Having the right grip on your golf club is a really important and an often neglected part of the game. But with the proper grip, you’ll be able to swing the golf club with ease and precision, allowing you to hit the ball with the accuracy you need to play to your potential.
So, If you want to improve your golf game, read on as this guide will help you understand the benefits of a good grip, how exactly you should grip a golf club, and how to troubleshoot your grip if you’re struggling.
The Importance Of A Proper Golf Grip
There’s loads of reasons why it’s important to use a proper golf grip but as I mentioned its an often neglected part of the game, so just to make sure we’re all the same page, I’ve put a few of the reasons why below:
Aids your swing
With a proper golf grip, you’re able to hold the club correctly – well enough to satisfy even the fussiest golf guru. The result of this great grip? Improving your chance of making solid contact with the golf ball, of course.
With the proper grip, you can also gain more control over your accuracy and body movements in the swing. This control makes it possible to achieve a consistent tempo and ideal speed with every swing.
Increased accuracy
Holding a golf club with the correct golf grip will make it more straightforward to aim at your target. A good grip does away with a lot of the avoidable difficulty when it comes to lining up your shot.
Helps avoid injury
Muscle strain is a real concern in golf. Without a proper golf grip, you are opening yourself up to the risk of injury to muscles and joints. Not only this, but your hands can become sore (even blistered), wrist hinge can set in, and your forearms will feel heavy. In short, it doesn’t make for comfortable playing.
Improved strength
A proper golf grip ensures you are using your hands correctly on the course. The result is stronger hands, which, in turn, promotes better accuracy and power when hitting your golf ball.
Your Guide To The Perfect Golf Grip
Below you’ll find our comprehensive guide to golf grips. You’ll notice it’s not a one-size-fits-all type of situation; finding the grip that’s comfortable for you is a priority.
Although we’ve broken it the golf grip process down for a right handed golfer, if you’re left handed the process in still the same just replace right hand with left hand and vice versa.
Step 1: Your left hand
To get your left hand in the right spot, start by setting your club on the ground with the face pointing towards your desired target and the toe slightly off the ground. Now, analyze how your left hand (if you’re a right-handed golfer) is gripping the club – it should be nestled in your fingers.
With an open hand, grab the club from the middle joint of your index finger, and wrap your fingers around it, rolling your thumb into place. Make sure your forefinger is held firmly, from its middle joint to the cushion at the base of your hand. This achieves optimum grip pressure.
With your left hand on the club, you should be able to draw a line between your thumb and forefinger, aimed towards your right shoulder or ear. Take a peep downwards and make sure you can spot two or three knuckles on your lead hand. If you can’t see them, keep making adjustments until you can.
This trick is something even professionals use to make sure they’ve got the perfect grip on the club at the start of the shot.
Step 2: Deciding on your grip
At this point you’ve got the option to overlap, interlock, or use the baseball golf grip. It all comes down to what feels comfortable – there’s no right or wrong way. No matter which one you choose, make sure you grip the club in your fingers: this is the key to your golf grip’s success.
Let’s look at each of these grips in a little more detail to help determine which is best suited to your playing style.
Overlapping grip
With the overlapping golf grip, the right pinky finger becomes the bridge between your hands; linking them together and keeping them in close contact. This type of grip is ideal for adult male golfers with long fingers and strong hands. Golfers with smaller hands may find other grips suitable.
That said, it’s the grip used by many pros and the vast majority of amateur players, too.
Interlocking grip
The interlocking grip is like a secret handshake for golfers – two hands interlocking to create a secure and reliable grip!The little finger of the right hand and the left hand’s index keep your hands connected.
Baseball grip (10 Finger Grip)
Young golfers and seniors can rejoice – with this grip, you needn’t worry about limited flexibility or having smaller hands. The right little finger lays next to the left index finger, creating a natural grip.
This grip, also known as the neutral golf grip, makes it easy to focus on other elements of the golf swing, rather than worrying about the grip itself.
Step 3: Your right hand
No matter which way works best for you, it’s crucial to place your right hand in the proper spot so your arms and hands can function together as a powerful team. This will give your golf swing an extra boost.
Make sure your fingers are placed underneath the grip, with your left thumb nestled gently in your right palm. The ideal grip has a line drawn between your right thumb and forefinger pointing toward your right shoulder/ear. Now you’re ready to have some fun with your golf club.
The final step to getting the ideal golf grip is to slide your index finger a touch further down the handle, almost as if you’re pulling a trigger. Once you’ve got that figured out, you’ll be able to hit shots that fly straight and true, every time.
Golf Grip Checklist
You don’t want to lose your connection with your club, so make sure your hands are in the right spot. Here are a few more things to consider to improve your golf grip:
1. Grip with your fingers
Ensure that the grip is snugly in the fingers of your left hand, not slipping through your palm. Too much grip in the palm won’t let you use your wrists correctly in your swing. While gripping the club in the palms is helpful for putting (to control wrist movement), it can be a disaster for the full swing.
2. Spot the warning signs
If you’re noticing your shots taking strange paths (to the left or right), double-check your grip; it may be too tight or too loose. If your hands are too far in either direction on the club, it can lead to decreased accuracy and distance when out on the links.
3. Check the “V” alignment
Ensure your hands are cooperating! Confirm that the “V” shape formed by your thumb and hand is facing the same way. It’s best to have the V pointing to your right ear (for right-handers) for a standard grip. If you need a stronger grip, adjust it to point further towards or past your right shoulder.
Most amateur golfers have an insufficient grip or a weak right hand, so it’s always something to be mindful of.
4. Create routine and consistency
Make it a habit to grip your club the same way during every round on the golf course. Whether you start with your right or left hand, make sure you stay consistent. It’s a great way to keep your game on track.
When it comes to golf, practice really does make perfect, so get into a routine where you can hone and utilize your proper golf grip. It’ll all be worth the extra practice when you start to see serious results, which, in time, will come. Trust us.
Troubleshooting
An overly strong or weak golf grip
The main issues golfers have, especially when starting out, is having either a too strong or too weak grip on the golf club.
A strong grip, with your lead hand on top of the club, can often lead to hooks. A good way to figure out if that’s your issue is to count the knuckles on your lead hand. If you can see more than three, that’s a strong grip and it’s time to loosen it up a little.
On the other hand, a weak grip causes slice. This is golf speak for when the face of the clubface is open to the path at impact. To remedy this, take a look at your knuckles that are visible. If there are two or fewer, strengthen your grip a touch, which should allow you to rediscover some control over your entire swing.
FAQs
Should I pitch and chip with my usual golf grip?
Yes; keep your grip the same for shots inside 50 yards, but it could be beneficial to grip it lower down the club. You’ll have better control, and your chipping/pitching action will be as smooth as butter. Well, with a little bit of practice…
How can I make my golf grip more comfortable?
Having a consistent golf grip that gets you the results you are looking for should also be comfortable. Wearing a golf glove on your left hand (if you’re one of the many right-handed golfers out there) is a great way to protect your hand while you maintain the correct grip on your golf club.