Butch's basics: today's stronger left-hand grip requires a shift from Hogan's philosophy

Golf Digest, Nov, 2003 by Butch Harmon

In general, tour players today utilize a stronger left-hand grip than golfers of past eras. Most players see three knuckles on the left hand when they look down at address. Though it has its perils, a strong left-hand grip does make it easier to square the clubface at impact, thus decreasing the likelihood of a slice. Like a lot of fundamentals, however, the left-hand grip must be compatible with the rest of your setup if you're to get any good out of it.

The position of your arms is particularly important. The standard philosophy, promoted by Ben Hogan in his book, Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, is to start with your elbows as close together as possible, the crooks of both arms aimed at the sky. That's fine with the right arm, because it helps you fold it nicely on the backswing. But Hogan's left-arm position was designed to accommodate a weak grip. If you have a strong or neutral left-hand grip, I like to see more distance between the arms, with the crook of the left arm aimed more to your right as opposed to the sky. That promotes a smooth, natural takeaway. The downswing will be more natural, too, and through impact you'll have a better chance of returning your arms--and the clubface--to the position they were in at address.