Your connection to the golf club begins and ends with your hands, and finding the best grip for your game is one of the most impactful changes you can make. The way you hold the club determines how the face returns to the ball, influencing everything from direction to power to consistency. This guide will walk you through the different ways to hold the club, the checkpoints for a perfect grip, and how to choose the right physical grip for your equipment, giving you a complete blueprint for better control.
When golfers talk about "grips," they're usually referring to one of two things, and both are massively important. First is your hold - the specific way you place your hands on the club. Think of this as the steering wheel for your golf shot. It has the most direct influence on where the clubface is pointing at impact, which is the number one factor in determining where your ball goes.
The second is the physical grip - the rubber, cord, or polymer material installed on the end of your club shaft. This is your point of contact. The right size, texture, and material can affect your comfort, feel, and your ability to maintain control, especially in challenging weather conditions. To truly optimize your game, you need to understand and get both of these right.
Let's start with the hard-working part of the golf swing - your hands. There isn’t one single "correct" way to hold the club, but there are three dominant styles used by golfers of all levels. Feeling what’s best for you often comes down to comfort, hand size, and what gives you the most control. Don't be afraid to experiment.
This is the most common grip among professional golfers. In the Vardon grip, the pinky finger of your bottom hand (right pinky for righties) rests on top of the space between the index and middle fingers of your top hand.
Made famous by legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, the Interlocking grip physically links the hands together. Here, the pinky finger of the bottom hand hooks or interlocks with the index finger of the top hand.
Just as it sounds, this grip involves placing all ten fingers on the club, with the pinky of the bottom hand touching the index finger of the top hand. There's no overlapping or interlocking.
Regardless of style - Interlock, Vardon, or Ten-Finger - a few fundamental checkpoints apply to everyone. This is where you fine-tune your hold from "okay" to "excellent." Please know, changing your hold feels weird. It's unlike how we grip anything else. Your brain might tell you it's wrong, but if you follow these checkpoints and see yourself in a mirror, you’ll realize you look just like a proficient golfer.
Your goal is to find a neutral hand position. A grip that's too "strong" (hands rotated too far away from the target) tends to shut the clubface and send shots left. A grip that's too "weak" (hands rotated too far toward the target) tends to open the clubface, sending shots right. A neutral grip gives you the best chance to deliver a square clubface at impact without manipulation.
Here’s how to find it:
Tension is a power-killer. Many amateurs strangle the club, which restricts their hands, wrists, and arms from moving freely. Your swing should feel fluid, and that starts with light, consistent grip pressure.
Now that you've sorted out how to hold the club, let’s talk about the tool itself. The physical grip you use can have a tremendous impact on comfort and control.
Clubs come with "standard" grips, but you have a ton of options to suit your preferences and climate.
This is extremely important. A grip that is too small for your hands can encourage them to become overly active, often leading to a hook. A grip that is too big can restrict wrist action, leading to a loss of distance and a tendency to slice or block the ball.
Mastering your grip is an ongoing process, but getting the fundamentals right is a massive stride towards consistency. By selecting the hold style that feels most natural - Vardon, Interlock, or Ten-finger - and then checking your checkpoints for pressure and position, you finally give yourself a chance to control the clubface. Layering on the right physical grip for your hands then completes the puzzle, providing comfort and confidence for every swing.
Of course, transferring feel from practice to the course can be tough, and sometimes you need a reliable second opinion right when it counts. If you find yourself over a tricky lie or unsure how a side-slope will affect your grip and swing, our Caddie AI provides immediate, personalized advice. You can even send a photo of your ball's lie, and we’ll give you a simple strategy to handle the situation, turning doubt into confident action and helping you make smarter, more committed swings on the course.
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