What about your grip?

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- Before you take your first swing at a golf ball, you should learn how to grip the club. Bad grip habits are hard to break once you've developed them. The most popular grip among professionals is the Vardon (VAR-dun) grip.

For right-handed golfers, start by holding the club in your left hand with the shaft running from the base of your pinkie to the middle of your index finger. Your thumb should be along the shaft, rather than wrapped around it. Now use your right hand to grasp the club just below the left, with your right little finger overlapping the gap between the first two fingers of your left hand. The interlocking fingers help give you the feeling that your hands are working together when you swing.

There are two other grips that have been used by highly successful players. The interlocking grip is a variation of the Vardon in which the right pinkie interlocks with the left forefinger.

If you have small hands, you might find this more comfortable.

Another grip that's sometimes used involves putting all ten fingers on the shaft without any overlap. This may give you a bit more power in your stroke, but makes controlling the club far more difficult.

The last thing to remember is not to grip the club too tightly. Your swing should be relaxed, and you can't do that if you're holding on to the club inappropriately.