It's Masters week, spring has officially arrived and the golf season of 2007 is underway.  As you watch what is arguably the greatest event in golf either on TV or as one of the fortunate few to be on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, the greatest players in the world will all begin the event the same way - by placing their hands on the grip of the golf club.  While the look of the placement of their hands may vary slightly, every player will have three basics in common. The first common element is that that they will all hold the golf club with little or no tension in their hands, wrists and arms.  It is common knowledge that at every level of golf, tension is the enemy of a good golf swing.  The players seeking to wear the green blazer on Sunday will hold the golf club as lightly as possible and still show great control over it.

Second, all will have had golf grips installed on their clubs that are the proper “size” for them.  A key element to every good golf shot is the ability to “return the clubface squarely at impact”, often referred to as “releasing the club”.  If the size of the golf grip is too large, the ability to release the club will be hampered and the usual result is a faded or blocked golf shot to the right (for right handed players).  A golf grip that is too small will often result in an early release of the club resulting in a hooked or pulled golf shot to the left. The best way to determine if your golf grips are correctly sized is to visit a golf professional and ask him to check them out in your hands. Here’s a rule of thumb: if you wear a size medium golf glove, likely your grips should be standard size.  If you wear a large or extra-large golf glove, then you will need oversize grips.  If your glove size is small or extra-small, you’ll need undersize grips.  Ladies, for the most part, need smaller grips.

The third and very important commonality among the grips of great players is that there will be little or no change in how they grip the golf club from the first tee shot on Thursday until the famous back nine at Augusta National on Sunday afternoon.  Arnold Palmer has often told the story of when he was just a boy that his dad, Deacon Palmer, a club golf professional, placed his hands on the golf club and strongly suggested that they be placed the same way every time - and they always have been.  Changes in the way you grip the golf club have a direct effect on your swing. See your PGA golf professional to get your grip the best it can be for you.

As for that annual event in Augusta, I’ll be one of those fortunate ones along the fairways of Augusta National and it will be my 45th consecutive Masters.