The Golf Grip is the most important fundamental in the golf swing simply for the fact that it is our only connection to the golf club. Yet, the grip is probably the most overlooked aspect of the golf swing for most golfers. I see many golfers that might not even have one of their thumbs or a forefinger touching the club when they swing it. The first thing I ask them is if they have ever seen a PGA Tour player grip the club that way. When they answer “No” I ask “don’t you think we ought to imitate the best players in the world?”

Why is the grip so important? Because it controls the clubface angle at impact. As indicated in the discussion regarding the Ball Flight Laws, the angle of the clubface at impact is most important to determining ball flight. If the clubface is open at impact, the ball will likely fly to the right (assuming you are a right handed player). An open clubface is typically caused by a weak grip. In other words, if you are a right handed player, your hands are turned to far to the left on the club. If you are a left handed player, your hands are turned too far to the right on the club.

If the clubface is closed at impact, the ball will likely fly to the left. A closed clubface at impact is typically caused by a grip that is too strong. If you are a right handed player, your hands are turned too far to the right on the club. If you are a left handed player, your hands are turned too far to the left.

Ideally, what we would like is a NEUTRAL golf grip. So how do we achieve that? Here are the basic points….

(Right Handers)

1. Your left hand should be placed on the club so that the left thumb points down the club shaft at about 1 o’clock. If your thumb is straight down the shaft, it is too weak.

2. The V formed by your thumb and forefinger should be pointed between your right cheek and right shoulder. Then, if I am standing in front of you, I should only see two knuckles on the back of your left hand. If I see more than 2, your hand is turned too far to the right (too strong). If I see only 1, it is turned too far to the left (too weak).

Left Hand Grip

3. Your right hand should be placed in such a way that the pad of the right thumb covers the left thumb. You then wrap your fingers around the club from there.

4. Your right thumb should be pointed at 11 o’clock down the club shaft.

5. The V formed by your thumb and forefinger should be pointed between your right cheek and right shoulder…parallel to the V formed by your left hand.

6. You should form a trigger with your right forefinger, and that trigger should be directly beside the right thumb, not underneath the club, and not on top of the grip.

When you place your hands on the club in this manner, the palms should be facing each other.

Right hand on club

Both hands on club

(Left Handers)

1. Your right hand should be placed on the club so that the right thumb points down the club shaft at 11 o’clock.

2. The V formed by your thumb and forefinger should point between your left cheek and shoulder.

3. Your left hand should be place so that the pad of the left thumb covers your right thumb. Wrap your fingers around the club from there.

4. Your left thumb should be pointed at 1 o’clock down the club shaft.

5. The V formed by your thumb and forefinger should point between your left cheek and shoulder, parallel to the V formed by your right hand.

6. Form a trigger with your left forefinger, and that trigger should be directly beside the thumb, not underneath the club and not on top of the grip.

Whether you work with an overlap grip, interlock grip or a 10 finger grip is up to you. I personally recommend not using the 10 finger grip as that results in the hands working more independently than we like. We want the hands to work as one unit throughout the swing.

This photo demonstrates a strong grip. Both hands for the right hander are rotated too far to the right. The strong grip will have a tendency to result in a closed clubface at impact.

In regard to grip pressure, most golfers have a tendency to hold on to the club too tight. Most golfers tend to slice the ball, and holding onto the club too tightly will only make this worse. However, if you tend to hook the ball too much, try holding the club a little tighter. Ideally, we want medium grip pressure…not too tight and not too loose.

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