Leadbetter the Master

We're into the new golf season, so let's start it correctly. Now I'm not one to "drop names" but I've met some great people through golf and none more so than the golf teacher David Leadbetter. Recently I went to La Manga and spent time hitting balls with Mr. Leadbetter and he kindly answered every question that I threw at him. David Leadbetter Fact file: Born June 27, 1952 in Worthing, England

David is a leading golf instructor. He began his career on the European and Southern African tours, but had little success as a player. Having an interest in the techniques, mechanics and psychology of the sport he soon moved into instruction and came to wide notice in the 1980s when he completely rebuilt the swing of Nick Faldo, who then went on to win six major championships. He's also taught/teaches Ernie Els, Nick Price, Justin Rose, Lydia Ko and many more.

David Leadbetter now runs an international chain of golf academies.

Now the first thing that I do when I meet a new golfer is look at their hands on the golf club......and instantly I know what shots the golfer is capable of hitting and whether I'm in for a hard time or not. You see a good golfing grip is vital to be able to control the club-face at impact but also to produce power into your golf shots. The first thing that David Leadbetter did at La Manga was give a golf clinic and talk about the grip.

So as teachers, the grip is the first place we look but not always the first thing that we change. For a number of years when Ben Hogan was in his heyday, there was a trend to copy his weak grip. In fact there has always been a trend to copy the in-form player of the period. This makes sense. However, Hogan's grip was deliberately weak to counteract his tendency to hook the ball. Hogan hated to hook the ball and changed his grip accordingly.

What I want to see in your grip is that the hands start off in neutral positions. So the left hand 'V' points to the player's right shoulder but the right hand 'V' points to the player's chin. I like this "neutral" right hand position because most right handed players are right handed in everything they do, usually making it more dominant in the swing.....I like to keep it neutral and not let it get "too much underneath the club"....not too "strong".

Bad 'Left Hand Grip' habits to avoid:

1. Gripping too much in the palm. This restricts the movement of the wrist hinge.

2. Weak grip and the player struggles to get the correct wrist action required.

3. Too much movement of the club within the left hand.

4. Left hand too high in the grip...showing a "wear mark" in the glove.

5. Incorrect grip pressure. The pressure points should be in the last 3 fingers.

Remember the right hand must grip the club "in the fingers". The palm of the right hand mirrors the face angle.....a fantastic thing to know in your swing.

Let the hands work as a unit ... remember that they control the club-face and from past articles you will know how important that is.

So check your grip and next week we'll talk about it some more.

Paul The PGA Professional Paul Webb Llano is a fully qualified member of the British Professional Golfers Association and the lead instructor at the La Metí Golf School based in the Callaway Golf Centre, Teulada, Alicante.