What Is the Best Golf Grip: Overlap or Interlock?

Deciding between an overlap and interlock grip is one of a golfer's foundational choices, and it has a bigger impact on your swing than you might think. Getting this one connection point to the club right can lead to more consistency, better feel, and even a little more power. This article will break down exactly how each grip works, the pros and cons of both, and give you a simple process to figure out which one is the perfect fit for your game.

Why Your Grip Is More Than Just Holding the Club

Your hands are your only link to the golf club. Think of the grip as the steering wheel for your entire swing. How you place your hands on the handle directly influences the clubface's position at impact, which is the single biggest factor in determining where your ball goes. A good grip promotes a square clubface, while a poor one forces your body to make all sorts of last-second compensations just to hit the ball straight.

It’s not just about direction, either. A proper grip helps you transfer energy efficiently from your body into the clubhead, creating more speed and power. It also provides vital feedback, allowing you to feel what the clubhead is doing throughout the swing.

While there is a third option - the ten-finger or baseball grip - the vast majority of serious golfers and professionals use either the overlap or the interlock. Let's look at each one in detail to see which might be best for you.

The Overlap Grip: A Detailed Look

The Overlap grip, often called the Vardon grip after the legendary English golfer Harry Vardon who popularized it, is the most common grip among professional golfers. It’s considered a classic for a reason: it promotes wonderful feel and control when executed correctly.

How to Take an Overlap Grip (Step-by-Step)

Let's walk through building an overlap grip for a right-handed golfer. If you're a lefty, just reverse the hand instructions.

1. Set Your Lead Hand (Left Hand): First, place your left hand on the club so you can see the top two knuckles when you look down. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder. It's important to hold the club primarily in the fingers, not deep in the palm. This allows your wrists to hinge correctly.
2. Position Your Trail Hand (Right Hand): Now, bring your right hand to the club. The ajor move of the overlap grip happens here: you are going to lay the pinkie finger of your right hand so it rests gently in the channel created between the index and middle finger of your left hand.
3. Secure the Hold: Close your right hand so the palm covers your left thumb. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point generally toward your right shoulder, parallel to the left hand's "V." The pressure should feel secure but not tense. Imagine you're holding a tube of toothpaste and you don't want to squeeze any out.

Who is the Overlap Grip Best For?

The Overlap grip is an excellent choice for a wide range of players, but it particularly suits a few types of golfers.

• Players with Larger Hands or Longer Fingers: If you have big hands, the interlock grip can sometimes feel cramped or force your hands too close together. The overlap provides a more natural, comfortable fit, allowing your hands to work together without feeling jammed up.
• Golfers Seeking Maximum "Feel": Because the hands are slightly less intertwined than with the interlock, many great players feel the overlap allows for more subtle control of the clubface, especially in the short game. Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and countless other legends used this grip for its superior feel.
• Players with Good Hand Strength: The overlap requires a baseline of hand and forearm strength to keep the hands from separating during the swing. If your hands feel connected and stable with this grip, it's a fantastic option.

The primary potential downside is that for players lacking strength or with smaller hands, the grip can occasionally feel a little disconnected. The right hand might feel like it's "slipping" off, leading to a loss of control at the top of the swing.

The Interlock Grip: A Detailed Look

The Interlock grip has some serious star power behind it. It was the grip of choice for two of the greatest players in history: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. If you’re looking for a grip that promotes a powerful, unified connection, this is it.

How to Take an Interlock Grip (Step-by-Step)

The process starts the same way as the overlap, but the connection point is quite different.

1. Set Your Lead Hand (Left Hand): Just like before, place your left hand on the club, showing two knuckles, with the "V" pointing toward your right shoulder. Keep the club in your fingers.
2. Position Your Trail Hand (Right Hand): This is the key difference. Instead of resting the right pinkie on top of the left hand, you are going to interlock it with the index finger of your left hand. Your right pinkie hooks underneath your left index finger, locking them together.
3. Secure the Hold: Once the fingers are linked, close your right hand around the grip. The right palm will once again cover the left thumb, and both "V"s should point toward your right shoulder. This creates an incredibly bonded feeling, almost as if your hands have become a single unit.

Who is the Interlock Grip Best For?

The Interlock has some very clear advantages for certain golfers.

• Players with Smaller Hands or Shorter Fingers: This is the number one reason many golfers choose the interlock. If you have trouble getting your hands comfortably onto the club with an overlap grip, interconnecting your fingers offers a much more secure and stable connection. It brings the hands closer together and makes them work as one.
• Golfers Who Want to Feel "Connected": Tiger Woods has stated he uses the interlock because it makes him feel like his hands can't separate during the swing. For players who struggle with a loose grip at the top, the interlock provides a feeling of solidity that can inspire a lot of confidence.
• Beginners and Players with Weaker Hands: Because it physically links the hands, the interlock can help teach the feeling of the hands working together. It can also help players who lack hand strength maintain control of the club throughout the swing without having to squeeze too hard.

The main caution with the interlock is a tendency to create too much tension. Because the fingers are locked, some players subconsciously squeeze harder, which restricts the wrists and kills swing speed. It can also be uncomfortable for those with a bit of arthritis or larger fingers.

Overlap vs. Interlock: A Head-to-Head Comparison

So how do they stack up side-by-side? Here’s a quick-glance guide.

Feel

• Overlap: More freedom in the hands, often described as promoting a "lighter" or "finessed" touch. Great for feel and delicate shots.
• Interlock: Very connected and unified. Can be described as promoting a "powerful" or "solid" connection.

Best For (Hand Size)

• Overlap: Generally favored by players with average to large-sized hands.
• Interlock: Often the best fit for players with small to average-sized hands.

Common Tendency

• Overlap: Requires an element of hand strength to prevent the hands from separating at the top of the swing.
• Interlock: Players must be mindful not to introduce too much tension by squeezing the interlocked fingers.

Famous Users

• Overlap: Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas.
• Interlock: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose.

So, Which Grip Should You Choose? A Practical Test

You can read articles all day, but the only way to truly know which grip is for you is to test it out. There is no universally "correct" answer - only what's correct for you. Here’s a simple process to find your fit.

1. Go to the Range with a 7-Iron. Grab a bucket of balls and head to the practice tee. Your 7-iron is a great neutral club for this test.
2. Feel it Out First, Don't Hit. Start by just taking each grip and making some smooth, slow practice swings. First, build the overlap grip. Take 10 swings, paying close attention only to comfort. Does it feel natural or awkward? Secure or flimsy? Now, switch to the interlock. Take another 10 practice swings and ask the same questions. One may immediately feel more "right."
3. Hit 10 Shots with the Overlap. Now, hit some balls. Don't worry about where they go just yet. Focus on the feeling at impact. Does the club feel stable through the ball? Do you feel like you have control of the clubface?
4. Hit 10 shots with the Interlock. Repeat the process. Does this feel more solid? More compact? Or does it feel restrictive and tight?
5. Compare the Results and Comfort. Look at the small pile of balls you hit with each grip. Which one produced more consistent shots? More importantly, which one felt like it gave you more productive control over the golf club? The goal is to find the grip that balances comfort with performance.

A word of advice: if you're trying a new grip, it's going to feel weird. Any change feels weird at first. Give it a fair chance over a few practice sessions before making a final decision. Commit to one for a little while to let your hands and brain adapt.

Final Thoughts

The choice between an overlap and interlock grip isn't about finding a secret, but about discovering what works for your anatomy and your swing. Both are tour-proven methods used by the best to ever play the game. The right grip is simply the one that gives you a comfortable, secure, and repeatable connection that lets you swing the club with confidence, not worry about your hands.

Making a fundamental change like your grip can feel like you’re sailing in uncharted waters, but you don't have to guess if you're doing it right. If you’re trying a new hold and wondering how it’s impacting your ball flight, or have any other questions about your game, we built Caddie AI to be your own personal golf expert. Think of it as a 24/7 coach in your pocket, ready to provide a second opinion on your swing and clear up the confusion so you can make changes that will actually help you improve.