What Is the Most Used Golf Grip on Tour?

The most used golf grip on the PGA Tour isn't a single style, but a specific position: the neutral to slightly strong grip. This hold is the overwhelming favorite because it allows the world's best players to deliver the clubface squarely to the ball with incredible consistency and power, without needing last-second manipulations with their hands. This article will show you exactly what that looks like. We'll break down the three main grip styles you see on TV, explain the differences between a weak, neutral, and strong position, and guide you step-by-step so you can find the perfect hold for your own game.

The Answer Isn't One Single Grip, It's a Position

When you ask what grip Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy uses, the answer has two parts: the style and the position. Style is about how your hands are physically connected on the club - do your fingers overlap or interlock? Position is about how your hands are rotated on the handle - are they turned away from the target (strong) or towards the target (weak)?

While the style is mostly a matter of personal comfort, the position is what truly matters for performance. The vast majority of Tour professionals use a neutral to slightly strong grip position. Why? Because this position puts the hands in a powerful, natural alignment. It encourages the club to release properly through impact, turning a difficult timing move into an almost automatic part of the swing. It's the engine for both consistency and power, providing a stable foundation that removes guesswork from the equation.

The Three Grip Styles: Overlap, Interlock, and Ten-Finger

Let's first look at the three ways to connect your hands on the club. Each one has its own feel and set of benefits, and the "best" one is the one that gives you the most confidence and stability.

The Vardon (Overlap) Grip

This is the classic, most historically popular grip. To do it, the pinky finger of your trail hand (right hand for righties) rests on top of the space between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand (left hand).

• Who Uses It: It’s a hall-of-fame list, including players like Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Phil Mickelson, and Collin Morikawa.
• Pros: This style promotes a great sense of unity, making the hands feel like they are working together as a single unit. It can help quiet an overly active trail hand, which is helpful for players who tend to hook or pull the ball. It’s also generally very comfortable for players with average to large-sized hands.
• Cons: For golfers with smaller hands or less grip strength, it can sometimes feel a bit less secure than the interlock.

The Interlock Grip

With an interlocking grip, the pinky finger of your trail hand hooks or links together with the index finger of your lead hand. It has seen a huge surge in popularity over the last few decades.

• Who Uses It: Some of the greatest champions of all time swear by it, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy also favor the interlock.
• Pros: The interlocking of the fingers makes this grip feel incredibly secure. It physically locks your hands together, preventing any unwanted slipping during the swing. This makes it a fantastic choice for players with smaller hands or those who just prefer a more connected sensation.
• Cons: The primary caution here is tension. Some players feel the "lock" too much and inadvertently introduce tension into their hands and forearms, which can restrict a fluid swing.

The Ten-Finger (Baseball) Grip

As the name suggests, this grip involves placing all ten fingers on the club, with the pinky of the trail hand pressed up against the index finger of the lead hand. While it's the least common on professional tours, it’s a perfectly valid and effective way to hold the club.

• Who Uses It: It’s most beneficial for juniors, seniors, and players who lack wrist or hand strength. The legendary Canadian ball-striker Moe Norman used a version of this grip with incredible success.
• Pros: This grip feels very natural and allows you to apply maximum leverage, which can be a source of extra power. It’s simple to learn and comfortable for those who find the other styles awkward.
• Cons: Its biggest drawback is that it can encourage the trail hand to become too dominant, leading to inconsistencies with clubface control (like flipping at the ball).

So, Which Style is Best for You?

Truthfully, this is about what feels right. There is no performance advantage between the overlap and the interlock. Go to the range, hit balls with both, and stick with the one that feels more stable and comfortable. Don't force yourself into one just because your favorite player uses it. A confident hold is a repeatable hold.

The Real Secret: Grip Position (Weak vs. Neutral vs. Strong)

This is where things get really important. Your grip position - how far your hands are turned onto the club - is the steering wheel for your clubface. Get this right, and you’ll have a much easier time hitting straight shots. Get it wrong, and you’ll spend your whole round fighting a slice or a hook.

A great way to check your position is by looking at the "V" shape formed by your thumb and index finger on each hand.

How to Find Your Neutral Grip (The Tour Pro Benchmark)

The neutral grip is the pro standard because it aligns with the anatomy of your arms and promotes a natural return to a square clubface at impact. Here’s how to find yours:

1. Stand up straight and let your arms hang completely relaxed at your sides. Notice how your palms aren't facing directly forward or directly behind you, they face slightly inward, toward your thighs. This is your body's natural "neutral" hand position. We want to replicate this on the club.
2. For your lead hand (left hand for righties): Pick up the club and place it primarily in the fingers of your left hand, running diagonally from the base of your pinky to the middle joint of your index finger. Now, close your hand over the top. When you look down, you should be able to see the knuckles of your index and middle fingers - about 2 to 2.5 knuckles in total. The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point roughly toward your right ear or right shoulder.
3. For your trail hand (right hand for righties): Place your right hand onto the club so that the lifeline in your palm covers your left thumb. The "V" of your right hand should mirror the left, also pointing toward your right shoulder.

This position a solid, reliable starting point for any golfer. It puts you in a position of power without forcing you to manipulate the club.

The Strong Grip

A "strong" grip doesn't mean you squeeze the club harder. It means both hands are rotated more to the right on the handle (for a right-handed player), away from the target.

• What it Looks Like: From your perspective, you’ll see 3 or even 4 knuckles on your left hand. The "V's" on both hands will point more outside your right shoulder. Players like Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, and Brooks Koepka have found massive success with a strong grip.
• Who It Helps: This is a wonderful adjustment for golfers who fight a slice. The stronger position pre-sets the hands to close the clubface more easily through impact, helping to turn that left-to-right ball flight into a straighter shot or even a draw.

The Weak Grip

A "weak" grip is the opposite. Both hands are rotated more to the left (for a right-handed player), towards the target.

• What it Looks Like: Looking down, you might only see 1 or 1.5 knuckles on your left hand. The "V's" will be pointing more toward your chin or even your left shoulder. Major champion Jon Rahm uses what many would consider a slightly weaker lead-hand grip.
• Who It Helps: This grip is a go-to fix for players who struggle with a hook. The weaker hand position slows down the rate of clubface closure, making it harder to turn the ball over too much. It can help turn a nasty hook into a playable fade.

Putting It All Together: Finding Your Best Grip

Now that you understand the pieces, how do you build the perfect grip for you?

1. Start with a Neutral Foundation: Every golfer should begin by building a fundamentally sound, neutral grip. Use the checkpoints above (2-2.5 knuckles, "V's" to the right shoulder) as your starting point.
2. Choose Your Style for Comfort: Next, try both the Overlap and Interlock styles. Pay less attention to tradition and more to feel. Which one makes you feel more connected and secure? Go with that.
3. Diagnose and Adjust: Play with your neutral grip. What is your consistent miss?
   • If you are constantly slicing the ball, try strengthening your grip. Rotate both hands slightly to the right until you can clearly see three knuckles on your left hand. This isn't a radical change, it's a minor adjustment.
   • If you are fighting a persistent hook, try weakening it. Rotate both hands a fraction to the left, back towards a two-knuckle view.
4. Check Your Grip Pressure: Finally, a perfect grip position can be ruined by a death grip. Hold the club with the same pressure you’d use to hold a small bird or an open tube of toothpaste - firm enough so it’s secure, but light enough not to create tension in your forearms.

Final Thoughts

The most common grip you'll find on tour is a neutral to slightly strong position. This gives elite players the baseline for control and consistency that lets them swing with freedom. While the specific style choice between an overlap or interlock is a personal preference, mastering your grip position is a non-negotiable fundamental for controlling the clubface and improving your ball flight.

Your grip is your only point of contact with the club, and small changes can have a big impact. If you're struggling to understand why your ball is flying a certain way or aren't sure if your hold is helping or hurting, I can offer clarity. You can ask me questions about your grip any time, get a clear strategy for your next shot, or even snap a picture of a tricky lie where grip pressure is critical. With Caddie AI, you have an expert coach in your pocket, ready to take the guesswork out of your game and help you play with more confidence.