Martin Hall on "The Azinger Secret" (Video)

I know many of you use a very strong grip. This is a video Martin Hall did some time back, showing how Paul Azinger kept from flipping the clubhead at impact. This is one of Martin's Morning Drive videos.



The secret Martin talks about is keeping the knuckles on your lead hand pointed upward at impact. (Another way to think about this is, since the back of your lead hand is on top of the grip when you use a really strong grip, you want to keep it on top through impact.) The idea here is that, as long as the ball is gone before your forearms rotate -- and they MUST rotate eventually if you use a really strong grip -- as long as the ball is gone first, you won't hit a duck hook.

But for my money, it's equally important that Paul kept his arms and grip as relaxed as he could. If you don't do that, it's really hard to get any major distance with a strong grip. Tight muscles slow down the clubhead.

Now, to do both of these things, you have to let your body turn fully into your finish. Too many people are stiff in their lower body when they swing and, if your lower body and hips stop turning too soon, you're going to flip your wrists. You have to, because your upper body will stop turning and that means your lead arm is either going to flip your hands or tear up your lead shoulder. It's just simple physics.

So if you use a strong grip, you need the Azinger Secret. A good way to practice it is to use the L-to-L drill because it's a shorter swing -- which means you won't put so much pressure on your shoulders and arms if you do it wrong -- but it's a full motion for your wrists, so you get the practice at delaying that wrist flip until after impact.

Of course, that drill is good for your swing, period. But if you have a really strong grip, this drill is even more important to help you learn how to use it properly.

David Frost on Getting Out of Bunkers (Video)

This GC video, with David Frost's quick lesson on getting out of bunkers, was shot at St. Andrews in the Road Hole Bunker. But there's something you might misunderstand here, so let me point it out to you.



First David gives you some general strategy tips. You can get those yourself; they're pretty simple.

The steps to getting out of the bunker are equally clear.

1. Turn the club in your hands, then take your grip. That way you'll be less likely to flip the club at impact.
2. On your backswing, make sure the heel of the club gets up higher than the toe of the club.
3. On your downswing, hit just behind the ball and don't flip the club.

That second part is what I think you might misunderstand. I bet you'll try to twist your forearms on the way back, to make sure you twist the heel over the toe. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO! If you grip the club with the face open, the heel will AUTOMATICALLY move above the toe when you swing back. You don't need to rotate your forearms at all to get the face in the correct position all the way through to the finish.

If you try to twist your forearms, you'll add inconsistency to your swing and make it harder to hit the sand properly with the sole of the club. As long as you keep turning your shoulders all the way through the shot, you don't need to twist your forearms at all.

David says this tip will help you get out of the bunker first time, every time. You may not always get the ball real close but, with just a little practice, your next shot will be a putt. For most of us, that's a major accomplishment!