Your grip is the only connection between you and the club. A bad grip makes every other part of the swing harder to fix.
3 grip styles
Overlapping (Vardon) grip
The pinky finger of your trail hand rests on top of the gap between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand. Used by most PGA Tour players. Works best for players with larger hands.
Interlocking grip
The pinky of your trail hand locks between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus both used this grip. Good for players with smaller hands or who want a more connected feel.
10-finger (baseball) grip
All 10 fingers sit on the club with no overlap or interlock. Easiest grip for beginners because it feels natural. Less control at higher swing speeds, but perfectly fine for casual golfers.
How to grip the club: step by step
Lead hand (left hand for right-handed players)
- Hold the club in your fingers, not your palm. The club runs diagonally from the base of your pinky to the middle joint of your index finger.
- Close your hand. You should see 2-3 knuckles when you look down. If you see only 1, your grip is too weak (clubface will open at impact). If you see 4, it's too strong (clubface will close).
- Your thumb sits slightly right of center on the shaft (for right-handed players).
Trail hand (right hand for right-handed players)
- Place your trail hand below the lead hand.
- The lifeline of your trail palm covers your lead thumb.
- Choose your overlap, interlock, or 10-finger position.
- The V formed by your trail thumb and index finger points toward your trail shoulder.
Grip pressure
On a scale of 1-10, grip the club at about 4-5. Light enough that someone could pull the club from your hands with moderate effort. Tight enough that it won't fly out during the swing.
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Most amateurs grip too tightly. Tension in the hands travels up the arms and into the shoulders, which kills swing speed and flexibility. If your forearms are sore after a round, you're gripping too hard.
Common grip mistakes
- Gripping in the palm: reduces wrist hinge and costs distance. The club should run across your fingers.
- Weak grip: leads to a slice because the clubface is open at impact. Fix: rotate both hands slightly clockwise (for right-handed players) until you see 2-3 knuckles on your lead hand.
- Strong grip: leads to hooks and pulled shots. Fix: rotate hands slightly counterclockwise.
- Mismatched Vs: if the V of your lead hand points left and the V of your trail hand points right, your hands are fighting each other.
When to re-grip your clubs
Replace your grips every 40-60 rounds, or once a year if you play weekly. Worn grips get slick, which forces you to hold the club tighter, which causes the tension problems described above.
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New grips cost $5-15 per club for the grip itself, plus $2-5 per club for installation at a golf shop. You can also regrip clubs yourself with a kit ($15-20) and 30 minutes.
For the full swing mechanics, see how to swing a golf club and how to hit a golf ball. If you're also wondering which hand wears the golf glove, it's always the lead hand (left hand for right-handed players).
