- While gripping a golf club, think of it as your only connection with the club and the ball. How you place your hand is very important for what you want to accomplish. It takes skill and the understanding behind the mechanics to effectively hold a golf club. In this article, we will look at several different golf grips and the proper way to execute them.
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Before attempting a grip, you must first learn about your lead hand (or top hand). The placement of this hand ensures better control of the club's face. As the body turns during a swig, the club turns with it. The lead hand helps to control where the club hits the ball during this.
If the golfer is right-handed, the left hand is the lead hand, and vice versa. On golf gloves, there are dots inside the hand. The placement of the club must line up with the dots. You don't want too much of the palm gripping the club; this takes away some of the power behind the shot.
With the club about 3 feet in the air, hold the club face square in front of your body. Situate the club at an angle, aligning with the dots, through the fingers. The thumb goes on the backside of the shaft. -
The trailing hand is the bottom hand in the grip. For most people, this is the dominant hand, meaning your trailing hand is also your writing hand. The position of the trailing hand is important because it's responsible for delivering the power to the swing while the lead hand handles the control. That's why the placement for both hands must be equal to each other.
Before placing the trailing hand, the lead must already be in perfect position. No matter what the grip is, the lifeline of the trailing hand always is placed against the thumb of the lead hand. -
There are three basic grips that should be learned first. All three are common, and good grips to get any novice started quickly. Pay attention to the tightness of the grip. Keep the grip light to enhance the power of the wrist hinge. A tight grip makes the shot weak and thin.
The first basic grip is the Vardon Overlap, or overlapping grip. Golf instructors love to teach this grip first, and it is used most commonly among professionals. To do this grip, place your little finger of your trailing hand in between the index and middle finger of the lead hand. Make sure that the thumb of the lead hand fits into the lifeline of the trailing hand.
Next is the interlocking grip. This is the grip used by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. It is recommended for individuals with small hands or weak wrists. To master this grip, place the trailing hand's little finger in with the lead hand's index finger. Place the thumb of the leading hand in the lifeline of the trailing hand.
The last basic grip is the Ten Finger, or baseball grip. This simple grip is recommended to beginners and was used mostly by Art Wall Jr. and Bob Estes. It is also ideal for people with arthritis or joint pain. As the name would suggest, this grip is similar to holding a baseball bat. Begin by performing a perfect grip with the lead hand. Now, place the trailing hand with the little finger close to the index finger of the lead hand. The thumb of the lead hand goes in the lifeline of the lead hand.
