Figuring out which hand goes where on a golf club can feel clunky and unnatural at first, but it is one of the most important fundaments of the game. A good grip is the foundation of a consistent swing, influencing everything from power to the direction your ball flies. This guide will walk you through setting up your hold for both right-handed and left-handed golfers, explaining exactly how to build a comfortable, repeatable grip that removes the guesswork from your setup.
Before we place our hands on the club, let’s clear up a common point of confusion. Your dominant hand in daily life (the one you write with) doesn't automatically determine which way you should play golf. Golf "handedness" is all about which side of the golf ball you stand on to swing.
Most right-handed people play golf a right-handed way, but not all. Hall-of-famer Phil Mickelson writes right-handed but plays golf left-handed. He learned by mirroring his father's swing. For many people, one direction just feels more natural and powerful.
If you're brand new and aren’t sure, try this. Grab a baseball bat, broomstick, or a golf club. Without thinking too much, take a swing at an imaginary ball. Which side felt more powerful and coordinated? Your body often knows which direction is more intuitive for a rotational athletic motion. Generally, the direction that allows you to feel like you're throwing a ball hard with your dominant arm is the right choice. From here on, we’ll move on assuming you’ve figured that out.
For right-handed players, your left hand goes on the top of the grip, and your right hand goes below it. The left hand acts as the steering wheel, controlling the clubface, while the right hand provides stability and power. Let’s build it one hand at a time.
Your left hand establishes the relationship between your entire body and the clubface. Getting it right sets you up for a Gotha shot.
Your right hand supports the left hand and adds much of the power and feel to the swing.
Just like the left hand, the "V" formed between your right thumb and index finger should be parallel to the left hand's "V", also pointing up towards your right shoulder or chest area.
Fair Warning: A technically sound golf grip will almost certainly feel weird at first. You don't hold anything else in life this way. Trust the process! It feels strange initially because it's designed to give you maximum control and power over an object at the end of a long stick. Stick with it, and it will start to feel normal.
The last step is deciding how to link your hands together to work as a single unit. There is no single "best" method, it comes down to personal comfort. Try all three to see what feels best for you.
None of these is technically superior. The aim is to find one that allows you to hold the club securely without tension and encourages your hands to work as a team.
If you play golf left-handed, good news! The same funda mentale principals apply, just in reverse. Think of it as looking in a mirror.
A great golf swing starts long before the club starts moving. Your grip is your only connection to the club, making it the steering wheel for your shots. How your hands are placed directly influences the angle of the clubface at impact.
Think about it: just a tiny half-inch rotation of your hands on the handle can cause the clubface at the other end of the four-foot shaft to be wildly open or closed. A proper neutral grip gives you the best chance to deliver a square clubface to the ball without having to make complicated mid-swing adjustments.
By learning this simple but powerful fundamental, you are not just positioning your hands correctly, you are building the foundation for consistency. You are taking a big variable out of the equation, allowing you to focus on the more athletic parts of the swing, like rhythm and rotation.
Mastering how your hands go on the golf club is a simple step that pays a lot of dividends. For right-handers, it’s left hand on top, right hand below, for left-handers, it’s the opposite. By focusing on a neutral, finger-oriented grip and connecting your hands in a way that feels comfortable, you give yourself the best possible start for hitting straight, consistent shots.
Sometimes, even after you think you've figured it out, a small error in your grip can be the hidden reason for a frustrating hook or slice. Knowing what to fix - and being confident in that fix - is where a helpful second opinion really matters. Instead of spending weeks guessing what's wrong on your own, I built Caddie AI to deliver that instant expert feedback right to your pocket. Our platform can answer your questions about grip or any other part of your came so you can stop wondering and start improving with clear, actionable advice.
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