How to Grip a Golf Club Like Tiger Woods

Duplicating the grip of the greatest player of the modern era is a fantastic goal, and it's simpler than you might think. Tiger Woods uses a classic interlocking grip built on solid, repeatable fundamentals, providing a powerful and stable connection between his hands and the club. This guide breaks down every element of Tiger’s grip, from hand placement to pressure, giving you actionable steps to build the same foundation for your own swing.

What Makes Tiger's Grip So Effective?

Before we grab a club, it's helpful to understand the 'why' behind Tiger's choice. He uses an interlocking grip, a style he learned from his father, Earl, and one favored by other legends like Jack Nicklaus. The primary purpose of this grip is to unify the hands, making them work as a single, cohesive unit. When your hands are bonded together, it reduces the chance of one hand overpowering the other, which can lead to more consistency and control over the clubface.

For Tiger, this unified feeling is everything. It allows him to generate incredible clubhead speed while maintaining control, which is the holy grail for any golfer. The grip promotes a connected swing, where the arms, hands, and body move in sync.

A quick a word of caution: while the interlocking grip is brilliant, it isn’t a magic bullet for every golfer. Players with smaller hands, weaker fingers, or arthritis might find it uncomfortable. If that's you, the Vardon (overlapping) grip is a fantastic alternative. However, for most average-sized golfers, mastering the interlock like Tiger can provide a tremendous sense of stability and power.

Step 1: The Lead Hand (The Steering Wheel)

Your lead hand - the left hand for a right-handed golfer - is the pilot of the golf swing. It dictates the clubface angle more than any other factor, so getting it right is the first and most important step. We're aiming for what's called a “neutral” position, which is the cornerstone of Tiger's repeatable swing.

1. Start with a Square Clubface: Place your clubhead on the ground behind an imaginary ball. Ensure the leading edge of the clubface is pointing perfectly perpendicular to your target line. A lot of grip errors start before you even put your hands on the club by inadvertently setting up with an an open or closed face.
2. Hold it in the Fingers: Approach the grip with your left hand from the side. You want the handle to run diagonally across your fingers, starting from the base of your pinky finger and running up to the middle section of your index finger. Avoid placing the club in the palm of your hand, this restricts wrist action and costs you speed.
3. Cover the Top: Once the club is set in your fingers, simply fold your hand over the top. The fleshy pad at the base of your thumb (your thenar eminence) should sit directly on top of the grip. The handle should feel secure but not squeezed.

Lead Hand Checkpoints

With your left hand on the club, look down. Here is what you should see, mirroring Tiger's neutral foundation:

• The Knuckle Count: You should be able to clearly see the first two knuckles on your left hand (the ones on your index and middle fingers). Some players might see two-and-a-half. If you see only one knuckle, your grip is too “weak” and likely to cause the clubface to open, leading to slices. If you see three or four knuckles, your grip is too “strong” and can cause the face to shut too quickly, leading to hooks. Tiger lives in that two-knuckle sweet spot.
• The "V" Check: The ‘V’ shape created by your thumb and index finger should point roughly toward your right collarbone or right shoulder. This is a classic indicator of a neutral grip. If it points at your chin, it's weak. If it points outside your right shoulder, it's too strong.

Step 2: The Trail Hand and The "Interlock"

Now it’s time to add your trail hand - the right hand for a righty - and create the famous interlock. The right hand brings a lot of power and feel to the swing, and its job is to meld perfectly with the left hand to complete the unit.

1. The Interlock Maneuver: This is the signature move. Take the little finger (pinky) on your right hand and nestle it between the index and middle fingers of your left hand. It should feel like you’re linking the two hands together like puzzle pieces. The pinky should hook comfortably underneath the left index finger.
2. Cover the Thumb: Approach the club from the side with your right hand open. You want the lifeline of your right palm to fit directly over your left thumb. This motion will cover your left thumb almost completely, which is key to making the hands feel like one.
3. Wrap Your Fingers: Once the palm is in place and the pinky is interlocked, wrap the remaining three fingers of your right hand around the grip. The right index finger should create a “trigger” look, slightly separated from the middle finger, serving as a stable support point for the club.

Trail Hand Checkpoints

Just like with the lead hand, there’s a simple checkpoint for your trail hand placement:

• The "V" Match-Up: The 'V' formed by your right thumb and index finger should run parallel to the ‘V’ from your left hand. Both should point up toward your right shoulder area. If the V's are pointing in wildly different directions, your hands will fight each other during the swing. When they're parallel, they work in harmony.

When you’re done, your grip should feel compact and secure. Squeezing your hands together slightly will bond them even more. It might feel strange - even wrong - at first. That's perfectly normal when changing a grip. Stick with it.

Step 3: Finding the Right Grip Pressure

You can have a technically perfect hold on the club, but if you strangle it, you'll ruin everything. Tiger is a phenomenal example of an athlete who looks incredibly powerful yet remains relaxed. His power comes from speed, and speed is killed by tension. Most amateur golfers hold the club far too tightly.

Imagine holding a small bird in your hands. You want to hold it securely enough that it can't fly away, but not so tightly that you hurt it. That’s the feeling you want in your golf grip.

Here’s a more practical way to think about it:

• On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is barely holding on and 10 is a white-knuckle death grip, your grip pressure at address should be about a 3 or 4.
• Your pressure should primarily come from the last three fingers of your left hand and the middle two fingers of your right hand. The thumbs and index fingers should rest lightly on the club.
• You want just enough pressure to control the club, but not enough to create tension in your forearms. Tense forearms prevent a proper wrist hinge, which is a massive source of power. If you see the tendons popping out in your forearms, you are squeezing way too hard.

Drills to Make the Tiger Grip Feel Natural

A new grip will feel completely foreign until you build sufficient muscle memory. It doesn't happen in one range session. You have to commit to it.

Drill 1: Off-Course Rehearsal

You don't need to be at a course or a range to improve your grip. Grab a club while you're watching sports or just sitting in a room. Go through the steps:

1. Set your left hand, checking the knuckles and the 'V'.
2. Set your right hand, interlocking the pinky and covering the thumb.
3. Check that the right hand 'V' is parallel to the left.
4. Check your pressure. Make sure your forearms are relaxed.

Hold it for 30 seconds, release, and repeat. Do this 20-30 times a day. Repetition without the pressure of hitting a ball is the fastest way to make it feel normal.

Drill 2: The Range Progression

Don't try to change your grip and immediately go play 18 holes expecting to score well. You need to earn it at the range.

• Stage 1 (Half Shots): Start by hitting shots with a short iron (like a 9-iron or pitching wedge) using only a half swing. The goal here isn't distance, it's simply to feel the contact and keep the grip consistent.
• Stage 2 (Three-Quarter Shots): Once the half shots are feeling solid, move up to a three-quarter swing. You're still not swinging out of your shoes, just focusing on solid contact with the new grip.
• Stage 3 (Full Swings): When you feel comfortable, move on to full swings. The grip should be starting to feel less alien by now. Be patient. There will be good and bad shots. The goal is to stick with the new grip, not revert to your old one after one bad hit.

Final Thoughts

Emulating Tiger Woods' grip isn’t about some hidden secret, it's about mastering the proven fundamentals of a neutral, unified hold. By focusing on correct hand placement, the all-important checkpoints, and light, consistent pressure, you can build a connection to the club that promotes both power and control.

As you work on this change, it can be really helpful to get clear feedback on how it affects your game in real-time. If you find your redesigned grip leads to a tricky lie in the rough or behind a tree, getting expert advice is now simple. We built our app, Caddie AI, to be your personal coach in those moments. You can snap a photo of your ball's lie, and we’ll instantly analyze the situation and suggest the smartest play, helping you avoid big numbers while you focus on making your new grip second nature.