My problem is grip.  For a very long time, my right hand (I play righty) would be in the correct initial position, but would get messed up during downswing.

I think the trick with golf is this:

“When learning, always be conscious of your mistakes.  Be conscious of them so much, that you’re “paying attention” to your errors even when you aren’t.  The more passive attention you give to a flaw, the more the correction becomes instinct.”

This can make the game very frustrating.  But that’s good, because given enough time (say, 12 or 13 holes), your philosophy becomes:

“Ah, I don’t care anymore.”

The swings I made after feeling “I don’t care” were some of the best swings I made today.  They say golf is more of a mental game than a physical game.  And it’s true.  One of the most common rookie mistakes is to swing super hard.  The gains made with extra power come at the cost of control and accuracy.  Don’t think about the game too much.

Anyone care to hit with me at the driving range?