How To Break 100 Lesson 1: Posture, Grip and Alignment
The first step in your commitment to breaking 100 is probably the least exciting, but the most important. We begin with a lesson on posture, grip, and alignment. You’ll never make it to the PGA if you don’t master this PGA.
To get the most out of the rest of our How To Break 100 course, you must make the effort to perfect your posture, grip, and alignment, so it’s second nature when you step up to the ball. Allow renowned golf instructor Mike McGetrick to give you the keys to a perfect setup.
RELATED: How To Break 100 Course Overview
Posture
Keys to Great Golf Posture
- Position your upper body directly above your lower body, as if you’re standing naturally with no lean to the right or left
- Maintain a straight spine and great balance with your weight on the balls of your feet, not your toes or heels
- Allow your arms to hang down in a neutral position, not leaning too far forward (towards your target)
Perfect Posture Drill
- To find a great posture position, stand naturally with your hands on your thighs and bend from the hips until your hands slide to the top of your knees, then grip the club with the club head flat against the ground (make sure the toe or heel are not off the ground)
- Make sure your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, forearms and eyes are parallel to each other
Grip
Golf Grip Keys
- In your lead hand (the left hand of a right-handed golfer, also referred to as your glove hand), grip the club in the fingers and underneath the heel pad, so your heel pad is on top of the club and your thumb points down the grip
- Check that the “V” created between your thumb and index finger points to your trail shoulder
- Place the lifeline of your dominant hand over the thumb of your glove hand and lightly wrap your fingers around the grip and your glove hand
- Lightly pinch the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand together. When you swing the club to the top, your thumbs will support the club
- On a scale of 1 to 5, aim for a standard grip pressure of around 3
Alignment
How to Practice Proper Alignment
- Every time you practice, lay an alignment stick or golf club parallel left of your target line (for a right-handed golfer). When you set up to the ball, use the alignment stick to make sure your feet, knees, hips, forearms, shoulders and eyes are all parallel to your target line.
- When you set up to a shot, pick an intermediate target between your ball and your target and get your club face pointed at that target. Then, align your body parallel to the target line.
By integrating proper aim into your practice routine, your great setup will become natural on the course.
Posture, Grip and Alignment Check-Ins
Nailing your posture, grip and alignment is a critical foundation of the golf swing to have any chance at a successful shot. Getting these elements right can’t guarantee a good swing (although it will give you a great chance), but getting them wrong all but guarantees a bad one.
As you progress throughout the course, take five minutes twice a week to check in on your posture grip and alignment. Check your posture by confirming that your shoulders are level and your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, forearms and eyes are all parallel to each other. Check your grip by confirming that the “V” of your glove hand points to your train shoulder and the thumbs support the club at the top of the swing. Finally, check your alignment using an alignment stick or golf club on the ground as you practice, ensuring that you align parallel to your target line.
NEXT LESSON: How To Break 100 Lesson 2: Putting