There are many ways to hit different shots: cuts, draws, soft ones and low ones. Most golfers think that shot-shaping requires a ton of swing and setup changes. It can, but there’s an easier way: Simply adjust the position of your trail-hand palm when you grip the club at address.
Check out the photos below. On the left, you can see how I’ve set my trail-hand palm on top of the handle before I squeeze the grip. On the right, you can see how my trail-hand palm is more under the handle. It’s subtle, but this simple change in hand position has powerful repercussions when attempting to hit different kinds of shots with every club in your bag.
With your trail palm on top of the club, you’re in a better position to hit more down on the ball, with the handle moving toward your body — good for producing a cut shot when you need it or to hit a finesse shot around the green. With your trail palm underneath the club, you’ll automatically shape your swing more in-to-out and more easily close the clubface — good for power draws off the tee and from the fairway.
Give each a try. With a little extra shotmaking finesse in your game, you’ll shoot lower scores.
How to do it
1. Place your trail palm more on top of the grip to ensure more of a downward strike or to pull off a clever fade when the situation calls for it. This hold also works great from the sand and on delicate chip shots around the green.
2. Set your trail palm more under the handle to create an inside-out path, which is great for draws or if you have trouble with slicing.
Jeff Smith is director of instruction at Eagle Springs GC in Wolcott, Colo., and Timbergate GC in Edinburgh, Ind.
