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When you think of golf, one of the first things that comes to mind is swinging a club. How do you grip the club? How should your stance be?[1] How do you swing? In this article, we will discuss how to hold a golf club and give some tips on how to hit the ball in order to make those birdies!

How to hold a golf club?

Basics of a sport are the most important to master before you can go on to more advanced techniques. How do you hold a golf club? This is the first thing you should learn about the golf game. Once you have this technique down, the rest will follow.

So, let’s jump right into it!

The technique to grip a golf club is different for left-handed and right-handed players, but both approaches involve placing the hands on either side of the shaft to form an “O” shape. The grip should be firm enough that it doesn’t slip from your hand during a swing, but not so tight as to cause cramping.

Keep this in mind: ‘Your grip should be like how you shake someone’s hand — it needs to provide both power and control at the same time‘

If you are right-handed, place your left hand on top of your right near the end. Make an “O” shape with both hands and wrap around the shaft as if holding someone’s hand for a handshake. If you are left-handed, you should do the opposite: place your right hand on top of your left.

What are the different types of grips?

The way you hold the golf club can affect how you swing it. There are 3 basic ways that you can hold a golf club. The grip you choose should depend on your ability to control the club through impact and how much power you want in your swing:

• The ‘Vardon’ or overlapping grip [2] is the most popular option for players who want an open clubface at address because it provides a better chance of square contact with the ball and will also help you swing on your toes rather than flatfooted, which can lead to slicing shots. The way to hold you club in a overlapping grip is by ‘overlapping’ your little finger over the index finger of your right hand.

• The interlocking grip [3] is a good option for players with high hand strength. This grip provides stability by limiting wrist movement at address and during the swing, while allowing greater rotation of the shoulders and more freedom to take on full momentum through impact. For this grip, you need to take the club in one hand and then interlock your fingers. 
• The 10-finger grip is a good option for players who tend to slice the ball. It involves placing pressure on all fingers of both hands and is more commonly used as an approach or chipping grip. The way to hold the club in this manner is by having the fingers of your left hand fit in between those of your right. This technique is not used by the Pros, but beginners tend to like this at the beginning since it gives you more control.

Which type of grip should I use?

Which of the 3 basic grips you pick depends on how you swing. Which one is best for you depends on how you naturally hold your hands when swinging a golf club or other long object like a shovel (overlap) or rake handle (interlock), as well as what type of swing you have.

• The overlapping grip, in which the thumb wraps around and intertwines with your fingers, is a good fit for golfers who keep their hands together when swinging. How do I know if this type of grip suits me? Try to pinch one hand between the other; it should feel natural and effortless. 
• The interlocking grip, in which the left hand is placed over and between the fingers of the right to form a V shape, provides more support at impact for golfers who keep their hands apart when swinging. How do I know if this type of grip suits me? Try to pinch one wrist with your other hand; it should feel natural and effortless.
• The 10-finger grip, is very common amongst novice golfers. In this a golfer uses all of the fingers on both hands to hold the club. How do I know if this type of grip suits me? It should feel natural and comfortable for you..

The overlapping grip is more popular with professional players because it provides better feedback on how hard they are gripping before transitioning to the back swing.

How to hold the driver vs putter?

When you are holding the driver in your hands, it is important to position your fingers on the club so they’re pointing straight down at the ground. This makes sure that when you swing, all of the force is directed towards hitting a ball and not up into your arm or shoulder blades. If there’s pressure on these areas because of how you’re holding the club, it makes swinging more difficult.

When you are putting, your fingers should be pointing slightly away from the target on a diagonal angle. What this technique does is that it helps to generate a more powerful putting stroke and also helps you ensure that the ball doesn’t go sailing past the hole.

This might seem like a trivial distinction, but it can make all of the difference to your game.

Tip: You should grip down on the club firmly enough that it doesn’t wiggle in your hand but not so tightly that it’s uncomfortable. Pinching or choking up with one hand (or both if you’re left-handed) is a common mistake, as this just adds more tension to an already difficult task.

Conclusion

The golf swing is a complex motion that involves numerous joints and muscles. How to hold a golf club is just one small part of the equation, but it can make or break your performance on the course if you’re not careful. It can have an effect on how well your swing is coordinated, how much power it generates and even if the ball goes in the right direction.

We hope this article has given you helpful information to get you started on your golf journey. How to grip a golf club is not the only thing that will affect your performance, but it’s one of the first things you should learn. You might also want to check out our guide to know which golf club to use when playing to improve your game.

Let us know if this article has been helpful and make sure to share it with friends who are new to the game.