Opposite the Left Foot The swing, therefore, will be centered at that point, opposite the left foot, and that is where the ball should be played with all clubs. The feet should never be wider apart than the width of the shoulders. In other words, always use a narrow, rather than a wide, stance because with the narrower stance it is easier to shift the weight to the right foot for the upswing and reshift it to the left foot for the downswing. Step 3—Complete the grip by bringing the right hand to the club. Up to this point the right arm has been inactive and hanging naturally by the right side. Step 3 brings the right hand to the club. As the club is opposite the left foot and the right hand comes to the club at a point lower on the club than the left, it will be found that in order to bring the right hand to the club comfortably it will be necessary to relax the right knee slightly. When the right hand comes to the club it assumes a position on the club which is directly opposite the position of the left hand. Whereas the left hand is definitely on top of the club handle, the right hand assumes a position more or less underneath the club. So the left hand takes care of the top of the handle, while the right hand takes care of the bottom part of the club. Too many players make the mistake of placing both hands on top of the club. With both hands working from the same position on top of the club, they produce a one-handed effect; whereas golf is definitely a two-handed, two-fisted game. The correct position of the hands is to have them directly opposed to each other. In that way both sides of the club are under control and the club rests in a natural pull and push action, which is the only type of action that creates the desired effect of leverage on the club. It is this pull and push action of the hands that produces proper club-head feel control, and this can only be done when the hands take opposite positions on the club. When placing the hands on the club be certain that there is no tenseness or tight grip. Any sense of holding or gripping the club should be confined to the front part of each hand—to the first two fingers and thumb. The little finger of the right hand should never touch the club. We all know that the little finger is the shortest finger. If this digit were placed on the club, the latter would be locked in an immovable, tight position because of the shortness of the little finger. Furthermore, it happens that tension or tightness on the little finger immobilizes the arm. There is a long muscle that runs from the little finger to a point past the elbow; consequently any tension on the little finger causes this muscle to tighten up the entire arm.
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