This month we ask hotchkin golf course teaching professional scott emery for the most common errors he sees in even experienced golfers’ techniques

The inherent pleasure of golf is that it’s simple to start, but impossible to master and even those who have spent decades trying to master an accurate drive can find themselves plagued by bad habits and intrinsic errors that can seriously affect the accuracy and range of your drive or cause them to miss other wise easy putts.

That’s where golfing pro Scott Emery comes in. The teaching professional at Woodhall Spa Golf Club’s Hotchkin course, reputedly one of the world’s 18 best courses, specialises in providing both beginners and those who are more proficient with invaluable advice to counteract fundamental errors in stance, swing, and grip that can plague even expert golfers.

Over the page, we discuss the golfing fundamentals that will ensure satisfaction and success every time you tee off.

Getting a Grip
Poor grip can play havoc with the accuracy of your drive and, according to Scott, errors in grip plague even expert golfers on the Hotchkin course where top golfers recently trained for the English Open.

“A common mistake is holding the club in the palms, not the fingers.” says Scott. This leads to a weak left hand and makes it difficult to square the club up to the face.”

Even experience golfers should check their grip according to Scott, ensuring that the three knuckles of the left hand show whilst the thumb and index finger form a ‘V’-shape pointing toward the right shoulder. The right hand should then cover the left forming a second ‘V’-shape directly on top.

“It’s important to get this right as early as possible.” says Scott. “It doesn’t feel natural to grip the club in the correct way but it can make an enormous difference and will facilitate a looser, more relaxed grip. So many golfers grip their club too tightly, resulting in a jerky swing, rather than one that flows freely.”