Although it seems that gripping a golf club may be the most elemental part of the golf swing, and maybe it is, it could also be the most important part of the swing. Gripping the club too tight or too loose, gripping it the wrong way or in the wrong place, could throw off your entire swing. Having an improper grip can greatly detract from the power and accuracy of the swing, and for the advanced golfer, it can hamper the way they try to shape a shot.
There are primarily two types of grips that a golfer should use, and neither of them is a hand-over-hand baseball, or axe handle, grip. The interlocking is where the golfer slides his left index finger between the ring and pinkie fingers of the right hand. The overlapping grip occurs when the golfer lays his left index finger on top of his right pinkie or on top of the notch between his pinkie and ring fingers. These grips allow the hands to hold the club steady while cocking and rolling the wrists throughout the swing.
The grip should begin about one finger width from the end of the club, or more, for shorter controlled shots. When the hands are together, the club should lie along the callous pad line of the hands and not in the palms. When the hands are closed around the club, the thumbs should be aligned straight down the club grip. Your forearms should form a “V” down toward the club.
Although there is no hard fast rule as to how firmly the golfer should grip the club, the prevailing belief is that it should be loose, yet firm enough to keep it from moving in your hands. The swing will naturally cause the hands to strengthen the grip, so try to keep “loose grip” in your mind throughout the swing. Because there is no rulebook on the grip, it is just one of those aspects of the game that the golfer will have to experiment with, and adjust, through repetitive practice and play.
Through practice, the grip is something that should become second nature to the golfer. It is not something that should require as much thought as other aspects of the golf swing, but its importance should never be forgotten. It is recommended that a golfer always keep a club nearby, and just practice applying and reapplying the grip over and over.
Golf Tips – Your Grip
