| It seems as though many golfers are unaware | | | | |
| of the importance the hands play in the | | | | Again, to open and close the clubface during |
| execution of the golf swing. Obviously, we | | | | the golf swing the hands move back during the |
| know that the hands grip the golf club and | | | | backswing, hinge at the top of the backswing, |
| attach the body to the club. But what is the | | | | return the club to square at impact, and |
| importance of them during the swing? | | | | release the club afterwards. In order for |
| | | | this to occur the hands must be passive! |
| The answer has to do with releasing of the | | | | |
| club. Let's go back and do a quick golf | | | | What do I mean by passive? |
| biomechanics review. During the swing, from | | | | |
| address position to follow-through, the hands | | | | You cannot force the hands to move through |
| are active in a passive type of manner. | | | | the golf swing and release the club. This |
| | | | creates tension in the golf swing, affects |
| Let me explain. The goal of the golf swing is | | | | tempo, and, overall, results in poor shots. |
| to move the club on the correct swing plane | | | | If you do not believe me, go to the driving |
| to induce the intended golf shot that you | | | | range, grip a club as hard as you can, and |
| want. This occurs through the body's moving | | | | attempt to swing. The results will be much |
| through a series of positions. These | | | | less than optimal. |
| positions are found within the different | | | | |
| phases of the golf swing. | | | | I think Dean Reinmuth, ranked by Golf Digest |
| | | | as a top-30 teaching pro, puts it best when |
| The phases of the swing are address, | | | | speaking about the hands in the golf swing. |
| take-away, backswing, transition, downswing, | | | | He discusses "feel" as an integral part of |
| impact, and follow-through. During all of | | | | the golf swing. He states that in order to |
| these movements the body is performing, the | | | | have a successful golf swing you must be |
| golf club is being moved upon a swing plane. | | | | "tension free." |
| The swing plane is the path upon which the | | | | |
| golf club is to travel. Proper impact with | | | | "Feeling" the club move on the swing plane is |
| the golf ball requires the golf club's | | | | an indicator of being "tension free." And in |
| traveling upon the correct swing plane. | | | | order to have this feeling, your hands must |
| | | | be relaxed (i.e. passive). |
| In order for the club to travel on the | | | | |
| correct swing plane it is necessary for the | | | | How do you develop good hands in your golf |
| clubface to open and close. Oftentimes, in | | | | swing? |
| golf terms the opening and closing, of the | | | | |
| clubface is termed "releasing of the club." | | | | Easier said than done. In order to develop |
| This is where the hands become an integral | | | | "feel" in the golf swing, remove "tension" |
| part of the golf swing. | | | | from your golf swing and develop great hands, |
| | | | you must develop three fundamentals. |
| If you talk to almost any instructor, they | | | | |
| will say that any good player has "great | | | | Fundamental number one is an understanding of |
| hands." This statement refers to exactly what | | | | the golf swing. In order to know what the |
| was described above (the releasing of the | | | | body and golf club are to do during the swing |
| club correctly). It's obvious if you look at | | | | you must know the biomechanics of the golf |
| players such as Tiger, Phil, or Vijay. | | | | swing. If you don't, how are you going to |
| | | | know what the body and club are to be doing |
| I even remember walking the course at Doral | | | | during each phase of the golf swing? |
| in Miami with top-5 teaching instructor, Rick | | | | |
| Smith. One point he continued to return to in | | | | Secondly, you must develop the mechanics of |
| terms of discussing the golf swing was | | | | the golf swing. Your body and mind must |
| "hands." He stated more than once how any PGA | | | | integrate the movements of the golf swing |
| Tour player has great hands. This just | | | | into a repeatable movement. This occurs |
| provides additional support for how important | | | | through proper instruction and practice of |
| the hands are in terms of the golf swing. | | | | the correct golf swing mechanics. |
| | | | |
| But what does this all mean? Well, we know | | | | Finally, it is necessary to develop the body. |
| the hands are involved in the "opening and | | | | Yes, the body! Your body must have the |
| closing" of the clubface during your swing. | | | | flexibility, strength, endurance, and power |
| This movement allows for the proper release | | | | to perform the golf swing correctly. If the |
| of the club. As I mentioned, the hands are | | | | body is inflexible, weak, and powerless, how |
| "active in your golf swing, but in a passive | | | | are you going to be able to perform the |
| manner." | | | | mechanics of the swing correctly? |