Why Your Grip Matters More Than You Think

Here’s something I wish someone had told me when I started playing: your grip is the only connection between you and the club. That’s it. Your hands are the only thing touching the equipment that hits the ball.

Get it wrong, and you’re fighting your swing before you even start. Get it right, and everything else becomes easier.

I spent my first two years slicing everything because of a weak grip I didn’t even know I had. One lesson, one grip adjustment, and my slice disappeared almost overnight. Seriously — the grip is that important.

So let’s get yours dialed in.

The Fundamentals: How to Grip a Golf Club Step by Step

Before we get into grip styles, let’s cover the basics that apply to everyone.

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

1. Let your arm hang naturally — Don’t reach for the club. Let it come to you.
2. Place the grip diagonally across your fingers — It should run from the base of your pinky finger to the middle of your index finger. NOT across your palm.
3. Wrap your fingers around the grip — Your thumb should rest just right of center on top of the shaft.
4. Check your knuckles — You should see 2-3 knuckles when you look down at your grip. This is crucial for determining grip strength (more on this shortly).

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

1. Place it below your lead hand — The grip should sit in the fingers, not the palm.
2. Cover your lead thumb — The lifeline of your trail hand (that fleshy pad below your thumb) should sit directly on top of your lead thumb.
3. Trail thumb position — Should rest slightly left of center on the grip.
4. Connect the hands — Use one of the three linking methods below (interlock, overlap, or baseball).

Step 3: Check Your “V’s”

Here’s a quick checkpoint the pros use: look at the “V” shapes formed between your thumbs and index fingers on both hands.

For a neutral grip, both V’s should point somewhere between your chin and right shoulder (for right-handed golfers). If they point outside your shoulder, you’re too strong. Inside your chin? Too weak.

Grip Styles: Neutral, Strong, and Weak

This is where things get interesting. The “strength” of your grip doesn’t mean how hard you squeeze — it refers to how your hands are rotated on the club.

Neutral Grip

• What it looks like: 2 knuckles visible on your lead hand; V’s pointing between chin and right shoulder
• What it does: Promotes a square clubface through impact
• Best for: Most golfers; this is the standard starting point
• Feel: Natural, balanced, no manipulation needed

A neutral grip is where most instructors will start you. It gives the clubface the best chance of returning to square without any compensations in your swing.

Strong Grip

• What it looks like: 3-4 knuckles visible on your lead hand; hands rotated more to the right (for righties)
• What it does: Closes the clubface, promotes a draw (right-to-left ball flight)
• Best for: Slicers who need to close the face; players who want to hit a draw
• Pros who use it: Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Paul Azinger

If you’re fighting a slice, a stronger grip might be your quickest fix. It naturally wants to close the clubface through impact.

Warning: Go too strong and you’ll start hooking it. It’s a balance.

Weak Grip

• What it looks like: 1 knuckle or less visible; hands rotated left
• What it does: Opens the clubface, promotes a fade (left-to-right ball flight)
• Best for: Players who hook the ball; those who want to hit a controlled fade
• Pros who use it: Ben Hogan (famously), Collin Morikawa

Most amateurs shouldn’t intentionally weaken their grip unless they’re hooking the ball badly. A weak grip makes it harder to square the face and can cost you distance.

Interlock vs Overlap vs Baseball: Which Grip Style Is Right for You?

Now let’s talk about how to connect your hands together. There are three main options, and here’s the honest truth: they all work. Pick the one that feels most natural and gives you the most control.

The Overlapping Grip (Vardon Grip)

How to do it: The pinky finger of your trail hand rests on top of the gap between the index and middle finger of your lead hand.

Pros:

• Most popular grip on Tour
• Good for larger hands
• Hands work together but have some independence
• Easier to create lag

Cons:

• Can feel disconnected for smaller hands
• Pinky might feel “floating” at first

Who should use it: Players with average to large hands; most golfers should try this first.

The Interlocking Grip

How to do it: The pinky of your trail hand and the index finger of your lead hand interlock, weaving between each other.

Pros:

• Hands feel completely unified
• Great for smaller hands
• Used by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods
• Secure feeling through the swing

Cons:

• Can feel cramped for larger hands
• Some players grip too tightly with it
• Might cause finger soreness initially

Who should use it: Players with smaller hands or weaker grip strength; anyone who feels the overlap is too loose.

The Baseball Grip (Ten-Finger Grip)

How to do it: All ten fingers touch the grip. No overlapping or interlocking — just like holding a baseball bat.

Pros:

• Most natural feeling for beginners
• Maximum leverage and power
• Good for juniors, seniors, or those with arthritis
• Comfortable immediately

Cons:

• Hands can work independently (not ideal)
• Less control for some players
• Not as common on Tour

Who should use it: Beginners who struggle with other grips; players with hand/finger issues; juniors.

Grip Pressure: The Mistake Almost Every Beginner Makes

Here’s where most people go wrong: they grip the club way too tight.

I get it. You’re trying to control this thing, and squeezing harder feels like more control. But it’s actually the opposite.

Think of it this way: On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is a death grip and 1 is the club falling out of your hands, you want to be around a 4 or 5.

Why? Because:

• Tension kills clubhead speed
• Tight grip = tight forearms = restricted wrist hinge
• You lose feel and touch completely
• Your tempo goes out the window

Sam Snead’s famous advice: “Hold the club like you’re holding a baby bird — firm enough it can’t escape, light enough you don’t hurt it.”

Here’s a test: Grip the club at your normal pressure. Now have someone try to pull it from your hands. If they can’t budge it, you’re gripping too hard. They should be able to twist it slightly with effort.

Where to Apply Pressure

The pressure should be in your last three fingers of your lead hand and the middle two fingers of your trail hand. Your thumbs and index fingers should be relatively passive — they’re for guidance, not power.

Common Grip Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Gripping in the Palm

The problem: When the club sits across your palm instead of in your fingers, you lose wrist action and power.

The fix: Lay the grip diagonally across your fingers. Check that you can hinge your wrists freely up and down.

Mistake #2: Misaligned Hands

The problem: Lead hand in one position, trail hand rotated differently. Your hands fight each other through impact.

The fix: Both V’s should point in roughly the same direction. Check in a mirror or film yourself.

Mistake #3: Lead Thumb Too Long

The problem: Extending your left thumb down the shaft takes up grip space and weakens your hold at the top.

The fix: Use a “short thumb” — keep it compact on the grip. Your trail hand’s lifeline covers it completely.

Mistake #4: Separated Hands

The problem: Gap between your hands on the grip. They work independently instead of as a unit.

The fix: Your hands should touch or be connected through your chosen grip style. No daylight between them.

Mistake #5: Letting the Club Slip at the Top

The problem: The club shifts in your hands during the backswing, usually from too light a grip or too long a swing.

The fix: Maintain your grip pressure throughout the swing. Shorten your backswing if needed. Consider wearing a quality golf glove for better traction — it makes a bigger difference than most people realize.

The Grip Check: A Pre-Shot Routine Trick

Here’s something I do before every shot, and I think you should too:

1. Set your lead hand first — Get those 2-3 knuckles showing
2. Add your trail hand — Cover that lead thumb completely
3. Check your V’s — Quick glance to confirm alignment
4. Soften your grip — Consciously relax to that 4-5 pressure
5. Waggle — A little club movement confirms everything feels right

Takes two seconds. Saves countless mishits.

Should You Make Changes to Your Grip?

If you’re hitting the ball reasonably well, be careful about major grip changes. A grip overhaul will feel terrible for weeks and your scores will suffer before they improve.

Change your grip if:

• You’re consistently slicing or hooking
• You have pain in your hands or wrists
• You’re a beginner with no established habits
• A qualified instructor recommends it

Don’t change your grip if:

• Your ball flight is reasonably consistent
• You’re just searching for a “magic fix”
• It’s the middle of the season and you have events coming up

Practice Drill: The Grip Without a Club

You can practice your grip anywhere — at your desk, watching TV, wherever. Here’s how:

1. Grab a pen or marker
2. Set your lead hand position with 2-3 knuckles visible
3. Add your trail hand with your preferred connection style
4. Check your V’s
5. Hold for 30 seconds, feeling the pressure points

Do this 5-10 times a day. Your hands will memorize the position, and when you get to the range, it’ll feel natural.

Final Thoughts

Your grip is the foundation of your entire swing. Get it right, and you’ll have one less thing to think about over the ball. Get it wrong, and you’ll be making compensations that hurt your game for years.

Here’s my advice: pick a grip style (I’d start with overlap or interlock), commit to it, and give yourself at least a few weeks to adjust. Practice the grip at home. Check it before every shot. And please, loosen up — most of you are squeezing way too hard.

The grip isn’t sexy. It’s not a 350-yard drive or a hole-out from the bunker. But it might be the most important fundamental in the game.

Get it right, and everything else gets a little easier.