How to Grip a Golf Club

on 12/25/2007 I agree 100% that you need to use the golf grip that works best for you. Learn all the basics from a good golf pro, but then don't be afraid to try a different type of golf grip if your not satisfied with what your using. I was told I needed to use the "overlap" type grip, because of my large hands, by my golf pro and some very good golfers friends. But I never felt comfortable, so I switched to the "interlocking" grip, which I always felt more comfortable with. I hit the ball much better, and feel more confident now.

on 8/8/2006 The tip of the day:
Roll your left hand left for a strong grip, can't be more wrong! It's the perfect opposite of correct! If it were any more wrong, the definition of wrong would have to be changed to account for it all.

on 8/8/2006 Everyone seems to spout the eternal rules for gripping the club correctly. Actually, the only absolute is that your grip provide a consistently square clubface at impact of your swing. Yes, many of the tired rules do at least supply a new golfer with a place to start experimenting. Sadly, I have personally seen many people who have struggled for years trying to use a grip incompatible with their swing.

Many people fail to think about just who developed these positions. Well, they are/were very gifted golfers with very specific swings. Obviously, very few people ever attain this level of expertise.
Go ahead and try the things that you hear, but realize that if it does not produce results it just isn't right for you. I like to have my students take the recommended grip and set up to a golf ball in a "square setup". Next, I ask them to stand up a little taller until the clubhead just hangs from their hands naturally an inch or so above the ground. I tell them to let the club gently swing back and forth just enough to make the hands turn and hinge a tiny bit. If at this point the clubhead does not swing gently in a straight line or slightly in to out, I make them adjust their hands until it does.
Ideally, the hands do nothing through impact and are completely relaxed. If the clubhead path is not what you want it is a direct result of an incorrect grip for your swing.
Do your shots always start in the direction that your shoulders were aligned at address? If not do the test above, you will most likely see that your wrists are making the clubhead travel along the wrong path.

on 6/30/2006 Check your grip by opening your hands after a setup pre shot. If in neutral, your palms should be facing each other.

on 6/30/2006 Everyone seems to spout the eternal rules for gripping the club correctly. The only absolute is that your grip provide a consistently square club face at impact of your swing. Yes, many of the tired rules do at least supply a new golfer with a place to start experimenting. Sadly, I have personally seen many people who have struggled for years trying to use a grip incompatible with their swing.

Many people fail to think about just who developed these positions. Well, they are/were very gifted golfers with very specific swings. Obviously, very few people ever attain this level of expertise.

Go ahead and try the things that you hear, but realize that if it does not produce results, it just isn't right for you. I like to have my students take the recommended grip and set up to a golf ball in a square setup. Next, I ask them to stand up a little taller, until the club head just hangs from their hands naturally an inch or so above the ground. I tell them to let the club gently swing back and forth, just enough to make the hands turn and hinge a tiny bit. If at this point the club head does not swing gently in a straight line or slightly in to out, I make them adjust their hands until it does.

Ideally, the hands do nothing through impact and are completely relaxed. If the club head path is not what you want, it is a direct result of an incorrect grip for your swing.

Do your shots always start in the direction that your shoulders were aligned at address? If not, do the test above. You will most likely see that your wrists are making the club head travel along the wrong path.