How To Grip A Golf Club With Easy Step

A golf grip is one of the most fundamental parts of a golf swing, yet it is also one of the most overlooked factors. A golf grip is the only physical connection you have with your golf club, and how you handle it can make or break your swing outcome.

A correct grip allows you straighter shots, improves your consistency, and provides you with more solid shots. The golf club's good grip also helps you control the clubface's position at impact and generally give you a fulfilling round of golf at the greens.

Even the most celebrated golfers say the same thing that your golf experience will not be the same without a good grip. "Good golf begins with a good grip," said Ben Hogan, an American golfer. If you are a beginner  skilled golfer that needs a tune-up on how to grip a golf club, the following guidelines will help you to move forward.

Let us get started with the essential facts before learning how to grip a golf club.

Ensure You Have The Proper Golf Equipment

Before focusing on how to grip a golf club, you need to ensure that you have all the golf equipment readily available for the swing. The essential tools to give priority to, in this case, are the golf clubs.

Ensure that the golf clubs are the right size and have a suitable construction for the game. You also need to consider the golf course situation and the status of your hand texture. If you are a beginner, you may have problems finding good yet affordable golf clubs. Here is a quick guideline on where to get cheap golf clubs before you learn how to grip a golf club.

Buy Golf Clubs From Your Local Retail Shop.

If you do not have an idea of where to find affordable golf clubs, you could start by visiting your local sports shop. If you find the clubs but have no idea about the ideal size you need, ask any of the attendants to help by measuring your hands for the right grip size.

Measuring your hands' size is crucial because it will make it easier for the attendant to show you a variety of clubs that fit your specifications. After that, you can try out several clubs until you find those that have the grip that goes well with your hands' size.

In golf, feel is everything and gripping on a club that feels comfortable in your hands is the first step to take in mastering the art of how to grip a golf club.

Buy Golf Clubs Online.

If you live in a place with no local sports shop, you could search for the proper grips online. Before the search, you need to have your hand measurements ready. Once you key in your measurements' information, the online shop salesperson will provide you with several options to choose from, and from there, you can select what you feel is the proper clubs for your swings.

Shopping online is convenient for if you want to learn how to grip a golf club because you will have the online shop ship the clubs to your doorstep without the need of going out to look for them. However, you will not enjoy the advantage of trying the feel of different clubs before making your decision on which ones to buy.

Evaluate How The Current Grip Feels On Your Hands

The reason you are here is that you need to know how to grip a golf club, and we are ready to provide you with all the guidelines you need. However, before we do that, we need you to evaluate how your current grip on the clubs feels, and a little exercise will help you do that.

• First, put yourself in a teeing off position, and then imagine picking your golf club. Did you pick your club in the right way?
• Do you hold the club in the right way?
• Are your fingers in the correct position?
• Does the grip feel comfortable on your hands?
• Does the grip offer you enough confidence to take a swing?

Depending on your little exercise's answers and experience, do you think you need to improve the grip for more confidence at swinging and hitting the ball and on how to grip a golf club? If your answer is yes, then you are ready to learn how to grip a golf club.

When you grip your golf club, the tips of your ring, middle fingers should barely touch the palms, and the grip should feel comfortable and secure in your hands. The size of the club affects your grip and the flight of the ball after impact.

If you are using a club with a narrow grip width, the clubface will produce a draw due to easier closing time. On the other hand, a larger grip width will not make it easy for the hands to rotate well enough to make an open clubface, especially if you like to hit a fade.

Comfort in your hands when you grip the club is essential as it provides you with confidence to execute different shots. Please do not make the mistake of choosing a grip due to pressure, because it looks cool, or because someone famous uses it.

Choose a grip that you believe in, even if you use a cheaper club than the latest trendy clubs that you do not feel comfortable or confident using. Once you establish that you have a comfortable grip on the club, you can now go on to learn all the mechanics of a how to grip a golf club.

Learn The Different Grip Sizes

Golf club grips are rubber, and they come in a standard size. However, having a standard size does not mean that they are a one fits all. The best way to get ahead on how to grip a golf club is to find other sizes different from the standard size out there.

How do you know when the size of the grip you are using is not right for you?

Sometimes you may have the best grip on your club but still consistently slice and pull on the grip. If this happens, you should consider finding a new size of grips. Grip sizes depend on the shape and size of the hands.

If you have small hands with short fingers, smaller grips will be ideal for you. On the off chance that you have greater hands, you will require bigger size holds.

The Positioning Of The Hand

 

Now that you know about grip sizes, it is time to pick that club and perfect your grip. Many beginners do not know the right hand to use to pick the club. Using your weaker hand to pick the club is how to grip a golf club.

In the event that you are right-handed, your more vulnerable hand is the left one and the other way around. In this article, we will go with right-handed players with a left weaker hand on how to grip a golf club.

• Turn your left hand over to have the knuckles facing up.
• Use the index finger and finger to form a v shape and point the created V-shape to point your right shoulder.
• A portion of the club, measuring about half an inch, should be poking from the grips top.
• Point your left thumb downwards towards the right-hand side of your shaft
• Use your right hand to grip the club, with the right-hand thumb sitting on top of the left-hand thumb-both thumps facing downwards.

Are Your Fingers Strong Enough?

One of the areas that many golfers, irrespective of their skill levels, struggle with is releasing enough strength to use their less dominant hand or top. One way to get maximum power on how to grip a golf club is by engaging only the tip hand's index and thumb finger because any other finger farther away from the thumb is much weaker.

Without enough strength from the index and thumb fingers, your top hand will break down, especially during a downswing forcing the hand below to take over the swing, and two things are likely to happen.

The first one is, if the bottom hand takes over, you will end up with a scooped shot, which will send the ball into a higher trajectory, minimizing accuracy and distance.

The second thing that will most likely happen if you do not have enough strength in your top hand is to experience the rest of your arm lifting to compensate for the weakness. The result of this will be an open clubface caused by the dreaded chicken wing.

If you are a beginner, you may still not feel too comfortable with this hand positioning technique or the top hand dominance over the bottom hand.  It may be a little daunting and uncomfortable, but do not beat yourself too much because it takes time to grasp the grip.

However, if the hand positioning becomes too hard to master, you can buy specially molded grips available in sports shops that sell golf equipment to assist you. The molds come with special instructions to guide you on where to position the fingers and thumbs, and how to grip your golf clubs.

Things You Can Do To Help You With Positioning The Top Hand For A Better Grip

Carry A Pen To Help You

Another overlooked important factor to consider when learning how to grip golf clubs is by using a pen to mark your grips and glove. Carrying a pen such as a sharpie in your golf bag will make it easier for you if the hand positioning becomes extremely difficult.

Utilize the pen to draw lines on your glove at the right grip points. The two lines will remind you of where to position your grip on the clubs, which will go a long way in boosting your confidence.

If you are worried that drawing lines on your gloves and the clubs are breaking the golf rules, you do not have to because it is legal in many golf courses as it helps to assist those with gripping difficulties.

Marking your glove or club is similar to marking your golf ball when starting a putt on a line. The markings provide you with consistent gripping of the club each time you want to make a swing.

Hand Strengthening Exercises

You can also carry out some simple hand strengthening exercises that will provide you with more confidence if you want to learn how to grip a golf club. The exercises help build strength in your pressure points: the thump and the index fingers. Here are two activities to try.

The first exercise requires the use of a wet dishtowel. Take your towel and using the dominant hand, hold it at the tip. Then using the pressure point fingers of the top hand, try to wring out as much water from the towel as you possibly can.

You can this as many times as you can, and once you feel it gets easier, practice the same exercise by using the same fingers to hold the golf club, ensuring that the other fingers stay off the grip.

In the second exercise on how to grip a golf club, you need a clubhead lying on the ground. Raise the clubhead slowly from the ground until you feel your muscles creaking or feel them active. Hold the clubhead for about ten seconds, and then lower it slowly back to the ground.

Repeat this simple exercise two times more or until you feel confident enough to grip your club. The two activities do not take much of your time, but they make a huge difference in gripping the golf club with more confidence and consistency.

Overlapping Vs. Interlocking Vs. Baseball Grips

Another confusing factor in the perfect grip is whether to link the hands to the fingers or overlap them. Some players prefer the interlocking grip method to the overlap one because it provides a more solid grip as it promotes better wrist hinge. Others like the overlap grip because it releases more pressure for a better swing. Here is a clarification of the two grips.

Overlap Grip

The overlap grip includes putting your pinkie in between the middle finger and index fingers of your left hand. Another name for the overlap grip is the Vardon Grip. The overlap grip is ideal for people with larger hands and those who need to control their grip pressure.

The overlap allows the more available release of the golf club, and those using it are less likely to get blisters or irritation. Some of the professional players who made the overlap grip famous include Phil Mickelson, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer. The overlap grip is also more prevalent on tour, but that does not mean the interlocking grip is not popular.

Interlock Grip

The interlock grip includes setting the correct hand's pinkie between the left hand's middle and index finger. The grip is ideal for players with smaller hands. The interlock grip allows the hands to work well together without emphasizing just one of them.

Some of the most common problems with the interlocking grip are holding onto the club too tightly and causing friction between the fingers, causing soreness or blisters. Probably the most acclaimed proficient golf players known for their utilization of the interlock grip incorporate Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Baseball Grip

Another familiar how to grip a golf club technique is the baseball or ten fingers grip. The technique gets its name from how people use all their ten fingers to grip on the golf club. The baseball grip is likewise a similar way baseball players hold their baseball bats.

The technique is popular with beginners and amateur golfers because it feels comfortable to use when starting to learn how to grip a golf club. In the event that you are right-handed, the lead hand, which is the left hand, remains at the club's top with no gap between the trail and lead hands while gripping on the club.

Another indication that the grip is right is if you see the knuckles of the left-hand line up with the knuckles of the right hand. The left-hand thumb does not wrap around the shaft as it does in the other gripping methods. Instead, it points upwards, covered by the right hand's fingers, as it rests on the club.

Which of the three grips is the best?

Deciding on which of the two grips is better than the other one, is a debate that makes rounds in golf circles. Some swear by the overlap grip while others say the interlock is the main thing. The only possible answer to this question is that you should pick a grip that helps you release the golf club quickly and have confidence swinging throughout the game.

Alternative Grips

The overlap and interlink grips are the most common ways of how to grip golf club. However, this does not mean that every golf player on the course uses either of the two gripping methods. Some golfers are not comfortable with any of the two methods and use different techniques that provide them with swinging confidence.

One good example is Dallas born Jordan Spieth. Jordan does not hold his golf club like other professional golfers, showing no right or wrong way of maintaining your golf grip. His grip is not overlap or interlink, and it looks weak Spieth puts his left pinkie finger lightly on top of his dominant hand and somewhat interlinks it with his right hand pinkie.

The grip may not sit right with your golf coach, but it helps Spieth deliver some of the best swings on the course.

The Reverse Overlap Putter Grip

The reverse overlap putting grip is very similar to the overlap grip, but the left index finger rests on the right pinkie finger. The hands-on position of the putter also means that the putter arc is different from that of an overlap grip.

However, the grip, just like the overlap grip, also maintains a consistent feel from shots through putts. It also provides the payer with great feedback during strokes. On the other hand, the grip limits the right hand if it becomes too active during strokes.

Claw Grip

The claw grip is another popular how to grip a golf club style among many players. The grip, which is so much like the conventional grip, helps align the putter with the upper wrist for minimal motion. It also helps to distribute pressure evenly on both hands, which in turn avoids over-gripping.

The gripping style works well with more extended grips that measure between 11 and 15 inches in length. The grip requires putting four fingertips on top of your grip with the thumb going underneath. The position makes it impossible for the bottom hand's trigger point to alter or twitch the putter's arc.

Saw Grip

A saw grip, which goes by the name pencil grip, goes underneath held by the thumb and index finger at both sides. The grip's side and index finger are parallel to each other on a saw grip.

Pressure Matters When Holding A Golf Grip

One of the things your coach will tell you when learning how to hold a golf grip is that pressure matters. The pressure you put on the golf club makes all the difference between a good and a lousy swing.

The pressure you apply to the golf club should not make your knuckles hurt, but it should not be too light. If it is too tight, it will get harder to take a confident swing, and when it is too soft, control of the club will be just as weak.

Too much pressure on the club will also cause several inconsistent strikes irrespective of the club you pick from to use from your bag. Your forearms tense up if the tight is too firm, and that is a sign that you will not have proper control of the swing.

Try to keep the grip soft but firm by relaxing your arms. You could try the grip's feel by waggling the club and shaking off any tension in the arms and wrists.

Keep It Neutral

Golfers utilize three kinds of grips-strong, neutral, and weak. Whichever one chooses is a matter of preference on what works best for them. The technique discussed in this article is the neutral grip. Before looking at why it is the best grip to stick with, here is a simple rundown of the other two grips.

Strong Grip

When the V-shape made with your thumbs and hands point to your hand's right side, you will end up with a firm grip. The group is ideal for players that swing over the top or struggle to slice the ball. The grip also promotes a clubface that closes more through impact and more in-to-out swings. It makes it easier to hit shots that spin from right to left.

Case study

An excellent example of a player that uses a strong grip is Zach Johnson. Zach is two major championships winner with a long golfing career. His prowess with the wedges is unmatched, and so his excellent golf ball drives. Zach achieves his repeatable shots by using a strong grip, which many other professional players rarely use.

His top hand rolls to a point where his three knuckles show clearly on his left hand. Zach's grip method does not generate much clubhead speed, but he utilizes his body's rotation to make up for what his hands cannot accomplish.

Using his body, more than his hands, also provide the clubface with consistency, an action that many golfers can use to better their swings. His technique also eliminates the manipulation of any particular hand during the swing, which means he does not require much practice using the top weaker hand.

Weak Grip

When the V-shapes of your thumbs and hands point to your head's left, you are most likely to have a weak grip. The grip promotes more out-to-in swings and a less-closed clubface through impact. It is ideal for players struggling with hooked shots and those trying to neutralize swings that go too much from the inside.

Neutral Grip

When the V-shapes of your thumbs and hands point up towards the nose, you will most likely have a neutral grip. The neutral grip is the most comfortable type of hold on the club, and many players use it.

It is ideal for anyone that likes playing both shot shapes on the greens, and those that want to hit their golf ball straight. Anyone that has a sound swing mechanic without losing shots is a neutral gripper.

In short, the rotation of the left hand depends on the strength of your grip. Before you decide how to hold a golf grip, you should try all the techniques to find out which of the three best suits your swing.

The Bottom Hand

How does the bottom hand help in guiding the golf club?

The top hand is the grip anchor that holds everything together for the perfect swing. On the other hand, the bottom hand is also as powerful because it helps to steer the top hand in gripping the club. The bottom hand, or trailing hand, as some people call it, is your dominant hand. In this case, your right hand is the bottom hand.

It is crucial to position the bottom hand in your grip to deliver an emphatic swing at impact without overpowering the top hand. Both hands should play equal roles if you want the perfect swing. Just as in the top hand positioning, pressure points matter too when it comes to the bottom hand position.

The thumb of your bottom hand does not have too much impact on the grip, and it should not put any pressure on the shaft. You might always get the temptation to use the right hand because it is naturally the dominant hand to take control of the grip. The best way to stop from doing this is to practice with one-handed chip shots.

Using the bottom handgrip will leave a gap between the wrist and the grip. Continue chipping the balls without losing the gap, and as you get comfortable, you will be in a position to pitch without losing the sensation.

Practicing Your Grip and Common Pitfalls

How to hold a golf grip is one of the most important aspects of playing golf yet one of the hardest to master. Several things can go wrong when trying to perfect the correct grip, making some layers new into the game even give up.

Changing a new grip is even worse because it can get tedious and frustrating, leading to the old grip. The common pitfalls that many new players go through include-

• Exerting too much pressure to the grip
• Having a weak grip
• Gripping the club more with the hands than with fingers
• Gripping the club with separated hands
• Gripping with gapping of the thumbs
• Some of the grip techniques seen unnatural, which leads to frustration
• Some of the methods are awkward for people with large hands while others are awkward for those with smaller hands.

Wrapping It Up

The golf grip is one of the most important aspects of playing golf successfully. However, gripping techniques are also some of the features in playing golf that many people overlook. Learning how to grip a golf club does not come so easy for many beginners.

The decision on the best grip to use sometimes goes down to choosing the one that you feel the most comfortable using or the one that works best for your swing. It is vital to test several of them before deciding on the one that provides you with swinging confidence and comfort.

Use a golf grip that you feel suits your hands, which may be large or small. Other things that may dictate your grip include your local climate, golfing abilities and tendencies, and how much practice you put on gripping.

It is our hope that the above how to grip a golf club guidelines will steer you to becoming better at your game. Feel free to ask us any questions regarding the article.