How to Line Up Golf Grips

Placing your hands on a golf club correctly is the single biggest influence on where your ball goes. If your grip isn't lined up properly, your club face won't be either, and you'll spend your entire swing trying to compensate for that initial error. This guide will walk you through, step by step, how to line up your golf grips for straighter, more consistent shots from the very start.

Your Grip: The Steering Wheel for Your Clubface

Think of your grip as the steering wheel of your golf club. A slight turn of your hands - even one you don't notice - can twist the clubface open or closed at impact, sending the ball far left or right of your target. A consistent, correctly aligned grip ensures the clubface returns to a square position when you strike the ball. Getting this fundamental right removes a massive variable from your swing and frees you up to simply focus on a good, powerful turn. When your hands are on correctly, you don't need to make last-second adjustments with your hands and arms to save the shot. You just swing.

Step 1: Get the Clubface Square First

Before your hands even touch the grip, the clubface must be properly aimed. This is the foundation upon which your entire grip is built. Don't make the common mistake of taking your grip and then trying to square the face, the face comes first.

Rest the clubhead on the ground behind the ball. Look at the very bottom edge of the clubface - this is called the leading edge. You want that edge to be perfectly perpendicular to your target line, creating a clear "T" shape with your intended line of flight. If it's pointing even slightly left (closed) or right (open), you're setting yourself up for a crooked shot.

Many modern grips have a manufacturer's logo on the top. This logo is almost always placed to be perfectly in line with a square clubface. If you have a logo, you can use it as a quick visual guide to confirm your clubface is pointing straight ahead.

Step 2: Placing Your Lead Hand (The Top Hand)

For a right-handed golfer, this is your left hand. For a left-handed golfer, it's your right hand. This hand is incredibly important as it largely dictates the position of the clubface throughout the swing.

Positioning the Hand

Let your arm hang naturally at your side. Notice how your palm faces slightly inward toward your body. We want to replicate this natural position on the grip, we're not looking for any unnatural twisting.

• Grip in the Fingers: Place the grip diagonally across the fingers of your lead hand. It should run from the base of your little finger to the middle knuckle of your index finger. Avoid holding the club deep in your palm, gripping with your fingers allows for proper wrist hinge, which is a major source of clubhead speed.
• Close Your Hand: Once the grip is seated in your fingers, simply wrap your fingers around and then place the pad of your hand (the heel pad) on top of the grip. It should feel secure but not overly tight.

Key Checkpoints for a Neutral Grip

A "neutral" grip is what we're aiming for. It puts you in a position to deliver a square clubface without manipulation. Here's how to check it:

• The Two-Knuckle Rule: Look down at your grip. From your perspective, you should be able to clearly see the knuckles of your index finger and your middle finger. Seeing two knuckles is the tell-tale sign of a neutral grip. If you see three or four knuckles, your grip is too "strong," which can cause the clubface to close too quickly and lead to hook shots. If you see only one or no knuckles, your grip is "weak," predisposing you to an open clubface and slices.
• The "V" Check: The "V" shape formed by your thumb and index finger should point roughly toward your trail shoulder (your right shoulder for a right-handed golfer). If it points way outside your shoulder, your grip is too strong. If it points at your chin, it's likely too weak.

Step 3: Placing Your Trail Hand (The Bottom Hand)

Now it's time to add your other hand. For a righty, this is your right hand. This hand is often considered the "power" hand, but its primary job is to support the club and work in harmony with the lead hand.

Positioning the Hand

Just like with your lead hand, let your trail arm hang naturally. When you bring it to the club, the palm should face your target.

• Cover the Thumb: The most crucial part is how your right hand fits with your left. The lifeline in the palm of your right hand should fit neatly over the thumb of your left hand. This creates a unified connection, allowing both hands to act as a single unit rather than fighting each other.
• Wrap Your Fingers: Once the palm is in place, wrap your fingers around the underside of the grip. Again, the pressure should be in the fingers, not the palm.

Key Checkpoints for Your Trail Hand

The "V" checkpoint applies here, too. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point generally in the same direction as the V on your left hand - up towards your right shoulder or perhaps slightly more towards the center of your chest. The two V's should be roughly parallel to one another. This confirms that your hands are working together, not against each other.

Step 4: Connecting the Hands (Interlock, Overlap, or Ten-Finger)

At the back of the grip, you have to decide how you'll connect your hands. There is no single "right" way. The best players in the world use all three methods, so choose what feels most comfortable and secure to you.

• The Overlap (Vardon) Grip: This is the most common grip among tour professionals. You simply rest the pinky finger of your trail hand in the goove created between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand.
• The Interlock Grip: Popularized by greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, this involves linking the pinky finger of your trail hand with the index finger of your lead hand. Some players find this provides an extra sense of security.
• The Ten-Finger (Baseball) Grip: Here, all ten fingers are on the club, with the pinky of the trail hand right up against the index finger of the lead hand. This is often recommended for beginners, juniors, or players with smaller hands, as it can help them feel more power.

Experiment with all three. The goal is to find the one that feels most natural and allows your hands to work as a unified team without any unwanted slippage during the swing.

The ‘Feel vs. Real’ Challenge

Here's a quick warning: if you are changing an old grip, a technically correct grip will almost certainly feel weird. It might feel weak, unnatural, or strange. This is completely normal. Your brain and body have become accustomed to your old habit, and rewriting that motor pattern takes time. Trust the checkpoints - the two knuckles, the parallel V's, and the square clubface. Film your grip or check it in a mirror. What looks right often feels wrong at first. Be patient and give the new grip time to feel normal, the results will be worth it.

Final Thoughts

Lining up your grip is about creating a consistent, repeatable starting point for every swing. By first squaring your clubface and then applying a neutral, finger-oriented grip with your hands working together, you are building the foundation for straighter shots and eliminating the need for reactive, in-swing fixes.

Building these new habits can be tricky, and it’s tough to know if what you're doing is right when the correct position feels so wrong. If you want some quick confirmation without having to book a lesson, you can use a tool like me. With Caddie AI, you can snap a photo of your new grip and ask if it looks correct, and I’ll give you instant feedback on your alignment so you can practice with confidence, knowing you’re training the right move.