Let's look at this in two different pieces; grip pressure then the hip turn.

When I talk about grip pressure to a golfer it really has always depended on what type of golfer you are. Are you seasoned player with a single digit handicap or are you just beginning and need to learn the basics of what you should be feeling. Not knowing that I am will try to give you a couple of things to think about that you may remember.

I know you have heard the old saying from Sam Snead, “ hold the golf club like a you are holding a small bird; you need enough pressure to keep it from squirming out or flying away, but be gentle enough to not crush the bird” this is great stuff! I have always liked this thought because it gives all of us a great visual and what to try and feel when we place the correct grip on the club.

The other aspect of the grip I like to mention comes from the great Ben Hogan. Ben used to talk about the last three fingers of the left hand (right hand player). He would have consistent pressure during the set up and takeaway like we stated, but then feel the last three fingers in the left hand as the main pressure area on the downswing so it would not place tension on the writs and upper forearm, so he could have enough pliability in the arms in wrists to let the club properly release. You should also be able to waggle the clubhead without feeling you#%92re your fingers loosen. Give this a try!

In relation to hip turn on the backswing; I have never been a big advocate of that mental image. I really don#%92t like to think about the hips and turning until the downswing, unless there are other factors with a particular player that forces them to move the hips more than necessary.

I like to think that we are turning against the lower body. We want resist the turn to gain as much torque as possible in the back swing in order to let that energy go as we unwind on the downswing. Jim Mclean coined the name “X-Factor” or the difference between the turn of the hips in relation the shoulders or upper body. Watch many of the modern swings like Tiger Woods; they resist the over rotation and turning of the hips on the back swing. You can also concentrate on keeping the right knee (right handed player) flex and position during the back swing. Check out the great Peter Kostis and Swing Vision with Tiger Woods.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPJtK-DxnV4&mode=related&search=

Now obviously, there are going to be different degrees of flexibility and ability for every player and we all can#%92t swing like Tiger, but it really is the thought process here of staying under control, minimizing hip turn and movement in the lower body on the backswing; in order build torque and energy to release on the down swing. We can all do this, just in different degrees. Try it.

Get in a full length mirror and concentrate turning against that right knee and resisting the temptation to over swing. Watch yourself turn against the lower body. You will feel almost immediately the stretch and torque as you resist. Just as you twist a spring against its self, building up energy. If you let that spring go after twisting it up, you will see the tremendous energy released that has been built up. Building this torque will give you more power to unleash in the downswing and keep you in control and stable until the top of the swing! Good Luck!