What Kind of Golf Club Grip?

Your connection to the golf club begins and ends with your hands, and how you hold the club might be the single biggest influence on where your ball goes. It's the steering wheel for your entire golf shot. This guide will walk you through the fundamental grip types, help you find a neutral position, and explain how small adjustments can fix common shot problems like a slice or a hook.

Why Your Grip is the Steering Wheel of Your Golf Shot

Think about how you hold a steering wheel in a car, tiny movements dictate exactly where the car goes. It’s the same with a golf club. The way your hands are positioned on the grip determines the orientation of the clubface at impact. If the clubface is open (pointing right for a righty), you’ll likely see a slice. If it’s closed (pointing left), a hook is often the result. Everything else in your swing - your turn, your weight shift, your downswing path - is an attempt to deliver that clubface squarely to the ball.

When your grip is flawed, your body instinctively knows it. You'll start to make subconscious compensations throughout your swing to try and “save” the shot and get the clubface square. This creates a chain reaction of inconsistency. A proper grip puts the clubface in a neutral-to-square position from the very start, freeing up your body to make a simple, athletic, and repeatable swing rotation. Getting the grip right is a giant step toward achieving better power, accuracy, and consistency.

The Three Primary Golf Grip Styles

The first decision is choosing how to connect your hands on the club. There is no single "correct" style, it comes down to comfort, hand size, and personal preference. The goal is to get your hands working as a single, unified unit. Let’s look at the three main types.

The Overlap Grip (Vardon Grip)

Named after the legendary Harry Vardon, this is the most popular grip among professional golfers. In the Overlap grip, the little finger of the trail hand (your right pinky if you’re a righty) rests in the space between the index and middle finger of your lead hand.

• Pros: Excellent for promoting good wrist action and control. It connects the hands effectively, encouraging them to work together. Many find it gives them a great "feel" for the clubhead.
• Cons: Players with smaller hands or weaker fingers might find it feels less secure than other grips.
• Best for: Generally recommended for most male golfers or players with average to large-sized hands.

The Interlock Grip

The Interlock grip is a favorite of some of the game's greatest, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Here, the little finger of the trail hand hooks, or "interlocks," with the index finger of the lead hand.

• Pros: Creates an exceptionally secure connection, virtually turning two hands into one solid unit. This feeling of security can boost confidence.
• Cons: For some, it can create too much tension in the hands and wrists if gripped too tightly. It can also feel quite uncomfortable at first for those not used to it.
• Best for: A great choice for players with smaller hands, as it helps secure the club. Many a golfer and top professional have also found success with this grip.

The Ten-Finger Grip (Baseball Grip)

As the name suggests, this grip involves placing all ten fingers on the club, much like you’d hold a baseball bat. The hands are close together, with the thumb of the lead hand often covered by the palm of the trail hand, but there is no overlapping or interlocking.

• Pros: It feels natural and is the easiest to learn for beginners. It may also help generate more clubhead speed for players who lack forearm strength, like juniors, seniors, or some new golfers.
• Cons: It can sometimes lead to the hands working independently, with the trail hand becoming overly dominant, potentially causing a hook.
• Best for: True beginners, juniors, and players with arthritis or a lack of hand strength.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Spend a little time on the range trying each to discover which one feels most comfortable and gives you the best control.

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Neutral Grip

Once you've chosen a style, the next step is positioning your hands correctly. Our goal is a “neutral” grip, which gives you the best chance of delivering a square clubface. This guide is for a right-handed golfer, lefties simply do the opposite.

Step 1: Get the Clubface Square

Before you even put your hands on, set the clubhead on the ground behind the ball. Make sure the leading edge - the very bottom horizontal groove on the face - is pointing directly at your target. This is your baseline. You want the grip's logo or any markings to be pointing straight up at the sky.

Step 2: Placing Your Lead Hand (Left Hand)

Approach the club from the side. Hold the grip primarily in the fingers of your left hand, not the palm. It should run diagonally from the base of your little finger to the middle of your index finger. Once the fingers wrap around, place the heel pad of your hand on top of the grip.

Checkpoints for your left hand:

• Look down. You should be able to clearly see two, and only two, knuckles on your left hand (your index and middle fingers).
• The "V" created by your thumb and index finger should point roughly towards your right shoulder.

Step 3: Placing Your Trail Hand (Right Hand)

Bring your right hand to the club. The lifeline of your right palm should fit snugly over your left thumb. The grip should, once again, rest in the fingers of your right hand.

Checkpoints for your right hand:

• The "V" formed between your thumb and index finger should also point toward your right shoulder, parallel to the left hand's "V".
• Your right thumb should rest just on the target side of center on the grip. You don't want it straight down the shaft.

Don’t stress if this feels bizarre. Holding a golf club isn't a natural motion, and it can take time to become accustomed to the correct feel.

Unlocking Your Game: Strong, Weak, or Neutral?

The terms "strong" and "weak" don't refer to grip pressure but to the rotational position of your hands on the club. Your neutral grip is the go-to, but a tiny adjustment can help troubleshoot your ball's flight.

The Neutral Grip: The Gold Standard

This is the position our step-by-step guide helps you find - two knuckles visible on the lead hand, with the "V"s of both hands pointed toward your trail shoulder. For most golfers, this provides the ideal balance of power and control, resulting in a straight ball flight.

The Strong Grip: Taming a Slice

To create a strong grip, rotate both hands slightly away from the target so they are more “on top” of the club instead of on its sides.

• What it Looks Like: You should see three or even four knuckles on your lead hand. Both "V"s will point outside your target shoulder.
• How it Works: This pre-sets your hands in a closed position, helping to combat an open clubface typically causing a slice.

The Weak Grip: Curing a Hook

A weak grip is the opposite. Rotate both hands toward the target, leading to the knuckles being less visible.

• What You'll Notice: With your lead hand, you won’t see any knuckles. The "V"s will point towards your chin or target side shoulder.
• Its Purpose: To keep your hands from closing the clubface too early, helping to prevent a hook.

A word of warning: these are adjustments, not total overhauls. Your "strong" or "weak" adjustments should be subtle shifts rather than complete changes.

The Secret Ingredient: Grip Pressure

The final piece of the puzzle is grip pressure. Avoid gripping so tightly that your knuckles turn white. Instead, imagine holding a delicate item like a bag of potato chips - firm enough for control but gentle enough not to crush it.

Your grip should feel light and relaxed, allowing you to swing fluidly and free any tension in your arms, ultimately leading to a more comfortable and effective swing.

Final Thoughts

Your grip is your only link to the club, making it the bedrock of a consistent golf swing. Understanding the different styles, finding a neutral hand position, and fine-tuning it to influence the ball's flight put you in control. It requires patience and practice to find where you feel comfortable over the ball, and over time, you’ll feel more confident.

It can feel like a lot to think about, especially if you're trying to diagnose a problem shot while on the golf course. That’s why we built Caddie AI to be your personal 24/7 golf expert. If you find yourself consistently slicing and wonder if your grip is the culprit, you can get a simple, clear analysis right from your pocket. Instead of guessing, you can make informed adjustments on the course.