The and Bad Posture – Video Transcript
One of the most frustrating things for me as a golf instructor is reading through golf magazines and encountering the completely illogical nonsense that some well-known instructors publish. One particularly egregious example came from an instructor at an extremely prestigious club in California who stated that you should grip the golf club based on how your arms naturally hang at address. He believed that every golfer's arms hang down differently because that is simply how they are built.
"Hi there, Loved this video. It explains exactly what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks...Great explanation. Thanks again, Luke"
-Luke M. | Dec 15, 2012 | 18 HDCP
Do you think this is how your arms naturally hang at address? Think again.
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Every golfer's arms actually hang in the exact same way unless one of two things has occurred. First, you were born with some form of disfiguring condition, which is extremely rare. Or — and this is almost always the case — you simply have bad posture.
You would hope that a golf instructor of such prominence would be able to identify the difference between a structural anomaly and poor posture, but apparently that is not the case. Not only is this golf instruction advice completely wrong, but it makes it significantly harder to build a great golf swing — and it could even cause injury.
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Take a look at how much work it requires for me to get into my
golf setup with my hands facing the front of my thighs. Instructors who believe this is normal advocate that you simply adopt a very
strong grip and build your entire
golf swing around this compensation.
We say: get into
neutral posture and see how much EASIER it is to build your golf swing WITHOUT any compensations. It sounds logical because it is.
The bottom line: if an instructor gave you this advice, go back and ask for a refund. Pull your shoulder blades back and down,
watch our video on how to take a correct golf grip, and start building your
perfect golf swing with the correct biomechanical fundamentals. For a data-driven look at how your
grip and posture are affecting your
swing mechanics, try a
free AI swing analysis or get real-time coaching with a
free AI golf lesson.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does bad posture affect my golf grip?
Bad posture can cause your arms to hang incorrectly from your shoulders, leading to compensations when gripping the club. This misalignment makes it difficult to achieve a proper grip, which can hinder your swing mechanics. By correcting your posture and pulling your shoulder blades back and down, you can naturally find the correct grip position.
What is the correct way to grip a golf club?
To grip a golf club correctly, start by ensuring you are in a neutral posture. Pull your shoulder blades back and down, which allows your palms to face each other. This natural alignment will help you achieve a more effective grip without the need for compensations, ultimately supporting a better golf swing.
Why is it a myth that golfers should grip the club based on arm position?
The idea that golfers should grip the club according to how their arms naturally hang is a myth, as it overlooks the impact of posture. Most golfers have similar arm positioning unless affected by a rare structural condition. Focusing on posture rather than arm position leads to a more effective grip and swing mechanics.
What should I do if my golf instructor advises a strong grip based on arm hang?
If your instructor recommends adopting a strong grip based on how your arms hang, it's essential to reconsider this advice. Instead, focus on correcting your posture to achieve a neutral grip. Proper posture will allow for a more natural grip and facilitate a better golf swing without the need for compensations.
Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
