How To Hold A Golf Club: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: How To Hold A Golf Club – Choose the Right Grip Type

Before delving into the mechanics, you need to decide on the grip type you’re going to use. There are three primary options:

1. Overlap Grip (Vardon Grip): The most common grip, where the pinkie finger of the trailing hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) overlaps the index finger of the lead hand.
2. Interlock Grip: In this style, the same two fingers interlock, providing a more secure connection between the hands. This grip is popular among golfers with smaller hands or weaker wrists.
3. Ten-Finger Grip (Baseball Grip): All ten fingers are placed on the grip without any overlapping or interlocking. This grip is often preferred by beginners and those transitioning from other sports like baseball.

Each grip type has its pros and cons, so choose the one that feels most comfortable and allows you to maintain control over the club.

Step 2: How To Hold A Golf Club – Positioning Your Lead Hand

Your lead hand (the top hand on the club) plays a pivotal role in controlling the clubface. Here’s how to position it correctly:

1. Place the club in your lead hand: Your lead hand should be positioned just below the club’s grip. The grip should run diagonally across your palm, so it points toward your lead shoulder.
2. Align your fingers: The club’s handle should run through the fingers of your lead hand, not the palm. Position your fingers so they wrap around the grip comfortably.
3. Create a “V”: Form a “V” shape between your thumb and the index finger. The V should point towards your rear shoulder.

You might be wondering how to hold a club left-handed? There’s no need to do anything different from what we’ve mentioned above, just use your dominant hand and follow the instructions.

Step 3: How To Hold A Golf Club – Positioning Your Trailing Hand

The trailing hand (the bottom hand) completes your grip. Here’s how to position it properly:

1. Slide your trailing hand underneath: With your lead hand in place, slide your trailing hand underneath the club’s grip.
2. Interlock or overlap: Depending on your chosen grip type, either interlock or overlap your fingers with your lead hand.
3. Maintain the “V”: Just as with your lead hand, form a “V” shape between your thumb and index finger, and ensure it points towards your rear shoulder.
4. Secure but not too tight: Your grip should be secure but not overly tight. A death grip can lead to tension in your arms, which can affect your swing.

Step 4: How To Hold A Golf Club – Check Your Hand Position

Now that both hands are in place, it’s essential to check your hand positions. A few key points to consider:

1. Square clubface: Your leading hand’s knuckles should be pointing towards your target, ensuring the clubface is square at address.
2. Check thumb position: Your lead hand’s thumb should rest slightly to the side of the grip, allowing the trailing hand’s lifeline to fit snugly against it.
3. Overlap or interlock: Ensure that your chosen method of overlap or interlock is secure and comfortable.
4. Avoid the “death grip”: As mentioned earlier, keep your grip firm but not so tight that your knuckles turn white. Tension in your grip can negatively impact your swing.

Step 5: How To Hold A Golf Club – Pressure Points

Understanding where to apply pressure in your grip is crucial. Here are the main pressure points:

1. Lead hand: Apply most of the pressure with your lead hand, primarily using the last three fingers. The pad of your lead hand’s thumb should maintain light pressure.
2. Trailing hand: The trailing hand should provide additional support, with pressure primarily concentrated in the middle two fingers.

Step 6: How To Hold A Golf Club – Grip Pressure

Grip pressure is a delicate balance. Too tight, and you risk tension in your arms; too loose, and you’ll lack control. Here’s how to get it right:

1. Light but secure: Aim for a grip pressure on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being extremely light and 10 being a death grip. Most professionals recommend a pressure of around 4 or 5. This allows for control without sacrificing fluidity.
2. Consistency: Maintain consistent pressure throughout the swing. Avoid tightening your grip as you swing through the ball, as this can lead to mishits.

Step 7: How To Hold A Golf Club – Practice and Adapt

The key to a successful golf grip is practice. Spend time on the driving range, focusing on your grip and its impact on your shots. Over time, you may need to make adjustments to your grip to suit your swing and style.

Step 8: How To Hold A Golf Club – The Role of Wrist Hinge

While the majority of your grip is focused on the hands, don’t overlook the role of your wrists in controlling the clubface. The wrists are crucial for generating power and maintaining the correct clubface angle throughout your swing.

1. Lead Wrist (Top Hand): As you address the ball, your lead wrist should be flat or slightly bowed. This position allows for greater control and helps prevent the clubface from opening during the backswing.
2. Trailing Wrist (Bottom Hand): Your trailing wrist should be slightly cupped at address. This cupping helps maintain a square clubface through impact. Avoid excessive cupping, which can lead to a hook.
3. Wrist Hinge: During the backswing, the wrists hinge naturally to generate power. Maintain this hinge as you transition into the downswing, which will result in a powerful release of energy into the ball.

Step 9: How To Hold A Golf Club – The Importance of Hand Position in the Swing

Your grip is not a static element; it plays a dynamic role throughout your swing. The correct hand position ensures a smooth, consistent swing.

1. Address Position: At address, your hands should be just ahead of the ball, closer to your lead leg. This position promotes a downward strike on the ball for solid ball-turf contact.
2. Top of the Backswing: At the top of your backswing, your lead wrist should be flat, and the clubface should be pointing toward the target. The trailing wrist remains slightly cupped. Proper hand position at this stage allows for a controlled downswing.
3. Impact: The hands should return to a position similar to address at impact. The lead wrist remains flat, while the trailing wrist is slightly cupped. This ensures a square clubface and a clean strike.
4. Follow-Through: As you complete your swing, your hands should naturally release, and the clubhead should pass your body, pointing towards your target. A correct follow-through position is a result of a sound grip and hand positioning throughout the swing.

Step 10: The Role of Grip in Shot Shape

Your grip can influence the shape of your shots. By making slight adjustments, you can promote fades, draws, and straight shots.

1. Fade: To hit a fade, where the ball curves gently from left to right (for right-handed golfers), weaken your grip slightly. This means the lead hand’s knuckles should point more toward the target. A weakened grip promotes an open clubface at impact, causing the fade.
2. Draw: To hit a draw, where the ball curves gently from right to left (for right-handed golfers), strengthen your grip slightly. This means the lead hand’s knuckles should point more to the right. A stronger grip promotes a closed clubface at impact, causing the draw.
3. Straight Shot: For a straight shot, maintain a neutral grip, where the lead hand’s knuckles point toward the target. This grip minimises the manipulation of the clubface and promotes a straight ball flight.

Step 11: The Impact of Grip Size

The size of your grip can significantly affect your game. Golf clubs come in various grip sizes, from undersized to oversized. It’s crucial to find the grip size that suits your hand comfortably.

1. Undersized Grips: These are ideal for golfers with smaller hands. They help you maintain control and feel through the swing.
2. Standard Grips: The most common grip size, suitable for a wide range of golfers. They provide a balance of control and comfort.
3. Oversized Grips: Larger grips are best for golfers with larger hands or those seeking to reduce excessive hand and wrist action in their swing.
4. Jumbo Grips: These grips are exceptionally large and are chosen by golfers who want to minimise hand action and reduce the risk of slicing.

Selecting the right grip size ensures that your hands comfortably and securely hold the club, promoting a more consistent and controlled swing.

Step 12: Regularly Check Your Grip

Your grip can change over time due to wear and tear, weather conditions, and other factors. It’s essential to regularly assess your grip’s condition and adjust it if necessary. Inspect the grips on your clubs and replace them when they show signs of wear. Additionally, review your grip pressure and hand positioning periodically to ensure they remain consistent and correct.

Step 13: Seek Professional Guidance

Improving your grip can be a complex process, and sometimes, it’s challenging to identify and correct issues on your own. Seeking professional guidance, such as lessons from a golf instructor, can be immensely beneficial. An instructor can provide personalised feedback on your grip and offer tailored drills to address any specific problems. They can also help you find the grip style and size that best suits your game. Don’t hesitate to invest in professional guidance, as it can lead to significant improvements in your golf game.

Step 14: Fine-Tuning Your Finger Position

The placement of your fingers on the grip can have a subtle yet significant impact on your golf swing. By fine-tuning your finger position, you can achieve a more controlled and consistent grip.

1. Lead Hand Fingers: The placement of your lead hand’s fingers can influence your clubface control. For finer control, try placing your lead index finger farther down the grip, creating a slightly longer lever. This can help with shot shaping and controlling the face angle through the swing.
2. Trailing Hand Fingers: Your trailing hand’s fingers should complement your lead hand. Experiment with the positioning of your trailing hand’s fingers to achieve the right level of grip pressure and control.
3. Thumb Position: Pay attention to the position of your thumbs. They should ideally be resting lightly on the grip, without excessive pressure. Experiment with the thumb position to optimise your grip pressure and wrist action.

Step 15: The Role of Hand Orientation

The orientation of your hands on the grip is crucial for a consistent and reliable golf swing. Ensuring that your hands are properly aligned can prevent unwanted compensations during your swing.

1. Lead Hand Orientation: Your lead hand should have a slight tilt or rotation so that the V formed between your thumb and index finger points more towards your rear shoulder. This orientation helps square the clubface at impact and promotes straighter shots.
2. Trailing Hand Orientation: Your trailing hand should complement your lead hand’s orientation, allowing for a natural and consistent release of the club through impact. Ensure that the trailing hand’s knuckles align with your lead hand’s knuckles.
3. Consistency: Keep your hand orientations consistent from shot to shot. This ensures that you develop a repeatable swing and minimises the need for last-minute adjustments during the swing.

Step 16: Addressing Grip Pressure Variations

Grip pressure isn’t a static component of your golf swing. It can vary throughout the swing, and understanding these variations can improve your control and power.

1. Backswing Pressure: During the backswing, your grip pressure should be relatively light. This allows your wrists to hinge naturally, storing potential energy. A light grip pressure on the backswing promotes a smooth transition.
2. Transition to Downswing: As you transition from the backswing to the downswing, increase your grip pressure gradually. This tightening helps you transfer energy effectively from your body to the club.
3. Impact Pressure: At impact, your grip pressure should be at its peak. This firm grip ensures control and a solid strike. Avoid squeezing too tightly, as this can lead to tension.
4. Follow-Through: After impact, release your grip pressure gradually as you complete the follow-through. A natural release helps prevent overcorrection and facilitates a smooth finish.

Step 17: Weather Considerations

Weather conditions can have a significant impact on your grip. In wet or humid conditions, your grip can become slippery. Consider using a glove or specialised grip aids to maintain a secure hold on the club. In cold conditions, your hands may stiffen, affecting your grip. Warm-up properly and consider wearing hand warmers to maintain flexibility and control. Adjusting your grip pressure and hand positioning can also help you adapt to changing weather conditions on the golf course.

Step 18: Experiment and Adapt

Every golfer’s hand shape, size, and swing are unique. Therefore, it’s essential to experiment and adapt your grip to suit your individual needs. Pay close attention to the feedback your body provides during your practice sessions and rounds. If you constantly struggle with certain types of shots, such as slices or hooks, consider making minor grip adjustments to address those issues.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different grip styles, sizes, and orientations. Golfers often find that their grip evolves over time as they become more experienced and in tune with their swing. Continuously refining your grip based on your evolving understanding of your swing can lead to remarkable improvements in your game.

Step 19: Monitor Your Grip Pressure

Throughout your rounds, it’s crucial to be mindful of your grip pressure. Avoid gripping the club too tightly, which can lead to tension and restrict your swing’s fluidity. Conversely, don’t let your grip become too loose, as this can result in mishits and a lack of control. By regularly monitoring your grip pressure and making necessary adjustments, you’ll maintain the optimal balance between control and freedom of movement.