How To Grip A Golf Club

A proper golf grip is the foundation of a good golf swing. It’s your only physical connection to the club, making it arguably the most important fundamental in golf. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced player looking to refine your technique, mastering the correct grip will improve your consistency, power, and overall performance on the course.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about gripping a golf club properly, from basic hand positioning to the different grip styles used by professionals. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to build a grip that works for your unique swing.

What You’ll Need

Item	Purpose
Golf club (preferably a 7-iron to start)	For practicing your grip
Golf glove (optional but recommended)	Provides better friction and prevents slipping
Mirror	To check your grip position visually
Grip training aid (optional)	Helps develop muscle memory for proper hand placement

Understanding the Three Main Grip Types

Before diving into the mechanics, it’s important to understand that there are three primary grip styles used in golf. Each has its advantages and can influence your ball flight in different ways:

1. The Overlapping (Vardon) Grip

The most common grip among professional golfers, where the pinky finger of your trailing hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) rests on top of the index finger of your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers).

Best for: Players with larger hands or stronger wrists. This grip promotes a unified hand action and is favored by approximately 80% of professional golfers.

Time to master: 2-3 weeks of consistent practice

2. The Interlocking Grip

In this grip, the pinky finger of your trailing hand interlocks with the index finger of your lead hand, creating a more secure connection between both hands.

Best for: Golfers with smaller hands or less hand strength. This grip helps prevent the club from twisting during the swing. Notable users include Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Time to master: 2-3 weeks of consistent practice

3. The Baseball (Ten-Finger) Grip

All ten fingers are placed on the club, similar to how you would grip a baseball bat. There’s no overlapping or interlocking of fingers.

Best for: Beginners, juniors, seniors, or players with arthritis or hand injuries. This grip provides maximum control and is the easiest to learn.

Time to master: 1-2 weeks of consistent practice

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Golf Grip

Follow these steps to develop a proper golf grip. The instructions are for right-handed golfers; left-handed players should reverse the hand positions.

Step 1: Position Your Lead Hand (Left Hand for Right-Handed Golfers)

Hold the club out in front of you at a 45-degree angle, with the clubface square (facing your target).
Place the grip diagonally across your fingers, starting from the middle of your index finger to the base of your pinky.
Close your hand so that the pad of your thumb rests slightly right of center on the grip.
You should be able to see 2-3 knuckles of your left hand when you look down.
The “V” formed between your thumb and index finger should point somewhere between your right shoulder and right ear.

Common mistake: Placing the grip too much in the palm rather than the fingers. This reduces wrist hinge and power.

Time required: 5-10 minutes to position correctly, 1-2 weeks to make it feel natural

Step 2: Add Your Trail Hand (Right Hand for Right-Handed Golfers)

Place your right hand on the grip so that the lifeline of your palm covers your left thumb.
Depending on your preferred grip style, either overlap your right pinky on top of the gap between your left index and middle fingers (overlapping grip), interlock your right pinky with your left index finger (interlocking grip), or place all fingers on the grip (baseball grip).
The “V” formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point toward your right shoulder.
Your right palm should face upward slightly, not directly toward the target.

Common mistake: Gripping too tightly with the right hand, which can restrict your swing and reduce distance.

Time required: 5-10 minutes to position correctly, 1-2 weeks to make it feel natural

Step 3: Check Your Grip Pressure

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the tightest), your grip pressure should be around a 4-5.
You should be holding the club firmly enough that it won’t fly out of your hands during the swing, but not so tight that you create tension in your forearms.
A common teaching analogy is to hold the club as if you were holding a small bird—firmly enough that it can’t escape, but gently enough that you won’t hurt it.

Common mistake: Gripping too tightly, which restricts the natural release of the club through impact.

Time required: This is an ongoing process that you’ll need to monitor throughout your golfing journey

Understanding Grip Strength and Its Effect on Ball Flight

The rotation of your hands on the club (known as grip strength) significantly influences your ball flight. There are three main grip positions:

Strong Grip

In a strong grip, both hands are rotated more to the right (for right-handed golfers), allowing you to see 3 or more knuckles on your left hand at address.

Effect on ball flight: Tends to promote a draw (a ball that curves from right to left for right-handed golfers) and can help players who struggle with slicing.

Notable users: Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson

Neutral Grip

With a neutral grip, you can see about 2-2.5 knuckles on your left hand, and both Vs formed by your thumbs and index fingers point toward your right shoulder.

Effect on ball flight: Promotes a straight ball flight with minimal curvature.

Notable users: Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott

Weak Grip

In a weak grip, both hands are rotated more to the left, allowing you to see only 1-2 knuckles on your left hand.

Effect on ball flight: Tends to promote a fade (a ball that curves from left to right for right-handed golfers) and can help players who struggle with hooking.

Notable users: Jordan Spieth, Ben Hogan

Time to experiment with different grip strengths: 2-3 practice sessions of 30 minutes each

Adjusting Your Grip for Different Clubs

While the fundamental grip remains the same across all clubs, small adjustments can optimize your performance with different clubs in your bag:

Driver Grip

For most players, a slightly stronger grip works well with the driver to promote more distance.
You might grip the club a fraction lighter than with your irons to maximize clubhead speed.
Consider gripping down slightly (1/2 inch from the end) if you’re struggling with accuracy.

Time required: 20-30 minutes of practice to adjust comfortably

Iron Grip

A neutral grip position is generally ideal for consistent iron play.
Grip pressure should be moderate—firm enough for control but not restrictive.
Focus on keeping your lead wrist relatively flat at address and impact.

Time required: This should be your base grip, requiring minimal adjustment

Wedge Grip

For full wedge shots, maintain your standard iron grip.
For finesse shots around the green, you might grip down on the club (toward the shaft) for more control.
Some players slightly increase grip pressure with wedges for more precise distance control.

Time required: 30-45 minutes of short game practice to develop comfort with these adjustments

Putter Grip

The putter grip is distinct from other clubs and has many variations (conventional, cross-handed, claw, arm-lock, etc.).
The goal is to keep your wrists firm and minimize hand action during the stroke.
Experiment to find what gives you the most consistent results.

Time required: 1-2 hours of putting practice to find your most comfortable and effective method

Troubleshooting Common Grip Problems

Problem	Possible Cause	Solution
Consistent slice (ball curves severely right)	Grip too weak; hands rotated too far left on the club	Strengthen your grip by rotating both hands more to the right, showing more knuckles on your lead hand
Consistent hook (ball curves severely left)	Grip too strong; hands rotated too far right on the club	Weaken your grip by rotating both hands more to the left, showing fewer knuckles on your lead hand
Lack of distance	Grip too tight, restricting wrist hinge and release	Relax your grip pressure, especially in your forearms; focus on maintaining pressure at 4-5 out of 10
Inconsistent ball striking	Grip changing during the swing or between shots	Use alignment marks on your glove or grip to ensure consistent hand placement; consider taking a photo of your grip for reference
Pain in thumbs or hands	Improper pressure points or gripping too tightly	Ensure the club runs diagonally across your fingers, not directly across your palm; reduce grip pressure

Practice Drills to Perfect Your Grip

Drill 1: The Alignment Stick Drill

Place an alignment stick or club shaft along the outside of your forearms when in your grip position.
The stick should touch both forearms equally if your grip is neutral.
If the stick touches only your lead forearm, your grip may be too strong; if it touches only your trail forearm, your grip may be too weak.

Time required: 5-10 minutes per practice session

Drill 2: The Finger Pressure Drill

Grip the club normally, then identify which fingers feel like they’re squeezing the hardest.
Ideally, your ring and middle fingers of both hands should provide most of the pressure.
If your thumb and index fingers are squeezing too hard, you’ll restrict the club’s natural release.
Practice consciously relaxing your thumb and index finger while maintaining pressure with your middle and ring fingers.

Time required: 10-15 minutes per practice session

Drill 3: The Pause and Check Drill

Set up to hit balls at the driving range.
Before each swing, take your grip and then pause to check three things:
- Knuckle visibility on your lead hand
- The direction both “Vs” are pointing
- Your grip pressure (remember: 4-5 out of 10)
Make your swing only after confirming all three elements.
Over time, this conscious check will become automatic.

Time required: 20-30 minutes at the driving range

When to Consider Changing Your Grip

While consistency is important in golf, there are legitimate reasons to consider adjusting your grip:

Persistent ball flight issues: If you’ve been fighting the same slice or hook for months despite other swing adjustments.
Physical limitations: Hand injuries, arthritis, or other physical conditions may necessitate grip modifications.
Inconsistent contact: If you’re struggling with consistent ball-striking despite good swing mechanics.
Lack of distance: A grip change might unlock more power if you’ve plateaued in distance.

Important note: Changing your grip will feel uncomfortable at first and may temporarily worsen your results. Give yourself at least 2-3 weeks and several hundred practice balls before judging the effectiveness of a grip change.

Final Tips for Grip Success

Be patient: A new grip will feel awkward for several weeks before becoming natural.
Take photos: Document your grip from different angles so you can reference it if you get off track.
Seek professional feedback: A PGA teaching professional can provide personalized guidance on your grip.
Maintain consistency: Once you find a grip that works, stick with it to develop muscle memory.
Check regularly: Make grip checks part of your pre-shot routine to ensure consistency.
Consider grip size: The thickness of your grips can significantly impact your hand action. Standard grips work for most, but oversized grips can help reduce excessive hand action, while undersized grips can promote more active hands.

Conclusion

Mastering your golf grip is a fundamental step toward improving your golf game. While it may seem like a small detail, it significantly influences your swing path, clubface control, and overall consistency. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all grip in golf—the best grip is one that allows you to consistently deliver the clubface square to your target at impact.

Give yourself time to develop comfort with your grip, and don’t be afraid to make small adjustments based on the ball flight you’re seeing. With patience and practice, your grip will become second nature, allowing you to focus on other aspects of this wonderful game.

Whether you choose the overlapping, interlocking, or baseball grip, ensure it’s comfortable, repeatable, and promotes your desired ball flight. Your hands are your only connection to the club—make that connection count!