Holding a golf club is one of the easiest and most important aspects of golf at the same time. If you know how to hold a golf club properly, you will be able to hit your first T in no time. If you want to improve your skills at golf, then you need to start with how to hold a golf club properly.
That being said, many veteran players don’t know how to hold their clubs right and end up with a slow improvement in their overall game. Because if you have a problem with holding your golf clubs, then your stance, posture, and strikes will have issues as well. For this reason, your overall performance will drop significantly.
But don’t worry, because, in this article, we will go through every aspect of how to hold a golf club and break down all the steps that you will need to follow. We will go through different grip styles and how to put balanced pressure when holding a golf club.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the details, shall we?
Basic Steps On How To Hold A Golf Club
Now, if you are raring to go and get started with your golf clubs, then you can’t get the basics wrong. Once you understand the basics of how you can hold a golf club, then we can move on to more complex details like the grip types, changes according to different plays and more.
Here are the basic steps that you will need to follow to hold a golf club properly:
Step –1: Select Your Hand
In order to know how to hold a golf club, you need to find your dominant arm. While this should come to you naturally, the first and the most important part of learning to hold something is by finding out your power hand or the most dominant hand. This means in which hand will you use to hold the golf club. Are you left-handed or right-handed?
Finding out your dominant hand for golf is quite simple; when you pick up the golf club for the first time, try to hold the club with your right hand and then your left hand. Compare which hand was more comfortable for you; overall, that is your dominant hand for golf.
In this article, we will be describing the steps from a right-handed standpoint. But don’t let this discourage you, because the only change between the right-handed option to the left-handed one is that you will have to follow the methods and steps, but you will just have to switch yours for each and every step.
For example, if you are left-handed and the guide suggests you secure the grip on your right hand and place the left hand on the lower side of the club, you will have to switch to secure the grip on your left hand, placing the right hand on the lower side of the club.
So, don’t worry and follow the rest of the guide with ease.
Step –2: Alignment Between The Palm & The Handle
Start with the golf club waist up in front of yourself. Make sure that the club’s horizontal is towards the ground while the square is the clubface. Always ensure that you are grabbing the club with your left hand at the beginning.
Stretch the fingers out of your left hand and align the club’s handle with your left hand’s palm. This should make a diagonal straight line across your fingers. If not, then you are not holding it properly.
Step – 3: Close The Grip Of Your Left Hand
Now it is time to close the left hand’s grip. Now, as you are gripping with your left hand, your palm’s heel should be resting along the top edge of the handle. Some go too far and can’t see the tip of their handle. If that happens, then you have gone too far, and you will have a loss. So, make sure you place your hand in a way so that you can see the tip of the handle.
Step – 4: Get The Natural Grip
Rotate your left hand to the right until you get to a position where you can see two knuckles on your left hand clearly visible. This should provide you with a strong natural grip on your golf club.
Now, place your right hand’s heel right on the top of the left thumb to cover the left hand. Slowly close your hand; your forefinger and thumb will soon create a ‘V’ like shape, which should be pointing towards the center of your sternum.
And you are done. This should allow you to hold a golf club without any hindrance if you are just starting out now if you start to get used to holding your golf club by following these basic methods.
But this isn’t everything on how to hold a golf club properly. There are still details regarding grip types, pressure points, and positioning. You can start proceeding toward the different types and variations of golf grips.
Different Types Of Golf Grips
In order to learn how to hold a golf club, you need to learn the various grip forms of holding a golf club. While there are a lot of types and variations of the golf grips out there. All forms of golf grips can be divided into three types. They are:
- Interlocking Golf Grip
- Overlapping Golf Grip
- 10 Finger Golf Grip
Interlocking Golf Grip
As the name suggests, this type of grip form relies on interlocking your fingers, mainly the pinky finger of your dominant hand and the index finger of your less dominant hand on the golf club. This is a very easy and sophisticated way to link both of your hands with the golf club.
Advantages Of The Interlocking Golf Grip
The interlocking golf grip is arguably one of the most used golf grips in the game. This huge popularity is due to the numerous advantages that you get from this simple yet powerful grip. The advantages of interlocking golf grip are:
- It is extremely easy and beginner-friendly
- Targeted towards people with small to medium hands, but people with large hands can use this grip to its full extent too
- Easily links your hands
- Great for both swing shots and normal tuck-ins.
Overlapping Golf Grip
This type of grip is the complete opposite of the interlocking grip, which we believe that you have already guessed by the name. The overlapping golf grip is done by placing the little or pinky finger of your dominant hand in the notch that is located between the index and middle finger of your less dominant hand. This makes your hands overlap with each other.
For those who don’t feel comfortable with the interlocking golf grip, this is arguably the best alternative option. If you can utilize this grip properly, then you will be able to get more power and control in your swings. This grip style also benefits from heavy golf clubs.
Advantages Of The Overlapping Golf Grip
You will be benefitting from a series of advantages when you start to incorporate an overlapping golf grip. The advantages of the overlapping golf grip are:
- It provides more power to your shots
- It is best suited for those who have large hands
- Links up both of your hands perfectly
10 Finger Golf Grip
The 10finger golf grip is, without a doubt, the most popular among new players. But many struggles to get this grip form right because you will need to place all of your fingers on the golf club without interlocking or overlapping any of them. That being said, if one can master the 10 finger golf grip perfectly, then they can transition to any of the previously mentioned golf grip forms without facing any issues.
For this reason, many professional players and coaches prioritize this form of golf grip compared to any other.
Advantages Of The 10 Finger Golf Grip
The 10 finger golf grip is regarded as the father of all forms of golf grips out there. And you can bet that there are a lot of advantages if you can master them properly. The benefits of the 10 finger golf grip are:
- It is a perfect fit for beginners and professionals
- This form of golf grip utilizes all of your fingers which allows you to maximize their strength
- All forms of golf grips are based on the concept of the 10 finger golf grip
- It is very simple and easy to learn
- Perfect for every type of hands
- Transition from 10 finger golf grip to any other form of golf grip is very easy, and this allows one to be more versatile in their overall game
Which Golf Grip Is The Best?
There is no winner or loser in this scenario, as each and every mentioned form of golf grips is best if you can utilize them properly. But if we have to point to a winner, then we believe that the 10 finger golf grip is better than the other two. This is because of the fact that learning the 10 finger golf grip will allow you to learn another form of golf grip much faster.
The interlocking golf grip and the overlocking golf grip perform the same. So, there is no clear winner there. But if you have small to medium hands, then you might favor the interlocking golf grip. The opposite goes for the ones with large hands. An overlapping golf grip works best with people who have large hands.
So, in the end, it all comes down to your physical condition and preference. So, pick the one that you think you will be most comfortable with and practice it to perfection.
How To Properly Position Your Hands
Now, as we start to focus on how to hold a golf club with our hands properly, we need to focus on both the dominant hand and the less dominant hand individually.
Because there are almost an infinite number of variations to golf grips, there are no concerns regarding what role each of our hands plays and how we should position them on our golf club.
We will go through these details starting from the right hand and then towards the left hand.
If your dominant hand is the right hand, then you should start with the left hand or the lead hand.
The forms of the interlocking, overlapping, and 10 finger golf grip highly depend on having the lead hand (left hand for right-handed users) in a strong, weak, or neutral position.
As it comes down to how to hold a golf club, the coaches and guides always
Refer to the V as grip from by the left thumb (right if you are left-handed) pressing up to the left palm. This is important because depending on where your V’s positioning is, the grip might be called strong, weak, or neutral.
Positioning Details For Left Hand
Here are the grip positioning details for the left hand:
Strong Positioning or Closed Face Grip
The strong positioning for the grip or the closed face grip is gained when you are able to look down and find more or equal three knuckles at least. You can achieve strong positioning only when the V created by your left hand is pointing directly to your right shoulder.
To do this, you will need to turn your hands in a clockwise motion around the golf handle. To simply put it, you will have to rotate your hands towards the right side. This way, your left thumb will rest on the right side of your golf grip.
A lot of players believe that you can hit a slice by a simple change of closing the face at setup. At the same time, that is sort of correct. The real answer relies on whether or not you have hit the slice with a strong position. If not, then you won’t be able to hit the slice to perfection.
This is because the clubface will only determine the route or directions of the ball’s travel path.
Weak Positioning Or Open-Faced Grip
The open-faced grip or weak positioning with the left hand is achieved when the player is able to look down and find no more than two knuckles of their hands. The V, in this case, should be pointing directly to your chin.
In order to make an open-face grip, you will have to start by turning your hands in an anti-clockwise motion from the handle of your golf club. Or you can just simply go to them from the general holding point. This way, your left thumb will be resting towards the target side of the golf club’s shaft.
Neutral Positioning Of Golf Grip
The neutral positioning golf grip can be achieved if a player can see two knuckles when they look down at their club. This holding method allows the user to blend the arm & body movement together.
By using the neutral grip, the V of your hand will be pointing towards the right ear while the left thumb will stay on the right side of the entire grip.
There you have it. That’s all that you will need to know about positioning the grips for your right hand.
Positioning Details For Right Hand
Strong Positioning or Closed Face Grip
The strong positioning for the grip or the closed face grip is gained when the V created by your right hand is pointing directly at your right shoulder.
In order to achieve this, you will have to turn your hands in a clockwise motion around the golf handle. To simply put it, you will have to rotate your hands towards the right side. You will know you are successful when your left thumb is resting on the right side of the grip.
Weak Positioning or Open-Faced Grip
The open-faced grip or weak positioning with the left hand is achieved when the player is able to look down and find that the V is pointing directly at their chin.
This is the complete opposite of the strong positioning, so you will have to go with the anti-clockwise motion to achieve this. Do this until your left thumb is resting on the target side of the shaft.
Neutral Positioning Of Golf Grip
The neutral positioning golf grip can be achieved if a player can see the V of their hand will be pointing towards the right ear while the left thumb will stay on the right side of the entire grip.
This concludes the basics of positioning regarding both of your hand choices. Hopefully, you have been able to see that there are an unreasonable number of combinations that you can apply by using different positioning on the base three grip forms. Of course, different grips have different pros and cons.
Learn How To Apply Pressure On Your Grips
Now that you have mastery over different types of grips and how you can apply them, the next step in properly learning how to hold a golf club is grip pressure. This will have a significant impact on how well your swings and shots will perform. So, we suggest that focus on this topic with full concentration and determination.
What Is The Correct Amount Of Pressure For Your Grips?
A crucial part of how to hold a golf club is how to apply the pressure on the grips. The pressure for different shots depends on a lot of factors like the club’s weight, weather, wind currents, and a lot of factors. But one thing that you need to keep in mind is that too much pressure will only make things worse.
Think of pressure handling as holding breath underwater. You need to take in a good amount of air beforehand, but you don’t want to lose energy by taking in too much as you will burn out fast. This concept is applicable to grip pressure also, too light and your will run out of breath (your club will fly out), too hard, and you will burn out quickly (Your shot won’t have the proper impact).
That being the case, most of the time, you will find that the golfers are suffering due to holding their clubs way too tightly. This creates a co-contraction in your muscles located in your arms. And makes your writs move limitedly, which results in you having a much less clubhead speed.
Now, if you want to avoid this problem, just focus on your comfort. The key is to be light and let loose softly when you are holding the golf club. This way, if you can get your pressure points right, then you won’t have to worry about not getting the most out of your grips.
Finding The Pressure Point For Your Grips
A common reason why people struggle and confuse over how to hold a golf club is due to their hands fitting not being comfortable when they have held their clubs in one of the three base golf grips. Beginners and occasional golfers suffer from this the most. But there is a simple solution to that.
Once your golf club is placed in the proper position of your hands, you should start by placing two or three fingers on the top. Ensure that your left hand is secured around the club.
There should be a small space between your thumb and index finger. The index finger should be in the grip. Now, if you can place them right, you will find that you are comfortable with your hold on the club. Now just relax and release the swing when you feel like it.
How To Hold Different Types Of Golf Clubs
A complete golf set consists of putters, drivers, woods, hybrids, and wedges. And not all of them are held the same way. So, if you want to learn how to hold a golf club, then you will need to know how to hold each and every one of them.
Now don’t get stared as you might think there are a lot of techniques that you will need to learn for holding each type of golf club. Well, no. You don’t actually need to learn six different types; you only need to understand the difference between how to hold a driver and a putter. Both of the processes follow the base concept of how to hold a golf club.
The Process Of How To Hold A Driver
Drivers are highly used for Tee shots and are designed in a way so that you can hit the most distance. When it comes to the comparison of heights, the drivers are the longest golf club in a golf kit. Drivers are essential for any golfer, whether they are beginners or veteran professionals. So, if you want to get good at golf, you must learn how to hold a driver properly!
Start off by holding the base of the club’s handle. Then start to rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise (this depends on which position you want to put your grip) until you find that you can see the knuckles of both your middle and index finger.
Now place your left hand on the club (right if you are left-handed), then place the right hand (left if you are left-handed). Your right hand will be overlapping both your ring and middle finger. Do keep in mind that the V of your hand should be parallel with the center of your torso.
The Process Of How To Hold A Putter
The putter is the complete opposite of the driver. And you can’t claim you know how to hold a golf club unless you know how to hold a putter. While drivers are used to sending the ball fly the most distance, the putter, as the name suggests, is used to put the ball in a short distance. It is only used for low-speed strokes. This is mostly used when you want to put the ball in the hole from a short distance.
As it incorporates a completely different style of usage from the rest of the golf clubs, the holding process of a putter is also a bit different. And if you want to play golf optimally, whether it is on an occasional or regular basis, then there is no other way than to learn how to hold a putter in the right way.
Start the process by holding the putter to your non-dominant hand. The handle of your club must run through the center of your outstretched hand. The same placement process should be used for your right hand. This way, it will be set below your left hand.
From here, you are free to choose any type of gripping method. Putters have quite a few unique and effective gripping methods like claw grab, overlap, index lock, and many others. Pick the ones that suit your playstyle and the situation perfectly. The strength of your grip should be below as you have to hit the ball to cover only a small distance.
Things You Should Avoid For A Better Hold On Your Club
Now that you have the general idea of what to do when it comes down to the details on how to hold a golf club. Here are a few things that you should avoid in order to have a perfect hold on your golf club all the time:
1. Don’t Get Tensed
This is the most common tip for any game, but when it comes to golf, getting tensed will affect your grip and hold on to the club more than you can think of. So, try to stay relaxed. Even if you are struggling with points and such, getting tensed will make your muscles become tighter, resulting in the grip being too tight.
And as we have discussed earlier, if your grip is too tight, you won’t be able to perform swings or slices optimally.
2. Keep Your Hands Sweat Free
Playing through an entire golf course can be tiring, and you will eventually face sweat. This is common in the game of golf. But if your hands are sweaty, you won’t be able to hold your club properly. So, keep them sweat-free all the time.
3. Use The Right Clubs
Picking the right golf clubs also has an impact on your grips and holds. You won’t be holding the driver and the putter the same way now, will you? So, make sure that you are using the optimal holding method for each of your clubs.
And that’s it. These are the things that you should look out for if you want to perform your golf grips properly and want to have a great game of golf.
Why Knowing How To Hold A Golf Club Is Important?
Around 80 to 90% of the path of your golf shots is a result of the location that your clubface points after the initial impact. This is called the clubface angle. The important factor in hitting the ball towards your target is by squaring the clubface during impact.
As your golf grip is the only link between the golf swing and the club’s pointed direction. Changing your golf grip can show a huge improvement in the impact and the accuracy of the shot.
Golf is a pinpoint utilization of timing. If you have a good golf grip, you are less prone to require perfect timing to square up the clubface. A perfect golf grip states that your arms are in a neutral position, and the clubface will definitely be square.
But a bad golf grip forces you to manipulate the clubface’s square. This is extremely difficult for slicers. This will make your entire golfing experience exhausting, and you won’t be enjoying the game of golf.
For these reasons, knowing how to hold a golf club is stated as one of the primary requirements for golfing.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to hold a golf club is the first step to becoming a good golf player. Suppose you can master the basics and hone your skills on how to hold a golf club. Your swinging, posture, and other attributes related to golfing will start to improve drastically.
Hopefully, we were able to introduce everything that you would need to master the holding and gripping methods of golfing. So, follow this guide from start to finish. And we can guarantee you that you will be able to hold a golf club perfectly in no time. So, practice these methods and best of luck golfing.
