Because tension in the hands can be such a problem, it’s worth a closer look at how that happens and how to prevent it. The moment a player begins to feel pressure whether it is internal or external, their hands automatically grip the club tighter. This makes the club feel heavier causing any number of errors including fat shots, pull hooks or big blocked shots because you are unable to release the club effectively with too tight a grip. Better players have keys to lighten up on the grip. If you watch them closely you will see the club appears to be more an extension of their hands, wrists and arms as they waggle and move into their set up. They are subconsciously feeling the weight of the club head and gripping it according to the shot they are about to hit. If in US Open rough, they grip tighter and if getting ready for a delicate pitch, they grip lighter. Watch the tour pros and imitate some of their mannerisms. Just becoming aware of your grip pressure and tendencies to hang on too tightly will help you enormously as you devise your own ways into a tension free grip and swing.
Another helpful drill to counter tension in the hands is to work with a Medicus swing training aid. Tension in the hands sometimes causes the first move away from the ball to be a slightly early wrist break, often resulting in an open club face which can in turn cause blocks and slices. The Medicus is a great training aid to help players feel this and immediately see the results of overly active hands. They now make the Medicus so that it can set up for players with a slightly closed takeaway or slightly open takeaway.
Having the proper grip pressure allows you to move the club back with a one piece takeaway instead of with your hands. Then you have a better chance of creating proper sequence, torque and position at the top of the backswing. All of that makes it easier for you to to make more solid ball strikes and to release the club through impact rather than behind the ball which results in increased club head speed and ball speed which results in greater distance.
Tension in the hands aside, how do you improve overall in golf if not through continuing to try harder? Golfers are known to look for the quick fix, so we read a golf magazine article, listen to a playing partner tell you how he or she fixed their swing or check out a YouTube video. Often these things work for several holes but then the fundamental flaw rears its ugly head and our game falls apart again and we are back to the drawing board.
It is not that work ethic doesn’t matter, it certainly does! Just save it for quality practice sessions and how you prepare for your rounds. You may have to go through a grip or swing change or develop a new pre-shot routine. You may need the help of a professional to help guide you through some of the changes you may need to make. Whatever the case, approach your practices and games knowing you are making progress through doing just one thing at a time to better your swing, your game. Tending to one thing at a time is achievable. You will find yourself relaxing, not pressing so hard and allowing your swing to evolve to a place where you feel comfortable over the ball again.
You can try to make better reads on your putts, you can try to hit more practice balls, chips, pitches, putts, you can try to play more practice rounds. Just remember not to try too hard when your swing goes south. Let it come back to you through doing things you can control, one fundamentally sound swing at a time.
Have you ever experienced a slump on the course for a prolonged period? What did you do about it?
What players in golf or other sports have gone through slumps that were notable and how did they overcome them?
