Golf swing basics for beginners: grip, stance, posture, alignment and drills

The grip

• Left hand on top. The handle runs diagonally across the fingers, not deep in the palm. When you close your hand, you should see two or three knuckles on the back of your left hand.
• Right hand below, also in the fingers, with the right palm facing the target and covering the left thumb.
• The V shapes formed by each thumb and forefinger should point roughly between your chin and right shoulder.

• Overlapping (Vardon): the right little finger rests on top of the gap between the left index and middle fingers. The most widely used.
• Interlocking: the right little finger and left index finger hook together. Popular with people who have smaller hands.
• Ten-finger (baseball): all fingers on the club. Comfortable for beginners, juniors and people with weaker hands.

Stance

• Width: about shoulder-width for a mid-iron, a little wider for a driver, narrower for short wedges.
• Ball position: in the middle of your stance for short irons, moving gradually forward towards your front foot as the club gets longer, with the driver just inside the front heel.
• Weight evenly balanced between both feet and on the balls of the feet, not the toes or heels.

Posture

1. Stand tall with the club in front of you.
2. Bend forward from the hips, not the waist, keeping your back fairly straight.
3. Let your knees flex slightly.
4. Let your arms hang naturally down from your shoulders; your hands should be roughly under your chin.

Alignment

• Stand behind the ball and pick a spot a metre or so in front of it on the target line.
• Set the clubface square to that spot first, then set your feet.
• Your feet, knees, hips and shoulders should be parallel to the target line, like railway tracks: the ball on one rail, your body on the other.

Tempo and the swing itself

• Turn, do not lift. The backswing is a turn of your shoulders and hips, with the arms following, not a lift with the hands.
• Smooth tempo. A slow, even backswing and an unhurried start down produce better contact than a fast snatch. Many players count "one" on the way back and "two" on the way down.
• Let the club do the work. Swinging at about 70 to 80 percent effort usually sends the ball further than swinging flat out, because you strike it more cleanly.
• Finish in balance, weight on your front foot, belt buckle facing the target, holding the pose for a couple of seconds.

Practice drills

• Half swings: hip-high to hip-high swings with a wedge or short iron teach solid contact before adding length.
• Alignment sticks: lay two clubs or sticks on the ground, one along the target line and one along your feet, to train your eye.
• Feet-together drill: hitting short shots with your feet together forces good balance and tempo.
• Towel or headcover drill: a towel under both armpits keeps your arms connected to your body turn.
• Hit with purpose: pick a target for every ball and go through your setup routine each time, rather than raking balls and hitting fast.

Range etiquette

• Hit only from your own bay or the marked area, and never walk out in front of the line to collect balls.
• Keep a safe distance from the person next to you before swinging, and check behind you too.
• Do not stand directly behind someone who is hitting or give unasked-for coaching.
• Follow any rules on grass areas or mats, and replace or repair divots where you hit from turf.