How to Properly Grip a Golf Club

Ever watched professional golfers on TV and found yourself wondering, “Why does it look so easy?” As with all good secrets, it starts with the basics—beginning with your grip. Learning how to properly grip a golf club is the foundation of every great shot. It sets you up for a consistent, repeatable swing that delivers both speed and accuracy. Even the most refined technique can fall apart without a solid grip.

Having played professional golf for years and years, as well as coaching some of the best golfers to have walked this planet on and off the course, I have seen how even the smallest adjustment, such as a grip can literally turn a player’s game around. In this guide, I’ll be covering all the intricacies of how to hold a golf club properly—including advice from the pros, my personal experiences, and simple steps you can start using NOW.

Why the Grip Matters

So before getting into the how, let me explain the why. The only link between the golfer and the golf club are your hands. They will dictate clubface, swing path, ball direction, spin, and launch angle.

This is what a proper grip can do for you:

• Boosting the accuracy and consistency of your shots
• Enhance power and fluidity for the swing
• Keep slices and hooks as common errors at bay
• Reduce tension in your swing

Types of Golf Grips

There are three main types of grips that golfers use:

1. Overlapping grip (Vardon grip)

The grip used by most professional golfers. Your trailing hand pinky (right hand for lefties) is sitting on top the index finger of your lead hand (left hand for righties). It provides the perfect control and power.

2. Best For: Power hitters with heavy hands and forearms.

Interlocking Grip

This grip literally ties the little finger of the trail hand together with the index finger of the lead hand and has been used by legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Ideal For: People with smaller hands or those who want extra connectedness between their hands.

3. The Baseball Grip (or Ten-Finger Grip)

Both hands, all fingers grip the club like a baseball bat.

Pros: Ideal for beginners, junior golf players, or those without very strong hands

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Golf Clubs

How To Hold a Golf Club Correctly: Ultimate Guide

Step 1: Begin working with the Lead Hand

• Stand with the club at waist-height in front of you
• Hold the grip across the bottom of your fingers (and not inside your palm).
• Hold on to the club. You want the “V” of your thumb and index finger pointing in the direction of your trailing shoulder.
• When you look down, there should be somewhere between two and three knuckles of your lead hand visible.

Trail Hand Placement — Step 2:

• At the club at waist-high, position the palm of your trail hand over the thumb of your lead hand.
• Your trailing thumb will rest slightly to the right side of the grip.
• The V where the thumb and forefinger meet should also be pointing at your trailing shoulder.

Step 3: Check the Pressure

• One of the most common mistakes is to hold the club too tight. It’s like holding a tube of toothpaste: enough of a grip to maintain a hold on it, but too little to coax any of it out.
• Your grip pressure should be a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1–10.

Step 4: Align the Clubface

• Grip with the clubface square (not open or closed).

Common Grip Mistakes to Avoid

• Holding too tightly – Creates tension with slow club head speed.
• Palm Control – Restrains wrist movement and control
• Open or closed clubface – resulting from misaligned “V” shapes
• Overaggressive hands – Leads to wild shots, loss of consistency

Pro Tips from the Tour

• Use alignment aids in your grip to practice where your hands go. Most modern grips have indicators to assist.
• Use it to record your grip and compare it to tour pros’ photos and videos.
• Work on gripping with your eyes closed for muscle memory

One of my students who had just started taking lessons from me was slicing the ball a lot. And yet, within 30 minutes of him working through his grip, he went from hitting pathetic weak fades to powerful draws. See, now that is the beauty of a good grip!

Maintaining that white knuckle grip

• So before each shot, check your grip. This even applies to seasoned players, who often ease up.
• Replace worn grips. When grips are too slippery, we tend to hold on tightly and fight with excessive tension.
• Grip trainers are effective for building consistent hand positioning when practicing.

Good grip is not just a beginner tip; it is a lifetime fundamental of golf. Regardless of whether you are new to the game or have been swinging a club for some time, taking some time to develop your grip can provide immediate results from your first round with this grip adjustment.

Just remember: the proper grip creates confidence, controls your clubface, and sets you a foundation for powerful, accurate shots with more consistency. So take it seriously, practice with purpose, and your golf game will replace the player in baggy shorts.