 10-finger are really designed for comfort of the hands, but often golfers grip too high on the club which causes the wrists to weaken and the club to break-down at the top of the backswing. Make sure your glove hand is not too high on the club.
The next important factor with your grip is what we call grip-pressure. If you tighten your grip too much, then you are locking your upper-body muscles, which will limit your flexibility, speed and power. Concentrate on maintaining a light grip pressure of around 4 or 5 out of 10 (with 10 being the tightest). With the driver you can even grip lighter to get a nice whoosh through the swing.
To achieve a consistent grip, you need the same hand position, placement, pressure and precision on every shot you make. The next time you play, instead of worrying so much about everything else in the swing, focus on your grip and may find yourself shooting your lowest score.
If you want some Drills to practice at home, use the following:
- Natural knuckle hang – grip the club the way your hands hang naturally by your side.
- Grip Pressure – your arms and shoulders should not feel tight.
- Grip Length – Don’t grip the club too high – if the palm of your glove is wearing away or you notice a tear, then you are gripping too high.
Keep posted for next week’s lesson when we discuss Aim and how to use your Aim to shape shots, such as a draw or a fade.
~by Grant Griffiths, Master Golf Professional, Play-a-Round Golf
