Clarification on grip and proper takeaway

Ok, I am confused as to what are the proper feelings you should have during the early stages of the swing. If I take a fairly nuetral grip I kind of feel like I almost fan the face open and have a lost feeling im my backswing. When I take a stronger grip, I feel that the face is at the target and if I keep the face fairly square during the takeaway and backswing I can deleiver the club head squarer to the target. Now I don't always it it straight that way either. I guess I am just confused as to the best approach I should use and stick with. I've played in the 70's sing both appraoches but consistency and confidence will sometimes come and go quickly. Any ideas, thanks John

hi john, go to youtube , type in 'golf grip' , and scroll down to 'jlubingolf' this video is very imformative and should answer most of your questions.if not just have a look into other videos on a specific subject .good hunting

bruin

What you feel is neutral may be slightly different from another person. The image below is an old picture of Ernie Els grip (which he considers in a neutral position).

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5148/elsgrippp6.jpg

Is that how your neutral grip looks?

Contray to what some people may tell you a club face with the toe straight up to the sky is not necessarily correct. Rick Smith (who used to teach Mickelson), Butch Harmon, Model Golf, and a number of tour pro instructors are advocates of the club matching your spine angle when you reach hip high in the backswing. Swing back to hip high in the backswing and look in a mirror or window at your reflection. Does the leading edge of the club match the tilt of your spine? If so then you probably have a sound grip (as far as strong vs. weak goes), but if the toe of the club is in the air (or the clubface roated to face the sky) then your grip may indeed be too weak (or your forearms may be over rotating).

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3...aceangliy6.jpg

I concur with Avid Golfer that the cluface should stay perpendicular to the plane in the takeaway.

I like to start the takeaway by turning the hands, arms and shoulders together so that they maintain the triangle formed at address. The hips should stay in position until the arms and chest have rotated the clubface around two feet or so when the hips have to start turning allowing the triangle to be maintained.