Before you can even think about hitting the ball you have to know where you want the ball to go and how to hold the club. Aim and grip are the first two of the fundamentals that must be correct or your shots will be off target. Even the most experienced golfer should constantly check that both his aim and grip are right. It is only too easy for a simple fault to creep into a good golfer's play at the most basic stage.

The concept behind aim applies to whatever type of stroke you are playing. You must have your club-face square to the ball-to-target line to hit the ball straight.

The grip described here is the standard grip - called the overlapping, or Vardon, grip - that you use on every club apart from the putter.

When you've mastered aim and grip you can then go on to think about alignment of your body and club, the ball position in relation to body position, and the posture needed to attain the correct swing. These pre-swing essentials are part of the pre-shot routine that gets you to the right address position - the position from which you can produce a good swing.

Aim the clubface

Before you think about the grip, look at the ball and the target - whether it is the flagstick, or some point on the fairway - and imagine a line joining them. This is your ball-to-target line and is the line you want the ball to travel along. Look at your target two or three times to ensure that you see the line clearly in your mind's eye.

You aim the club simply by setting the leading edge of the club-face precisely at right angles to the line from your target to the ball. Rest the sole of the club head on the ground behind the ball, hold the shaft in one hand and set the aim. It doesn't matter too much which club you use but a 6 or 7 iron is a good one to start off with. Stand so that your feet are about as far apart as your shoulders with your toes pointing outwards. The ball is about 1 ft (45cm) from the centre of your toe line.

 When you go through the process of adjusting the grip, check every so often that the clubface is square to the ball-to-target line.

Grip know-how

The correct grip is vital and it is easy to adopt. It's important to remember that in the golf swing the hands play different roles and these roles are reflected in the way they are used in the grip. The hands are placed in different positions and work together during the swing.

Your left hand supports the club and maintains the club head in the correct position through impact with the ball. It can be described as the 'strong hand' in the grip. The club is positioned diagonally across the palm, resting against the 'meat' of your hand.

Your right hand, however, is going to 'release' the club head just before impact. This release gives the clubhead the power and speed to get maximum distance.

Releasing the club head is similar to the action of throwing a golf ball or skimming stones across water. When you do this you instinctively hold the stone somewhere between the forefinger and middle finger, with the thumb resting lightly on it as a support.

The release comes from the 'trigger finger' or, to be more precise, the middle joint of your forefinger. When you hold the club with your right hand the grip should run through these fingers. By holding it this way you can be sure of a good release of power at the correct time.

When taking your grip, start by placing the sole of the club on the ground - preferably up against the ball on a tee peg as this helps you keep the club head square. Support the club using the tip of your right forefinger and thumb placed on the top of the grip.


The left hand

Let your left arm hang naturally by the side of the grip before bringing it across to the club to take hold. About -1 in (1.5-2.5cm) of the grip protrudes above where it rests across your hand. Your thumb should fall slightly to the right of centre and your third and little fingers should grip hardest. These are important pressure points. The club must rest diagonally across your palm, in the 'meat' of your hand.

The right hand

When you have the club correctly positioned in your left hand let go with your right hand and let it hang naturally by your side. The grip formed by your right hand should take up the form of a 'V between your thumb and forefinger.

To get an idea of how the 'V should look, hold a golf ball as if you are about to throw it. Drop the sail by slightly relaxing your grip and, with the grip still in place, bring your hand across to the club.

Grip the club below your left hand with the middle two fingers and forefinger of your right hand. Let the little finger of your right hand overlap with the forefinger of your left hand. The thumb of your right hand should rest lightly on the grip pointing down the shaft and slightly to the left of centre. Check that the clubface is square.

When you have both hands on the club, lift it up to chest height. Take a good look at your hands -you should see two knuckles on each of your hands and a very pronounced V in your right hand, pointing towards your chin. The hands are now completely molded into one unit.

Taking up the overlapping grip

1: Before you grip
I Rest the club head on the ground and support the club with your right forefinger and thumb. Let your left arm hang naturally beside the club. Make sure the clubface is properly aimed.

2: The left hand
Move your left hand on to the club and position the grip diagonally across the 'meat' of your hand. Close your third and little fingers - vital pressure points.

3: Thumb position
Completely close your left hand, allowing your thumb to rest to the right of centre. Make sure your grip is not too tight.

4: Forming the ‘V’
Create the ‘V’, between thumb and forefinger, by holding a golf ball between the forefinger, middle finger and thumb of your right hand. Drop the ball by slightly releasing the pressure but keep your hand in the same position.

5 The right hand
 Move your right hand on to the grip and hold the club with your two middle fingers and forefinger. Let your little finger overlap with the forefinger of  your left hand and your right thumb rest to the left of centre of the shaft. Raise the club up to eye level. You should see two knuckles showing on each hand and a 'V made by the thumb and forefinger of your right hand.

Overlapping grip
In the finished grip, the little finger of your right hand is over the forefinger of your left hand. It is the standard grip (also called Vardon grip) for all shots except putts. It is the best grip for most golfers.

Interlocking grip
If you have small hands or fingers try the interlocking grip. This is the same as the overlapping grip except that the little finger of your right hand interlocks with the forefinger of your left hand.

Baseball grip
This is an unusual grip in which all ten fingers are in contact with the grip. It is mainly used by players who are physically weak, such as youngsters and those suffering from arthritis.