I like to equate golf to snowboarding, for every perfect park run or steep line you might do there will always be the 6 or 7 other that just didn't feel right. Golf kinda gives me the same feeling in the summer requiring a lot of concentration and good muscle memory. Well that and its hard to be super pissed and shoot a great round. In the same sense of riding getting little tips along the way makes the experience that much better. So when in need I call on my buddy Brett Kuhnsman, PGA pro at Genoa Lakes outside Carson City. What makes it a little better is that Brett was a former snowboard instructor at Squaw Valley, so he can use some snowboard references in his approach at teaching. This guy even wrote a book on golf, kinda a Zen take along pocket guide tool. Below is an excerpt from his book and if you are ever interested in a quick lesson hit Brett up at 772-232-8958 or Visit Genoa Lakes Golf course and ask for him.

The grip is the most important of all the fundamentals.

It all starts with the grip, without that, the other three fundamental will not perform to correct levels for the success needed. There are three types of grips; ten finger, overlap, and interlock. All three can work, but must combine some key components for the grip to work properly. First, your grip must be held in the fingers and not across your palm. Your left thumb print must be on the club for you to have the power and leverage needed to successfully swing. If you open your hand, you should be able to hold the grip in the fingers only, all the while looking at all of your palm. Once the grip is in the fingers and you place the club on the ground, the grooves on the face will be perpendicular to you and the toe should be slightly behind the heal. Loft is our friend and if the clubface is closed it will directly affect the flight and direction of the ball. You could have the proper grip and still hit the ball low and left due to an improper set up or alignment of the clubface. Once that is achieved, grip pressure is crucial to the entire swing. You want to hold the club as lightly as you would hold a kitten. Not so tight as to hurt the kitten, but not so lose at to let it jump out of your hands. The club should feel heavy and the wrists should be free and loose. You will squeeze a bit more at impact to sustain the hit on the club head. The last component is a stronger left hand to promote the domination of the left hand throughout the golf swing. The right hand will be in a cradle-like position to assist the left hand through the swing. The right hand can be our enemy if it becomes too domineering. All this is reversed if you play left handed. Most golfers are right handed. If you are newbie first timer and right handed, may I recommend starting out playing left handed. Your right side is dominant and will be accentuated and you will learn in a fraction of the time. I have been playing for twenty years and have been fighting my right hand dominance for the same amount of time. If I could learn over, I would do it left sided.

By Brett J.B. Kuhnsman, PGA.

Labels: Golf Instruction, Tahoe Golf

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