Ever wondered if the way you hold the golf club is the best technique for hitting the ball straight and with power? Or, maybe you’re looking for a different grip and wonder how a low-handicapper holds the club?
We’ve got all the details you need to make the right decision on how to grip the golf club by giving you a breakdown of the different types of golf grips as well as a visual breakdown of how to properly grip a golf club.
Grab one of your irons from your bag, a sharpie, and an old/spare golf glove, and see how you can improve your golf grip!
The Different Types of Golf Grips
First of all, let’s go over the various types of golf grips used by beginner golfers all the way up to professional golfers:
10-Finger Grip
The 10-finger grip is the least complex of the grips. This grip will allow all your fingers to rest on the club side-by-side. The grip should not be visible between the hands. The 10-finger grip will allow golfers more wrist movement which can help with the power of your swing, however, there are a few downsides to the 10-finger grip.
[image of the 10-finger grip]
As the hands are next to each other with the 10-finger grip, there is a higher chance of lessened control of the club face. By less control, we mean that it may be more difficult to keep the club face square on ball impact. When considering this grip, be mindful of your weaknesses when it comes to hitting the ball. Ask yourself, “am I struggling with power or accuracy more?”
Overlapping Grip
The overlapping grip is probably the most popular grip used by low-handicap players. Using this grip requires you to rest your trailing hand pinkie finger in between your leading index and middle finger on the grip.
This grip gained popularity mainly because players have found that it unifies the hands on the club to create more control while still being able to give the wrist movement needed to create power in the swing.
[image of the overlapping grip]
The overlapping grip can be the go-to grip for most golfers, but keep in mind that it can be hard to use the gripping technique properly if you have weak or small hands. If you are looking for a best balance of control and power in your swing, consider the overlapping grip.
Interlocking Grip
The interlocking grip is another popular grip that does a great job of unifying your hands on the club to provide great control with ball impact. This is done by interlocking the right pinkie finger with the index finger.
[image of the interlocking grip]
If you are looking for a stronger connection with your hands, the interlocking grip will provide better control in your swing. Just remember that you may sacrifice some of the feel of the grip with the interlock because two of your fingers will be more connected compared to other grips.
The Steps For a Proper Golf Grip
In order to help you understand the fundamentals of a good golf grip, we’ve broken down the grip into 6 steps:
Before we begin: The steps below are for a right-handed golfer. If you are a left-handed golfer, just reverse the hands to follow along. We will also be showing the steps for an overlapping grip as we believe this is the best technique for most golfers
- Start by grabbing your club with your left hand and raising it parallel to the ground
- As you grip your club with your left hand, angle the grip diagonally between your thumb and index finger.
- Wrap your fingers around the grip and point your thumb down the grip toward the club head.
- Your grip at this point should be secure enough so that you can release the grip with your index and middle finger and not drop the club
- Take your right hand and rest your pinky finger between your left index and middle fingers
- Wrap the rest of your hand around the grip with your right thumb slightly overlapping your left thumb. Both thumbs should be pointed toward the club head
- With the grip now established, take your stance and address the ball with the club face square to the ball.
[image carousel of the steps to making the proper overlap grip]
Marking Your Glove For the Proper Grip
If you are having trouble knowing whether or not you have the proper grip with your hand in step two, try this:
- Put on a spare or old golf glove and open your hand so the fingers are pointed out and the thumb upward
- Take a sharpie and draw two diagonal lines on your glove where the grip of your club will lay in your hand.
- With your trailing hand, take the grip of the club and place it within the two diagonal lines drawn on your golf glove
[image of glove with the diagonal markings]
Try to memorize the feel of the golf club positioned within the diagonal lines on your glove. Over time, the club will naturally position itself in the correct part of your hand and you won’t need that old marked-up glove.
Golf Grip Tips to Keep In Mind
Remember that your hands ultimately control how you hit the ball. Your swing sequence, stance, and posture all influence the position your hands are in when you hit the ball. Your grip will be the deciding factor when it comes to the position of your club face and the ball. Keep these tips in mind when you develop a grip that works for you:
- Don’t feel the need to overgrip the club! Gripping the club too strongly will contribute to worse contact with the ball and even less power in your swing. When you focus your strength in one area, it takes away strength from other areas.
- Be mindful of how far up or down the grip your hands are. The closer your hands are to the club head, the less distance you will achieve on your shot. Aim to grip the club roughly one inch from top of your club and the closest hand to the top of the club.
- Do you have a problem with accuracy in your shots or do you feel like you are doing too much with your hands? Check your grip! Without even knowing it, many players are gripping the club in a way that contributes to hooking or slicing the ball. Try to slow down your swing with your current grip and look at how the club is impacting the ball.
Conclusion
The last thing you want to be thinking about on the golf course is if you are gripping the golf club correctly. Take the time in your practice to focus on the fundamental aspects of your golf grip and choose a grip that works best for your game. Be sure to check out our other golf guides that can help you improve all areas of your golf game.