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GET A GRIP LADDIE!
- by John Parker -
(The Every Day Tale
Of The Golf Beginner)
The importance of the correct golf grip.
Retirement has, at last, brought me the time (and money!) to start ruining really good walks. I’ve finally taken up golf. But fellow beginners, be very, very scared - the golf bug bites hard and deep! And it won’t all be plain sailing. Read on!
Now, my heart told me to go out and start trashing about any golf course daft enough to let me, but my head said no. The chosen path would have to be a good set of hand made clubs, used in tandem with lots and lots of lessons. Lilleshall Golf Clubs’ Assistant Professional Richard Beach makes the learning so easy and so enjoyable but the practice club is far too short (I’m 6’4”), so it’s off to have the clubs made.
Enter Roger Morton of Golf Only Ltd, (Shifnal) grand wizard of the “loft and lie”. My god, it was like having a suit made .This measurement! That dimension! Some other vital angle! What’s your swing speed? (Cheeky chap!!) Finally I’m given a rough prototype with a mid size grip to hold and do my best to grip it correctly.
“No that’s crap!” Bellows Roger “Don’t hold it like a cricket bat” - So I start again. Left hand on to the grip first: the "V" between  thumb and fore finger pointing between shoulder and chin, as taught, OK, so far, so good. The right hand is the problem; I just don’t seem able to marry it to the left hand properly! I try so hard (fear is a great motivator), but my hands and especially my fingers are so big I just can’t do what Roger wants - well not without a complete redesign of my wrist and the surgical removal of parts of my fingers. “Does a correct golf grip really matter”? I said. The colour drains from his face, a heart attack looks to be on the cards! ” Do you have an even thicker grip”? I mutter hopefully.
From a far corner found in any well run club making workshop, Roger emerges triumphant. We have the possible solution – a Jumbo grip. I decide to avoid cheap jokes about holding on to elephants and just try it. Left hand feels really good. Right hand…….. Not quite right but much, much better.
“Could it be any thicker”? , his colour starts to go again! Off comes the grip and on goes golf grip tape, lots of it. Each precious layer is applied to the shaft section were the right hand will  eventually fit, with all the care and precision of a master craftsman. I ignore the muttering. “Never in 40 years.” “Don’t believe I’ m really doing this”
 Finally it’s ready. It feels right! It actually feels comfortable in my right hand, the finger pressure is prefect! At last, I can now grip the golf club correctly.
An hour later I hit two fairly good pitch shots. It felt so good. Tiger Woods still has little to fear but I’ve made a start. The grip looks right. I’ve scored a little victory. I ring Roger and ask him to do the other clubs in the same style.
The moral? It's your game. It's your self confidence. Only you know when it feels right. Good luck fellow beginner. I'll let you know how I get on...
A final thought - How many adverts do you see for golf clubs? This shape, that design, the promise of another quantum leap forward in performance. How many people do you know who hold the club by the head!!
Get a grip laddie - a proper size grip. I think this is the best start you can make to a glorious golfing future.
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