How To Grip A Golf Club – The Right Way

Knowing and understanding how to grip a golf club accurately is crucial for improving your game. Do this right and you have a chance of hitting a good shot but do it wrong and you are likely to hit a poor shot. However, they all have some similarities that you need to learn if you want to become a good player.

How to make a strong golf grip

Be sure to hold the club in your fingers with both hands. You should also make sure the V formed by the space between your thumb and index is pointing to your back shoulder, and that at least 3 knuckles of your top hand are clear. If either of these components are out of whack, then your grip isn’t strong enough and you will always struggle with slicing the ball.

The most critical part of the grip

The most essential thing to remember is to hold the golf club very lightly. Most players don’t know how to hold a golf club. 

They hold it far too tightly and the outcome is, they experience a lot of tension in the swing which hinders them from swinging loose and freely.

You would be surprised at how much the hands really control the tension level of the whole body. Thus, the lighter you hold the club the more eased you will feel.

There are 3 most common ways to grip a golf club

1. Overlapping grip ( also known as Vardon grip and Vardon overlap )
2. Interlocking grip
3. Ten-finger grip (also known as baseball grip )

OVERLAPPING GRIP

This is the most generally utilized, and taught grip by playing, and teaching professionals. The pinky finger of the right hand is placed on top of the space between the index finger and middle finger on the left hand in an overlap golf grip. The overlap grip can also be referred to as the Vardon grip. This likely arose due to the effect of Harry Vardon, who brought about the grip as a way of taking some of the right-hand action, out of the swing and therefore reducing the possibility of a hook.

The overlap grip is mainly for people with bigger hands and those that need to control their grip pressure a little. It can feel somewhat easy to deliver the golf club when utilizing a covering hold. 

A few people imagine that they are less inclined to have rankles or hand disturbance when utilizing the cover hold. Some of the pro golfers that have used the overlap grip through the years include Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson. It does seem to be the more common grip on tour.

Advantages of using overlapping grip ( Vardon grip)

• It is suitable for players with big hands.
• It allows for more control and constant ball striking with both hands so close together.
• It allows players with hand pain or arthritis for proper golf grip.
• It Improves grip stability and comfort.

Disadvantages of using overlapping grip ( Vardon grip )

• Difficult for players with small or weaker hands.
• It may lose a little bit of distance.
• It may be inconvenient for some players.

INTERLOCKING GRIP

The most famous professionals of the interlocking grip include Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Nicklaus proclaimed the grip as being more suitable for players with shorter fingers, although a number of players who don’t have shorter fingers also use the grip. Players with shorter fingers also use the overlapping grip, so the rule of thumb doesn’t seem to be fixed.

An interlocking grip takes the pinky of your right-hand, and places it between the index and middle finger of your left hand. This grip is often used by players with smaller hands to help them feel as if they have control over the golf club. You will feel as though your hands work well together with an interlocking grip. A portion of the trouble with the interlocking grip, incorporate the way that you can wind up gripping the club too firmly.

Advantages of using interlocking grip

• It is locked together thus enabling strong golf grip.
• It creates unity between the two hands.
• It supports players with small hand sizes.
• It increases the natural strength in both hands.

Disadvantages of using interlocking grip

• It can be complex and might take time for a golfer to master.
• Interlocking gripping style has been known to be disturbing for some players, making it tough for them to control the golf club when offering strong shots.
• The movement of the wrists or hands around the golf club handle is often limited resulting in less release of the club when there is an impact.
• The club grip rests on the palms of the hands, thus, the grip tends to induce fade for many golfers.

TEN-FINGER GRIP

Due to its similarity to holding a bat, with no overlapping of the fingers, it is also known as the “baseball” grip. Great champions such as Bob Rosburg and Art Wall used the grip on their way to victory, so it has remained important and useful at the highest level of the game. Moe Norman, celebrated for being the greatest ball striker ever, changed to the grip later in his career.

You will have to press the pinky finger of the trailing hand against the index finger of the lead hand, for this grip. Then, cover the thumb of the lead hand, with the lifeline of the trailing hand. This grip works well for a lot of golfers, but it is not the most popular. Beginners, women, and seniors should look into this grip to see if it allows more power and distance.

Advantages of using ten-finger grip

• It is easy to learn.
• It gives extra power for beginners and players with weakness or joint pain.
• It is great for sand wedge shots, and for creating extra backspin.

Disadvantages of using ten-finger grip

• If the left hand doesn’t hit the ball as hard as the right hand, there is a possibility of losing power and this can cause shots to go the wrong way.
• A chance of sequences overlapping in the ten finger golf gripping technique is possible.

Whenever you are trying to improve your game, golf grip is one of the crucial things to consider. Most people often tend to disregard it. They will have a strong stance, control and power but their grip would be poor and they end up paying for it. So, You need to consider the grip as a crucial contributing factor to your game and improve it by some margin.

Never forget to practice, and remember to concentrate when you are gripping. Also make sure you practice different grips and see what works the best for you.