Here we may encounter one of the problems of bone-structure referred to briefly in my opening chapter.  Some people cannot draw the thumb up the shaft sufficiently to attain the ideal position.  They have only a limited degree of movement in the thumb joint.

  But while it is an advantage to have a thumb joint which allows the thumb to be drawn up the shaft it is by no means calamitous not to be able to do so.  Just draw it up as close as possible.  The real danger lies in stretching it down the shaft, which leads to a marked tendency to over-swinging and a consequent lack of control.

  With this placement of the left hand raise the club head from the ground with the left hand only.  If the grip has been correctly applied the top end of the shaft will be balanced and kept secure by the pressure of the fleshy pad towards the heel of the hand against the top side of the shaft.

Applying the left hand test for security in the grip.

  This is absolutely essential to firm gripping of the club in the left hand.  Test it by slowly opening the fingers.  The club shaft should remain balanced in the hand.

  Return the sole of the club to the ground and restore the left hand-grip as outlined.  Now to fit the right hand on to the shaft.

The grip almost completed.  Note the placing of the fingers of the right hand.

  Place the open palm of the right hand alongside the shaft, the palm being parallel with the face of the club in other words facing what would be the line of flight.

  Close the two middle fingers round the shaft with the upper of these two fingers drawn up closely against the forefinger of the left hand.  This leaves the right little finger to overlap the left forefinger.  I prefer the little finger to pass behind the left forefinger and slip into place in the crevice between the first two fingers of the left hand.

  This placement makes for still closer unity of the two hands but many fine players (the late Pam Barton, a pupil of mine, was one) find it more suitable to lay the little finger on top of the left forefinger.

The Perfect Golf Swing

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