One hand sits below the other on the grip
This fact instantly assures that the golf swing is not symmetrical. And this greatly influences everything about the swing.
Check this out: When a golfer has his or her lead hand (the left for a right hand golfer) on the club and then places the right hand on the grip, something interesting happens.
The trailing or right shoulder moves closer to the ball line and the lead shoulder moves away from the line.
Try it right now right where you are sitting (no club needed). Extend your lead arm and take your grip. Now add your other hand. Feel those shoulders move? It is even more pronounced when you have a club and are at address.
So when the unsuspecting golfer addresses the ball, those shoulders are pointing to the left (for the righty) of the target line. Take a look below at the version that fits your orientation. This poor, anonymous golfer is in a lot of trouble, particularly with the longer clubs:
You see, even golfers with the slowest swing speeds can generate club head speeds of
Open shoulders will cause the club to cut across the ball, imparting a slice spin. Or if the club face is manipulated, a vicious hook can result. And as mentioned, the adverse side spin is exaggerated with the longer clubs, particularly the driver.
The Cure: I promised you the solution… here it is:
The following images are drawings derived directly from over head photographs of my swing (in this instance, the set-up position). In this frame I am using a long iron.
I had these images created specifically for my book, “The Key To A Repeating Golf Swing” . I commissioned a very skilled (and expensive, yikes) illustrator to create these images as I find the aerial view particularly useful to the golf student. I incorporate a lot of them throughout the book, in both right and left handed versions.
Note the grid lines on the images. I call these my “channels of success”. Study these images long and hard:
You will also find that your back swing will start straight back nicely (precisely) before it comes up and to the inside (as opposed to moving outside the line first).
The perfect set-up above starts you off in the perfect position to then put the club into a powerful top of the back swing position.
Now when you take your grip and settle into your address position, make an effort to square up those shoulders to the target line by pulling your trail shoulder back a little to compensate for your lower hand on the club. That way you will be right on track and ready to pull the trigger.