Strengthening the Hands for Playing Great Golf

Strong hands, wrists and fingers are essential to theagainst each other and compressing a spring grip
retention of a correct and constant grip in everyobtainable for two or three shillings and easily carried
detail and the development of the feeling that it isin the pocket. This spring grip also builds up the
fitted snugly to the shaft of the golf club.forearm muscles, and when you can fully compress it
You may well ask why this emphasis on strength.without strain you will be on the way to your
After all, a golf club only weighs between twelve andobjective.
fifteen-and-a-half ounces.But probably the best method of strengthening the
Here is the answer. For all its comparatively lightfingers is by using a simple piece of apparatus which
weight the club head moves in a wide arc and worksyou can rig up in a few minutes.
up to a high speed at impact. To keep completeTake a broom handle and bore a hole half-way along
control of it without restriction of the life and powerits length. Run a piece of string through the hole and
of the swing it is necessary to develop a measure offix a weight at the other end of the string. Holding
strength which permits firm mastery without thethe pole with both hands apart and parallel to the
fullest physical effort to apply it.ground, turn it with the fingers clockwise towards
The novice, learning to drive a car, starts bythe body thus winding the string towards the pole
clenching the steering wheel. Smooth steeringand drawing the weight up to it. Release the weight
thereby is impossible and if he were to drive anyslowly back to the ground by turning the fingers in
distance the arms would soon be aching. Similarly withthe opposite direction.
the novice boxer. Clenching his fists inside his glovesYou cannot put in too much work on the hands and
and holding his arms rigid he cannot throw a properfingers, those vital extremities which are your sole
punch or react quickly enough to parry one from hiscontact with the club, the means by which you feel
opponent. His arms rapidly tire and feel as heavy asand sense the position of the club head throughout
lead.the movement. Train them and condition them, and
It is this same muscular tension against which I amyou will find that the rest of the technique which
warning you as a golfer. A fierce grip on the shaftgoes to the shaping of the swing will become less of
locks the wrists and deprives the movement of LIFE,a chore and more of a pleasure. Your progress will be
but if the hands are not conditioned to their task themore rapid and sure.
natural instinct is to grip fiercely.Finally, here is a significant admission by American
Now for ways to train and strengthen the hands,Ryder Cup Captain, Jerry Barber. Last year he
fingers and wrists.declared he was hitting the ball farther than he had
I am not among the advocates of swinging aever done before, thanks to hand exercises with a
specially weighted club. Do all your club-swinging withspring grip.
a club of the swing-weight you will use out on theBarber, no big man physically, was already a big
course. That to me makes common sense. Amoney winner, but, still not content, he set to work
practice-swinging club with ounces of extra lead"increasing the playing strength in my hands and
poured into the head simply provides you with aforearms and gained greater control over the club.
clumsy, unwieldy implement in sharp contrast to theThat is why I am hitting the ball farther than ever".
finely balanced product which the manufacturer hasThe time spent strengthening your hands will
turned out for your use.undoubtedly pay dividends when it comes to your
No, I advise a selection of simple exercises such asgame.
pressing the spread finger-ends of the two hands