A strong golf grip is one of the most misunderstood terms in the game, but it might just be the solution to your biggest swing problem. It has nothing to do with squeezing the club with all your might. Instead, it refers to a specific rotational positioning of your hands that can dramatically influence your clubface at impact, helping you banish that dreaded slice and hit more powerful shots. This guide will walk you through what a strong grip is, how to form one correctly, its major pros and cons, and how to determine if it’s the right move for your game.
Let's clear this up right away: the terms strong, neutral, and weak in golf do not describe grip pressure. A light, relaxed grip pressure is fundamental to a good golf swing, regardless of how your hands are positioned. Instead, these terms describe how your hands are rotated on the club relative to the target.
A strong grip is one where your hands are rotated away from the target. For a right-handed golfer, this means your left hand is turned more to the right on the grip, and your right hand is tucked more underneath it. The end result is a setup that naturally wants to close the clubface through the impact zone.
Here’s how to tell if you have one:
Think of it as pre-setting the release. By turning your hands away from the target at address, you're encouraging them to naturally roll over and rotate back to a square or closed position as you swing through the ball. This is the opposite of a "weak" grip, where the hands are rotated toward the target, making it easier to leave the clubface open at impact.
Ready to try it out? Building a correct strong grip requires a conscious, step-by-step process. Go slowly and pay attention to these small details. It will feel strange at first - that's normal! Stick with it for a bit to see the results.
Your lead hand is the foundation of your grip. It sets the orientation for the clubface throughout the swing.
The trail hand complements the lead hand. It needs to match its strong position to work in unison.
When you look down, you should feel that both hands are working as a single unit, both rotated away from the target.
Finally, how you link your hands is a matter of personal comfort. The strength of your grip refers to their rotation, not their connection method.
There is no "best" way to connect them. Experiment with all three and choose the one that feels most secure and comfortable to you. The most important thing is that your hands feel unified and aren't moving around during the swing.
Like any technique in golf, the strong grip isn't a cure-all. It has powerful benefits for certain players and significant drawbacks for others. Understanding both sides is essential before you make a change.
This is the number one reason golfers switch to a strong grip. Most amateurs struggle with a slice, which is caused by an open clubface at impact relative to the swing path. A strong grip essentially pre-sets your hands in a position that encourages them to rotate and release through impact, actively closing that face. For a habitual slicer, this can feel like a game-changer, turning that big rightward curve into a straight shot or even a slight draw.
An active release of the hands though impact doesn't just square the face, it also generates clubhead speed. The strong grip promotes this free-wheeling release which, when timed correctly, can add serious yards to your drives. Furthermore, because it encourages a draw (a right-to-left ball flight for righties), you'll often get more rollout on the fairway compared to a fading or slicing shot, leading to even more total distance.
The solution for one player is the problem for another. If you already have a tendency to close the clubface too much, or if your hands are naturally very active ("flippy") through impact, a strong grip will likely turn your straight shots into aggressive O.B-bound hooks. For players who fight a duck hook, a weaker, more neutral grip is almost always a better choice.
Around the greens, touch and feel are king. The active, handsy release promoted by a strong grip is great for a full-power tee shot, but it can be detrimental on delicate chips, pitches, and bunker shots. These shots require a more passive hand action and a stable clubface to control trajectory and spin. Many elite players who use a strong grip for their full swing will instinctively weaken it for their short-game shots to gain more control.
So, should you make the switch? This isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Your ball flight and swing tendencies will give you the answer. Take an honest look at your game.
A strong grip might be a great fit for you if:
You should probably avoid a strong grip (or consider a weaker one) if:
If you decide to experiment, commit to it for a few range sessions. Old habits die hard, and a grip change will feel uncomfortable at first. But if that slice you’ve hated for years starts to straighten out, you’ll know you’re on the right track.
A strong grip simply refers to rotating your hands away from the target to a position that promotes an easier closing of the clubface through impact. It’s a powerful tool for golfers who fight a slice, helping you gain distance and hit that desirable draw, but it needs to be carefully monitored to avoid turning that weak slice into a punishing hook.
Understanding whether a grip change is truly the right fix for your specific swing fault is a big part of the challenge. That's why getting an objective, personalized second opinion is so incredibly helpful. At Caddie AI, we built our app to act as that anytime, anywhere golf coach in your pocket. You can get an instant analysis of your swing to see exactly what’s happening at impact. If you’re not sure whether your grip or something else is causing your slice, we can help you pinpoint the real root cause so you can work on the changes that will actually lower your scores.
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