In this article we will cover how to hold a golf club with a proper golf grip. We’ll cover a step-by-step guide to quickly get you on track. I also want to teach you why a correct golf grip is important and how it affects your golf shots.

The proper golf grip guide

If you’re in a hurry and about to hit the 1st tee, check out the step by step images below. If you’re not in a rush, stay around for the whole article. Understanding the details of a great golf grip is probably one of the most valuable technical assets you can develop to help you achieve your golfing dreams.

Enjoy.

Golf Insider tip: New to golf? Check out this guide on the best golf clubs for beginners.

How to hold a golf club – quick guide

The following sequence is for righted handed golfers. If you are not playing golf right handed just follow the same steps but switch hands for each step.

Left hand golf grip

To hold a golf club, start by securing the top of the grip with your right hand, then place your left hand against the grip from the side, with your fingers pointing down straight towards the ground, wrap them around, as shown below.

Once your left hand is in place, position your bottom right fingers onto the grip, below your top hand.

Start with your fingers extended, note the wrist angle to help the club run through the correct part of the hand and fingers.

Right hand golf grip

Below is stage two in picture format. The top image shows you step one (pictured above) from face on view. When you have your left hand in this position, wrap your hand around the grip (bottom left image).

It should feel as if you’re holding the golf club mostly in your fingers. It should also feel like you’ve got a lot of contact between your fingers, lower palm and the grip. This is a good indication that you will be able to control the golf club through your entire swing.

Use these steps as check points in a mirror. Note how the hands sit together (bottom right).

The proper golf grip explained

A lot of videos show you how to hold a golf club with the correct grip. However, I can’t find any that really explain how your grip affects your game.

Here I will explain why a correct golf grip is so important and why changing your golf grip is the easiest way to improve your golf accuracy and consistency.

Sit tight.

Point 1

Once you can consistently hit the golf ball out the centre of the golf club your next challenge becomes accuracy. The most critical factor in hitting the golf ball towards your target is squaring the club face at impact – 61 to 83% of the ball’s start direction, and around 80% of total lateral error, is caused by a non-square club face at impact.

Get your club face square and you will hit straight golf shots.

Point 2

Your golf grip is the only component that links your body (and entire golf swing) to your club face angle. Your golf grip is the critical connection that determines point one, above.

By changing your golf grip and keeping your entire golf swing as it is, you can make considerable improvement to your club face at impact and therefore the accuracy of your shot. For example, most golfers who suffer from a slice do so because of their golf grip and no other reason. We cover this shortly and how to fix it.

Point 3

Your arms and hands hang naturally inwards (watch the video below). When you’re swinging the golf club at speed, this is the position your arms and hands will want to return to. Hence why a neutral golf grip is one where both our hands appear to be twisted over and sit on top of the golf club – this is actually their natural anatomical position.

Point 4

Golf is a game of timing. The better your golf grip, the less you will require perfect timing to square up the club face. The correct golf grip means that when your arms are in a neutral position (pictured in the video below), the club face will automatically be square.

A bad golf grip requires you to manipulate and force the club face square. For slicers, this will feel as though you’re flipping your arms and hands over to get the club face square.

For golfers with a hook, you will be familiar with the feeling of holding onto the golf club for dear life, praying that the club face doesn’t turn over too early through impact. This feeling is just your hands and arms wanting to get back to neutral.

Why does my golf grip make me slice/hook?

Now we know how your golf grip links to your golf swing and club face, we can easily explain why certain golf grips cause you to slice and hook.

Why do I slice / fade?

The key point to remember is that a slice/fade is caused by the club face being open to your swing path at impact, not an out-to-in swing path alone. This misunderstanding makes me a tad angry because many golf magazines and golf sites give poor advice.

With the knowledge above in mind, watch the video below to see how a weak golf grip causes an open club face at impact.

Why do I hook/draw?

Likewise, a hook is caused by your club face being too closed to the swing path at impact, not an out-to-in swing path alone. Watch the video below to see how a ‘strong’ golf grip at set up causes you to have a closed club face at impact.

Check out how the hands and arms move into a neutral position (left) and alter the club face angle (right).

How to fix my grip – fade/slice

Below are two videos to show you how to alter your golf grip. You’ll notice the key factor is to start with both hands twisted round from where you will be used to having them. Ensure when you alter your grip, you do so with the club face pointing to the target.

For most golfers, the top hand is the key culprit for slicing. Once you have a great left hand grip, your right hand should fall into place.

Below is a video which shows you how to alter your bottom hand.

How to fix my grip – draw/hook

If you struggle with a hook here is how to correct your golf grip. For most golfers, a poor top hand grip is the main issue. However, for single figure players who struggle with the odd hook or over-draw, pay close attention to the second video on how your apply your bottom hand to the golf club.

Next up is a video which shows you how to correct a strong bottom hand golf grip.

Types of golf grip

There are three slight variations of the golf grip. I’ll explain each below.

10 finger golf grip

This is where all of the fingers on your right hand sit below your left (no overlap). It is great for junior golfers. However, if you feel can, use one of the options below as the 10 finger grip can affect your consistency.

Overlapping grip

This is where you have followed the explainer videos above and find the little finger on your right-hand sits in the gap between your index finger and middle finger. It is a great grip and often favoured by golfers with larger hands.

Interlocking grip

The interlocking grip variation occurs when you have followed the explainer videos above and find you interlocked the little finger on your right hand and index finger on your left hand. It also is a great grip, it is favoured by golfers with smaller hands (and is used by Tiger Woods).

Grip pressure

There are two points to perfecting your grip pressure:

How much pressure to apply. Where are the key pressure points.

How much pressure should I use to hold a golf club?

In terms of general grip pressure, a good strategy is to imagine you are holding a banana and you have to eat the remains after your golf shot. Too light and the banana is flying out of your hands, but squeezing too tight will turn the banana into mush.

Most golfers are guilty of gripping too hard and squeezing the club to death when changing their golf grip.

The results is less wrist hinge and reduced club head speed. A second consequence of a tight golf grip is less rotation of the forearms during the backswing and/or downswing. The result of poor forearm rotation can be hooks (too little rotation in the backswing), or slices (too little rotation during the downswing).

Golf grip pressure points

If you have followed this guide so far you should have your hands fitting snugly around the golf grip. The first time golfers use a correct golf grip they often feel the golf club is placed too far into their fingers – don’t worry this is normal and generally a sign you have a good golf grip.

Once the golf club is in this position you should feel the top 2-3 fingers on your left hand securing the club, and a small pinch between your right thumb and index finger at the bottom of your golf grip.

These points at the top and bottom of your golf grip are where you will feel more grip pressure, with everything in between feeling soft and relaxed.

Your ideal golf grip – feedback

If you’ve made it this far you have more than enough technical information. Now you need a great understanding of when you reach your ideal golf grip.

Your key feedback is the flight and curvature of the golf ball. Head to the golf range and start experimenting with your new grip. Keep exaggerating your grip change until a well struck shot results in a straight ball flight.

See if you can exaggerate your grip change to create the opposite of your bad shot.

If you fade the golf ball, keep exaggerating your grip change until you can get the ball drawing through the air. If you struggle with a hook, keep exaggerating your grip change until you can hit a soft fade.

With this in mind you’ll start to realise there is no such thing as a ‘perfect golf grip’ when we get down to the fine margins.

A great golf grip is roughly neutral and one where the hands sit close together. You’ll see many tour players with a slightly strong, or even a slightly weak grip. Once you get your golf grip roughly in the right place keep using the flight and shape of the golf ball to determine your optimal golf grip.

How to change your golf grip

The biggest challenge with changing your golf grip is getting used to the new feeling and feedback it provides you with.

A great place to start is to practice some chipping with your new golf grip. Hitting delicate shots really speeds up the process of relaxing your hands, reducing your grip pressure and making things feel normal.

A golf grip trainer, like the one pictured below, can also be useful for providing feedback. However, I’m yet to find one that is foolproof. Use them along with the information in this article to ensure you are on track.

If you are limited to a golf range, try this one-hour practice. For a more long-term approach to changing your grip and technique, have a read of this article which provides details on how to structure your practice.

Is a putting grip different?

Yes, you should grip the club the same for all the shots you will play apart from your putter. If you want to learn the proper putting grip check out this guide.

Summary

When you change your golf grip it will feel awful, but do stick with it. A great golf grip is the foundation of becoming a great golfer. I hope you’ve found this guide useful – if you have any other questions add them in the comments below and I’ll update this article with answers for you.

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Happy golfing – Will.

Head back to Golf Insider long game home.

Golf grip - How to hold a golf club Print The proper golf grip - below is a step-by-step guide for how to hold a golf club. Active Time 5 minutes Total Time 5 minutes Materials Grab a 6 or 7-iron. A mirror or window will give you some great feedback on your golf grip. N/A Instructions Place your left hand onto the club, with your fingers pointing towards the floor. The grip should run from the middle joint of your index finger to the base of your little finger. Wrap your hand around the grip, and pinch your thumb up slightly - this gives you a little extra control during your golf swing. Place your right hand onto the grip directly below your left. Ideally you will overlap or interlock one finger. Your right thumb should sit just left of centre. Notes The best way to practice your golf grip is to go through these steps a few times, until it feels natural. Checking what your golf grip looks like in a mirror or window will give you some great feedback and speed up your progress.

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