Golf is a challenging sport that requires an understanding of many different aspects. One of the most important elements to understand is how to grip the golf club correctly. In this blog post, we will discuss all you need to know about how to grip a golf club so that you can improve your swing and have better control over your ball flight.
The Proper Grip Explained
In order to grip a golf club correctly, you should first understand that there are different types of grips. The type of grip you use will depend on your personal preference and the type of club you are hitting.
The other important element to remember when gripping a golf club is the position of your hands.
There are four main hand positions for golf, and each one can impact how you play.
I’ll be discussing this in greater detail below, but the main thing to remember is that you should grip your golf club according to what feels most comfortable for you.
Step-by-Step Guide to How To Grip A Golf Club
Left Hand Golf Grip
The first grip style is called the left-hand golf grip.
This will be most familiar to those who are right-handed since this is how they swing the club naturally.
The left-hand grip involves placing your left thumb on top of the back of the shaft with your four fingers underneath it.
Your index finger should point towards where you want your ball to go, and there should be a space between your pinkie finger and ring finger.
Right Hand Golf Grip
When it comes to the right hand, you want the creases inside the right hand to overlap the thumb of your left hand.
Your right thumb should be pointing downwards towards the ground. You will want to place both of your hands near the end of the club handle so that there is plenty of space before you grip it again with your left hand.
Hand Positions For A Golf Grip
Strong golf grip
The first hand position is the strong grip.
This type of grip helps when you are using a driver because it will give your ball more power and control when striking it towards the hole.
To use this style, make sure to keep all four knuckles straight in both hands with your palms facing each other at an angle where they almost touch each other’s fingertips.
Neutral Golf Grip
The neutral grip is the preferred style for those who are using irons or woods and can also be used when you are playing with a driver. T
The hands should have an even amount of pressure against one another so that there isn’t any extra force on either side of the club handle.
This position will help to prevent injury as well as give your shots more accuracy than power.
Weak Golf Grip
The weak golf grip is the opposite of the strong grip.
This style should be used when it comes to the short game, such as pitching, chipping, and sand shots.
To use this style, you will want to bend all of your knuckles and keep your palms facing away from one another.
Types of Golf Grips
Interlocking Golf Grip
The interlocking grip is where the fingers of your left hand are wrapped around the right hand.
To get into this position, simply place your left thumb on top of the index finger of your right hand and loop it underneath with all four fingers overlapping one another to complete a full circle.
The pinkie finger should be touching the side or back of the index finger.
This grip has been used by the two greatest players of all time: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Overlapping Golf Grip
The overlapping grip is similar to the interlocking style, but your left hand’s fingers are only looped around two of your right hand’s fingers.
To accomplish this position, you will want to put both hands on top of each other with your index finger pointed outwards.
When everything has been placed correctly, all four knuckles should be touching one another and there shouldn’t be any part poking through or sticking up.
The pinkie finger can either touch the backside or front side of the middle finger depending on which feels most comfortable for you when putting it in place.
10 Finger (Baseball) Golf Grip
The ten-finger, baseball grip is similar to holding a baseball bat and is the least popular of all styles because it requires you to put your left hand on top of your right.
To get into this position, place both hands side by side with palms facing away from one another and fingers pointing downwards towards the ground.
Troubleshooting Your Golf Grip
Golf grip pressure
If you are having issues with too much pressure, it might be because your hands aren’t even.
You will want to make sure that the four knuckles on both of your hands are touching one another without any area being exposed for injury during playtime.
If this doesn’t help, try making a fist and then relaxing back into the original position which should relieve some of the stress placed against each other’s fingers or palms.
Pressure points
If you are having issues with the key pressure points of your golf grip, it’s because there is too much space between each finger and not enough palm-to-palm contact.
To fix this issue, try placing both hands together side by side as if they were going to shake hands and make sure that all four knuckles on each hand touch one another evenly without any part poking up or sticking out.
Pro’s advice on grip pressure
A pro golfer will tell you to not be afraid of a strong grip because it can actually help your game.
If the pressure is too much, try straightening out all four knuckles and make sure that both hands are touching each other’s palm evenly without any force being applied on either side.
Golf grip size
If you are having issues with the size of your golf grip, it might be because one hand is larger than the other. If this is the case for you and there isn’t a way to get around it while playing, then use that same-sized hand on both sides so that everything feels balanced when swinging at the ball.
Golf grip release point
If issues with the height of your golf grip are disrupting your swing, it might be because you haven’t chosen a proper release point.
There is more than one type of appropriate spot in which to hold onto the club and each can help if used correctly depending on what kind of shot you want to make at that moment.
How to Fix Ball Flight With Your Grip
If you are having issues with your ball flight, it might be because of the way in which you release the golf club.
If you have a slice, you may need to adapt to a strong grip. If you have a hook, lean more to a weak grip.
If the ball is going low and straight towards the ground as if there were no force used against it at all, chances are your hands should be closer together with less of a gap between them.
This will help keep the club from hitting too much into that side thus resulting in a lower trajectory for where you want to hit toward.
Long Thumb or Short Thumb
A long-thumb grip is when you have a large gap between the first finger of your hand and your thumbs.
If this feels like too much pressure, make sure that all four knuckles are touching each other evenly without any part sticking out or poking through.
You can also try switching hands to see which works better for you if one feels more comfortable than the other during playtime.
A short-thumb grip is when there isn’t enough space between these two fingers on either side because they’re pressed right up against each other at all times (almost as if it were broken).
This type of golfing style will help with control but might be harder to adapt to depending on what kind of club you use most frequently throughout game time.
Differences in Holding a Driver Vs a Putter
There are several differences between holding a golf driver versus holding a putter.
When it comes to the former, you will want your right hand at about 11 o’clock and place your left thumb on top of the shaft’s tapered end with that same side pointing directly towards where you plan to hit the ball.
You can also choose to use other types of grips for long-distance shots depending on how comfortable they feel when you’re playing or practicing. The latter is simple enough as well – simply rest both hands upon each club normally until reaching their designated positions, making sure not to hold them too tightly or loosely either way so everything feels balanced during swing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the proper golf grip important?
The proper golf grip is important because it will help you to perform better and feel more comfortable during playtime. This also helps prevent injuries from occurring as well which can take place if the hands aren’t even or held at a certain height for too long without balancing out correctly.
What type of grip should I use?
There is more than one type of grip which you can use during playtime but the most common ones include interlocking, overlapping, ten-finger (baseball), and Vardon. Each of these will help to improve your game if held correctly so make sure that all four fingers on each hand are touching one another or resting in their designated position before swinging away.
What is the best way to hold a golf club?
The best way to hold a golf club in my opinion is to adapt a stronger grip, especially if you’re a beginner.
This will help you to build up the appropriate muscles needed for a stronger and more consistent swing which can make a huge difference in terms of how far the ball goes.
Which golf training aids can help with learning the proper golf grip?
Golf training aids such as the SKLZ Golf Grip & Tempo Trainer can help with learning the proper grip. By practicing with this device on a daily basis, you’ll develop your correct golf grip much faster.
How tight should I hold the club?
There shouldn’t be a need to hold the club too tightly with a stronger grip, but if you feel like your hands are going numb or they’re beginning to shake then it might be time to switch things up until the discomfort goes away.
How much pressure should I use to hold a golf club?
Most people hold onto the club with a certain amount of pressure, but if this is causing too much discomfort or you have to do it more tightly than usual then try using a lighter grip instead so everything feels balanced and easier to handle.
Why does my golf grip make me slice/hook?
There could be several reasons why your grip is making you slice or hook the ball during playtime and it’s best to experiment with changing up which type of grip you use until everything feels balanced.
Why does my grip make a difference to the face of the club?
Because can affect the closing or the opening of the face at impact. If gripping too tightly, this can cause a closed face or if holding loosely it could make the club more open.
How to fix my grip – fade/slice?
There are a few ways in which you can fix your grip if it’s causing too much of a fade or slice. For example, try gripping the club more tightly until the ball goes straight and then gradually loosen up over time to see what works best for you.
How to fix my grip – draw/hook?
If the ball is going right or into a hook then this could be caused by gripping too tightly as well. Try to relax your hands for a few minutes and then check again before changing up which type of grip you use until it feels more comfortable during playtime.
Is there a perfect golf grip?
There is no perfect golf grip but the Vardon grip has been found to be one of the most popular ones because it allows you to play better and feel more comfortable when in motion. This type of grip can help improve your game if held correctly so make sure all four fingers on each hand are touching, not too tightly or loosely either way.
Should I use the same grip for my irons and driver?
It’s best to use a stronger grip for both of your irons and driver because this will allow you to build muscle memory which makes it easier to adapt during playtime.
It also helps prevent injuries from occurring as well if the hands aren’t even or held at a certain height without balancing out correctly first.
Should I chip and pitch with the same golf grip?
No, you should ideally have a different golf grip for chipping and pitching during playtime because this will help to build muscle memory as well as prevent injuries from occurring.
I’d suggest using a neutral grip or a weak grip.
Is a putting grip different?
A putting grip should be different from a regular golf swing because it’s shorter and you have to stand still so try using a stronger or weaker grip until everything feels balanced.
How to hold a golf club – Summary
In summary, the best way to hold a golf club is to use a stronger grip so your swing feels more consistent and you can build up the muscles needed for this type of motion.
A tightly held grip shouldn’t cause discomfort but if it does then switch things up until everything balances back out again.
You should also try gripping with different pressure depending on what works best for you and experiment with changing which type of grip you’re using during playtime in order to find something that feels comfortable enough while balancing out all parts of the body.
Using a Vardon style or weak/stronger grip are two common types recommended by pros because they allow players to make better shots as well as feel balanced through impact without having any injuries occur either from too much pressure or not enough.
You can also try changing your grip between shots if it’s causing you to miss the ball too often and remember that each club should have a different type of golf grip as well which will help improve muscle memory while preventing injuries from occurring during playtime.