Copyright (c) 2006 David Nevogt

I think skulling or topping is the most common missed golf swing when you're chipping the golf ball.

Youll have a great shot lined up, but when you look up, youve skulled it, or topped it, or hit it thin and bladed it over the green.

So, let me tell you about an exercise that will help you a lot with your golf swing.

After you set up, ball in the middle, weight left and handle left, watch the club head, not a giant followthrough. Heres why.

The angle that your club goes back is up. So, if it goes up, itll come back down and youll hear a click.

Now when you skull, your golf club travels too much inside. That means it didnt get up high enough.

But if it goes inside low, it will try to go and get underneath the ball on the way down.

So, the next time you're out on the golf course or the practice facility, try this little exercise to improve your golf swing. See if you can take the leading edge, and see if you can chop some grass with it.

Not a giant followthrough, but a very functional way to chip a golf ball and not skull anymore.

Now, have you ever asked yourself how hard should I hold a golf club?

Theres something real common in this country. When we shake peoples hands, we kind of know whether youre shaking their hand and its a little too light, or maybe its a little too firm.

But when we swing a golf club theres no gauge. Theres no one on the other end saying, Hey, youre holding on too tight.

I have a great golf grip lesson for you. Let me tell you something that will really help, because there really is something down there saying, Hey, I think youre holding on too tight, or maybe, Youre holding on too softly.

Watch this. The tighter you hold a golf club, the slower the face is to roll over and release. The lighter that you hold a golf club, the easier it is and the quicker the toe will cross over.

So, if youre struggling and you feel like youre hitting the golf ball shorter than you should and youre fading a little bit, lighten up on your grip.

If you feel that maybe youre hitting it left with a little too much hook, and youre really hitting it far, maybe even a little further that you might normally hit it, then maybe you hold on a little too softly.

For those of you that hook the golf ball and you want to hold onto the grip a little tighter, start with the left hand. Hold onto the club with the left hand just a little tighter than the right, but hold on firmer.

Again, if you feel like youre fading, loosen up on it. If you feel like youre hooking, grab onto it just a little bit tighter. Hopefully this golf grip lesson will help you.

Have a great day, and thanks.

David Nevogt writes golf instruction material that helps golfers of all levels reach their full potential and lower their scores. David is the author of "The Simple Golf Swing" which guarantees to have you shooting 7 strokes lower in only 1 week from today. You can find more of his golf instruction by going to www.golfswingguru.com .