Section 1 - The Grip

The main reason why a good grip is important is so that you can have a secure hold on the club throughout the swing. This is our only contact point with the club so it’s vital that the club does not twist and turn in your hands as you are making a swing.

A good grip will also allow the hands to work as free hinges at the end of the arms to help add club head speed and it’s very important that the wrists be able to cock and un-cock in this manner.

In the left hand, or top hand for a right-handed player, the club should be held in a combination finger and palm position; the middle underneath part of the grip should run through the middle segment of the left index finger and then across and under the palm of the hand, underneath the heel pad. You should be able to balance, hold and control the club using just the index finger of the left hand with the butt end of the club up underneath the heel pad.

When you wrap the rest of the fingers around the club and place the left thumb just slightly right of centre the left hand should be in a pretty good position.

However, some visual references are needed to ensure consistency. There should be a minimum of two or three knuckles showing and the centre of the wrist as defined by the small cavity known as the anatomical snuff box should be in line with the shaft or slightly to the right side.

Another common reference is the V formed between the left thumb and left index finger, which should align towards the right side of your face. When the right hand goes on the club, it’s important that the hands are fairly close together and that the palms of both hands basically oppose each other. The grip should be predominantly in the fingers of the right hand with the club running through the middle segment of the right index finger.  The right thumb should be able to rest against the last part of the index finger as well as against the side of the club. There should be a V formed between the index finger and thumb, which should align towards the right shoulder.

The fleshy pad underneath the right thumb should rest on top of the left thumb.

Then you have three options as to the placement of the little finger of the right hand. The most basic style is to have the little finger on the club. This is known as a ‘ten finger grip’ or ‘baseball style’. The most common grip is known as the ‘overlap’ or ‘Vardon’ where the little finger sits on top of the index finger of the left hand.

The third common grip is the ‘interlocking style’ where the little finger of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the left hand.

Grip style is a matter of personal preference, where you should use whichever feels the most comfortable and produces the best results. The most important things are that you have control of the club and that your wrists are encouraged to cock up and downwards.

There is no right and wrong grip positions but outside the normal or standard grip can get you into unusual positions which may mean that compensations have to made later in the swing.