Without the right golf grip you will not be able to swing your club effectively. This is common knowledge for players of all skill levels. However, some beginners fail to understand the importance of a consistent grip, or the fact that the wrong grip can result in a slice,. Using the right grip can make you a better player and it’s part of the basic driving fundamentals that seasoned players are familiar with. If you’re new to the game, then my golf grip tips can help to improve your performance, especially if you focus on following the proper body mechanics and use the right grip consistently.
My golf grip tips are designed to show you how to hold your club in the neutral position which is designed to protect both your short and long game performance. By placing your hands in a neutral position, you will have more control over range and club speed. Obviously, this will help to improve your shot accuracy whether your goal is distance or you’re focused on your short game performance. Changing up your club grip will feel uncomfortable and may be unnatural in the beginning, but with consistent practice, in no time you will automatically hold your club in the proper position which will do wonders for your overall performance out on the green.
Using the Approved Golf Grip
Whether you’re preparing for a short two-foot putt, or you’re setting up for a three hundred-yard shot, you need to know how to handle the club’s grip effectively. Many beginners struggle with understanding the importance of using the right grip on their club, but the greatest strikers in the game always recommend using a consistent grip and consider it the best way to improve ball-striking.
If you’re new to the game you can pick up bad habits early on and they will usually get in the way of your performance at one time or another. Consider how many times you’ve held your club out on the course. Probably hundreds of times, but you may not have considered how your grip can affect your performance. However, if your goal is to hit a solid shot each time, then you need to. In terms of lowering your score, using the right grip is crucial.
To further emphasize the importance of using the proper grip, you may have noticed if you’ve ever had professional golf instruction, that your golf coach first begins with setting you up with the right grip and proper stance. However, some instructors do fail to remind their students how important it is to use the right grip consistently.
How You Hold the Club
An Interlocking GripYou already know that the type of club you use can have a big impact on how you perform on the green. If you’re confident you’re using the best irons for beginners, such as the Callaway Men’s Big Bertha individual iron, then it will be more a matter of proper hand placement that can impact your score and performance, and not so much the club itself.
Before we go over the best way to grip your club, first consider how you normally hold your club at address. Even the seasoned player can struggle with using the proper grip. During a normal game, how do you usually pick up your club? How do you place your fingers? How do you hold the club? Does your grip feel comfortable? As a player, do you feel that there is room for improvement?
Size
Every type of golf club will come with a rubberized grip. The grips on most clubs, especially clubs off the shelf, are considered the standard size. However, this doesn’t mean that the grips are the right size for you. Did you know that there are actually a variety of grip sizes to choose from? If you find yourself unable to properly grip your clubs then you may need to invest in some new ones.
On the green, if you find yourself slicing often, even when you’re using the proper stance, then it may be time to swap out the grips. Find a local golf club shop where you can speak with experienced staff members who can set you up with the proper size. If you have smaller hands then you will definitely need a smaller grip. Additionally, if you have longer fingers or large hands then you may need larger grips.
Positioning Your Hands Correctly
If you’re ready to perfect your grip, then it’s time to pick up your favorite club and get started. The club should always be picked up using your weaker hand first. Next, you’ll turn your hand over so that a couple of the knuckles on your left hand or visible and clenching in a V shape that has been created by your thumb and index finger. About half an inch of the club should be poked out of the top of your grip.
It’s important that you keep the left thumb pointing down towards your right hand. Using your right hand, grip the club and place your thumb on top of your left. Be sure that your right thumb is placed on the left side of your club and facing down.
If holding the club in this manner doesn’t feel comfortable at first, don’t worry. You can search online for special molded grips that can help. These are molded grips that are designed in a way that can properly instruct hand placement, showing you exactly where your thumbs and fingers should be positioned.
Marking the Right Grip
Bring a marker along with you and store it in your golf bag. If you’re not comfortable with how the club is placed in your left hand, then take the marker and draw a couple of lines on your club, marking it at the correct angles in order to help. Doing so will remind you where your club should be gripped and it can also give you a little confidence booster that you’re gripping the club correctly each time.
At this time, don’t worry about how other players on the course are holding their clubs. You also shouldn’t worry about breaking any rules by marking your glove since it’s totally legal to do so and it’s also a great way to remember how to use the proper grip. In fact, marking your glove is the same thing as marking a golf ball. Many new players will mark a ball in order to help them set up correctly. Marking a few lines on your glove will basically help to guarantee that you’re using a consistent grip each time you take a swing.
Overlap or Interlock
In terms of position, the last step is determining whether to overlap your fingers or to link your hands together. For most seasoned players linking the hands together is the best choice because it encourages better wrist hinge and solidifies the grip. In terms of linking the fingers, the hands are joined together by placing the pinky finger between the index and middle finger of the left hand. Next, on your left hand, you’ll align your thumb with the middle finger on your right.
The Right Amount of Pressure
Many new golfers are unsure of how much pressure to use when gripping their club. It should not be grasped so tightly that it turns your knuckles white. However, you also don’t want to grip it too loosely otherwise it will negatively impact how much control you have over the club.
If the club is gripped using too much pressure when you take a shot you’ll find that you consistently end up delivering the heel of the club onto the ball, when it should be delivered to the face. This can cause you to lose the amount of control you have over the club not to mention inconsistent strikes.
So how do you know if you’re gripping the club too tightly? If your forearms feel very tense and your knuckles are white both are definitely indicators that you need to loosen your grip up a bit.
When you are holding the club make sure you’re holding it firmly but not too softly. Make sure your arms feel relaxed. Swing the club a bit and see if you like how it feels. Doing so can also remove any remaining tension in the arms and wrists.
Neutral Grip
A neutral grip is a term used to describe the proper technique. It’s also the most natural and common way to hold a club. While there are other styles you can try out it makes sense to begin with the most common and easiest way to grip the club. Once you become a more proficient player than you can feel free to experiment with different ways to hold a club in order to improve. But for now, I recommend sticking with the basics.
The strength of your grip determines how much you rotate your left hand. If you’re able to see more than a couple of knuckles on your left hand, this indicates you have a stronger grip, which will close the clubface upon impact. To fix this, you’ll want to rotate your left hand counter-clockwise. Doing so will ensure that there are no knuckles visible and that you have a nice soft grip, which will open up the clubface.
After you’ve mastered some of the basics, then you can feel free to experiment with the effects of using different types of grip strength. However, for now, keeping your grip neutral is the best way to go especially if you’re fairly new to the game.
Final Thoughts
I hope my golf grip tips have helped you to learn how to hold your clubs the proper way. While in the beginning, you may still struggle to feel comfortable using your clubs in this manner, over time you’ll find that it feels like second nature. Because of this, practice is important. Remember using the right type of grip on your club consistently will give you more control over its striking power and your overall performance. Once you feel more comfortable using a neutral grip and you feel that you can improve your game by changing it up, then feel free to check out advanced placement. But for now, I recommend sticking with the neutral position, for optimal control and power over your shots.
