Golfers Learn by Experience Golfers learn by experience not to use the little finger of the right hand, but actually keep it clear of the club to float freely in the air. They do this in the same manner that a person picking up a glass or a cup would do when they raise it to their lips or their mouth. This same sense of not using the little finger of the left hand should be cultivated in golf; it will permit the hands to fit closely together on the club. The thumb of the left hand fits naturally into the hollow of the right hand palm, and in a perfectly natural way the overlapping grip is created. Incidentally, this is the most widely used, most efficient and most desirable grip. Notice that the bottom part of the V formation, created by the thumb and upper part of the forefinger on both hands, points directly toward the right shoulder. The placement of the hands on the club can be readily checked by seeing exactly where the thumbs contact the club. If the handle of the club was perfectly square, the inside part of the left thumb would contact the club at the top, side, right-hand corner of the supposed square, and the inside part of the right thumb would rest on the middle of the top flat side of this supposed square handle. These thumb positions are most important. In the eventual movement of the club to the top of the swing there is a natural expansion of the hands and in the downswing there is a contraction of the hands, both of which put the real punch into the shots. During this expansion and contraction, it is upon the thumbs that the club rests, and it is with the thumbs that the player regulates and controls the club. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the importance of the hand positions on the club and upon the ultimate effect and influence that the thumbs have in good golf.
To emphasize this let me recall a distinction that is made between humans and monkeys—the distinction is that the humans have thumbs and the monkeys do not. Furthermore, if there is any doubt about their importance, just try this little test. Take a golf club in your hands and then deliberately take both thumbs off the club. It will be noticed that the club is hopelessly locked in the back of the hands and little or no control can be exerted over it. So learn to use your thumbs when you play golf. Don't play monkey golf, which is golf without any thumb control and thumb influence. Step 4—Turn or flip the right heel out slightly. In a normal foot position it is generally natural to stand with both toes turned out slightly. This fourth and final move is to flip or turn the right heel out slightly so that a pigeon-toed effect is created on the right foot. The purpose of this move is twofold: first, this outward flip of the right heel places the right foot in a much stronger position for the backswing, and also makes it easier to shift the weight to that foot.
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