Practicing on the driving range does not necessarily help to improve your golf game. Practicing bad habits only leads to ingrained bad habits. Have you ever found yourself at the range unable to hit anything well? And the more you swing the tighter you grip the golf club? Well if this is true for you, then its time to get back to the basics.

The first two basics of a proper golf swing are the grip and alignment. In order to have a proper grip, there must be very little tension in your forearms.

Try this little drill, without a club, bend from your waist and let your arms hang straight down. Now bring your hands together forming your golf grip. If this causes tension in your forearms, chances are your grip needs some work or you are gripping the club too tight.

When you are at the range do you know how to check your alignment? Remember, aligning your target by sight usually does not create proper alignment. Your eyes are not over the ball therefore they are not on the same line as the golf ball. Picture in your mind, railroad tracks that run parallel but not on the same line, if they were on the same line they would eventually cross. The same is true for the alignment in the golf swing and this can cause problems ranging from pull hooks to banana slices.

Use your golf clubs to help set your alignment in every range practice session. First, start by setting a club directly behind the golf ball aimed at your target. Now set two clubs parallel one on each side of the golf ball. This creates a lane for you to hit through.

You will find incorporating a proper grip and alignment will go a long way in easing your frustrations!