The more golf instruction sessions I do and the more golf tips I write, the more I’m convinced that a solid set-up is a critical fundamental. Without a good one no one, including the greatest golfer in the world, can play the game well. That’s why I key on the set-up in introductory golf lessons. If you want to get the most from your swing, you need a good and settled set-up.

The discussion that follows will help you build a good set-up. While many of the golf tips in this article are reminders of advice you’ve probably heard previously, they will help you achieve consistency and accuracy in your swing, which is what we all want. Establishing a good set-up can help your golf handicap greatly.

Grip

A sound set-up starts with a solid grip. The way the hands are placed on the club determines a swing’s shape and the clubface’s direction at impact. That in turn dictates the direction of the ball. Use whichever grip (baseball, overlapping, or interlocking) feels the most comfortable yet allows you to make solid contact with the ball, as I tell those who take my golf lessons. But, like everything else in golf, it must be right for you.

How do you know when you have the right grip? Your grip is ideally suited to you when the tips of the fingers on the left hand (right-handers) just touch the fleshy pad of the palm. If they don’t, try another grip or check the position of your hand. Either or both maybe the problem. It’s the “trigger” position formed by the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand, however, that’s really critical. Make sure you can “squeeze the trigger” with your grip. If you can’t, there’s something wrong. Also, when it comes to the overall grip, apply just enough pressure to provide a secure hold on the club while feeling the club’s weight in your hands…

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