Especially for the Ladies

           Most of what I have written thus far applies to all golfers, mal and female, young and old.  But, because of their physical limitations and temperaments, women golfers have certain disadvantages but also advantages that merit special comment and consideration.

            The big disadvantage the woman golfer faces is her lack of power.  Rarely can she match the distance of the drives of even the average male golfer.  Yet, she can turn this into a plus by concentrating on the accuracy of a smooth swing.  She may be short off the tee, but, in the cases of women who have mastered the fundamentals, she will usually be straight and away from trouble.  Then, because she doesn’t often hit the greens in regulation figures, she relies on the deft touch, the trademark of most female golfers, to play the little chip shots and use the putter to make up for the extra stroke reaching the green.

            Here are some of the things to which women golfers should give special attention:

            EQUIPMENT—To help compensate for lack of power, use clubs with flexible shafts and a light enough swing weight.  Since you will be confronted with many long shots, be sure to have 3-, 4-, and 5-woods in your set.  The big head helps.

            GRIP—Since your hands are usually small and not too strong, you should consider using the interlocking or five-finger grip.  A glove will help maintain a firm hold on the club, too.  This is a common problem for the ladies, particularly at the top of the backswing.  To get maximum distance within you limitations, us the “strong” grip for the extra roll of left-to-right action.

            SWING—Learn to take a full, smooth swing with your wood and long-iron shots, getting the sweeping motion instead of the slapping, scooping action that may seem more natural.  Also, avoid letting your weight shift you up on your toes, the cause of so many topped shots by women.

            CLUB SELECTION—Recognize the limitation of your strength in choosing your club for a shot.  Accept the fact that you may have to hit a wood to cover the same distance that a man handles with a mid-iron.  Place results ahead of pride.