“You must have the correct golf grip”

The proper golf grip is absolutely essential if you are to get anywhere near mastering this game.

Too many golfers start out by picking up a club in a way that feels comfortable and then building a swing around the wrong starting position. This is disastrous. Every other part of the swing will develop incorrectly to compensation for not having the proper golf grip.

If the hands are either too open or closed then the club head at impact with the ball will inevitably be anything other than square. Don’t be surprised then if the ball starts out left or right of the target and continues that way.

Over time, with the improper golf grip, other things will change to get the clubhead square to to the ball at impact but these changes are likely to affect control, distance, grace (if that matters to you) and ultimately will mean you reach a plateau and cannot improve further.

It is vital, therefore, to spend a little time initially and then to monitor the way you hold a club to ensure you haven’t deviated from the proper golf grip.

So what is the proper way to grip a golf club? There are several methods taught but the most common is the little finger overlap grip. It is important not to grip too tightly as this doesn’t allow the arm muscles to relax enough resulting in a very stilted swing.

As setting up the proper golf grip is so important I strongly recommend that if it is difficult to follow from books or diagrams that you seek the guidance of a golf professional on this point. Reading articles will help greatly help but if any any doubt speak to a golf pro and take his advice on setting up the proper golf grip.

The correct golf club grip is possibly the most important element of playing golf to master.

Think about it… this is the only connection between you and the golf club – get it wrong and the club head is most unlikely to return to the golf ball in the correct position. This will lead to sliced shots, hooks, underpowered or worst of all the ultimate embarrassment a sky shot.

So here is the golf club grip instruction you need.

On most, if not all, golf clubs there is a nick or line on the grip to indicate the starting point for your grip.

This alignment “tool” should be used regardless of which of the three usual grips you decide to use.

Most Golf Pros when teaching a beginner will give golf club grip instruction based on the overlap grip.

This is sometimes known as the Vardon grip, named after the great British player Harry Vardon. With this style of golf grip the little finger of the right hand “overlaps” between the index and middle finger of the left hand (assuming a right handed player) and butts up against the index finger. The best way to start this grip is to place the left hand on the club so that the “V” created between the thumb and forefinger is in line with the top of the club and the alignment aid on the golf club grip. Then place the right hand on the club (I start by placing the little finger in position next to the index finger of the left hand) and again using the “V” between the thumb and forefinger as a guide align the “V” with the line of the club grip.

The second most common grip is the interlocking grip. I’m not sure that there is much difference between the first two grips and it is more of a personal preference and which feels more comfortable. With this style of grip the main difference is that rather than butting up against the index finger of the left hand, the little finger on the right intertwines with it. The end result is that the index finger on the left hand sits on the knuckle of the little finger on the right hand.

The third type of golf club grip is the baseball grip. I will not go into detail about this grip because I think it is flawed and does not allow the right feel. Essentially, however, the club is held with all ten fingers with the hands butted up against each other. Because there is no interlinking I feel there is a tendency for the two hands to work independently rather than as a unit.

Whichever golf club grip instruction you follow I believe it is also important to be wary of the strength of the grip. Too tight and your arm muscles will be tense and will not allow your wrists to hinge correctly – too loose and there will be a tendency for the club to move in the hands possibly resulting in an open or closed club face at impact.

I strongly recommend that you regularly check your grip, no matter how long you have been playing, since it is easy to let things slip a little and a you end up with one or both hands slightly off perfect position.