Everything to Know About Golf Grip Styles

Your golf grip is the only connection between you and the club. The way you hold the club directly affects every aspect of your swing, from clubface angle to shot direction and distance.

Understanding different golf grip styles helps you find the technique that matches your skill level and physical abilities. The right grip promotes consistency, power, and accuracy while reducing tension and fatigue during your round.

This guide covers everything you need to know about golf grip styles. You'll learn about the three main grip types, hand positions, grip pressure, and how to choose the best option for your game.

Table of Contents

Types of Golf Grip Styles

The three primary golf grip styles differ in how your hands connect on the club. Each style offers unique advantages depending on your hand size, strength, and playing goals.

Interlocking Grip

The interlocking grip connects your hands by interweaving the pinky finger of your trailing hand with the index finger of your lead hand. This creates a unified feel where both hands work together as a single unit.

Best for: Golfers with smaller hands or shorter fingers who like a more secure connection between their hands.

Advantages:

• Creates strong hand unity
• Prevents hands from separating during the swing
• Provides excellent control for golfers with less hand strength

Disadvantages:

• Can feel uncomfortable initially
• May cause finger discomfort during long practice sessions
• Requires adjustment period for proper feel

Overlap Grip

The overlap grip, also called the Vardon grip, places the pinky finger of your trailing hand in the groove between your lead hand's index and middle fingers. This style is the most popular among professional and amateur golfers.

Best for: Players with average to larger hands who want a classic, proven grip style. Most tour professionals use this grip for its balance of control and comfort.

Advantages:

• Most widely taught and used grip style
• Comfortable for extended play
• Provides excellent feel and touch
• Easy to maintain consistent hand pressure

Disadvantages:

• May feel less secure for players with smaller hands
• Requires proper finger placement for maximum benefit
• Can take time to feel natural for beginners

Ten-Finger Grip

The ten-finger grip, or baseball grip, places all ten fingers directly on the club without interlocking or overlapping. Your hands sit side-by-side with full contact on the grip.

Best for: Beginners, juniors, seniors, or players with hand strength limitations. This grip maximizes leverage and is easiest to learn.

Advantages:

• Simplest to learn and execute
• Maximizes hand strength and power
• Comfortable for players with arthritis or hand injuries
• Natural feel for those new to golf

Disadvantages:

• Hands may work independently rather than together
• Can lead to inconsistent clubface control
• Less common among advanced players
• May cause grip tension issues

Hand Position Relative to the Grip

Hand position on the golf grip significantly impacts ball flight and shot shape. Understanding neutral, strong, and weak positions helps you control your shots.

Neutral Grip

A neutral grip shows 2-3 knuckles of your lead hand when you look down at address. Your hands sit in a natural position that promotes square clubface contact. This position works well for most golfers and encourages straight ball flight.

Strong Grip

A strong grip rotates both hands clockwise (for right-handed golfers), showing 3-4 knuckles of your lead hand. This position helps close the clubface and promotes a draw or reduces a slice. Many modern players use a slightly strong grip for added power.

Weak Grip

A weak grip rotates both hands counterclockwise, showing 1-2 knuckles or less of your lead hand. This opens the clubface and can promote a fade or reduce a hook. Fewer players use this position, but it works for those fighting left-miss patterns.

Grip Pressure, Grip Size and Grip Shape

Grip Pressure

Grip pressure should be firm but relaxed, typically rated at 4-5 on a scale of 1-10. Too tight creates tension that restricts swing speed and feel. Too loose causes the club to twist at impact.

Think of holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing any out. Your fingers should maintain contact without whitening your knuckles. Pressure stays consistent throughout the swing.

Grip Size

Proper golf grip size ensures your fingers barely touch your palm when holding the club. Grips that are too small encourage excessive hand action and hooks. Oversized grips restrict hand movement and can cause pushes or fades.

Standard sizes work for most players, but custom sizing helps optimize performance. Players with larger hands or arthritis often benefit from midsize or jumbo grips.

Grip Shape

Modern grips come in round, ribbed, and reminder styles. Round grips allow free hand rotation and work for most swing styles. Ribbed grips provide tactile feedback for consistent hand placement. Reminder grips feature a raised section that helps you feel proper positioning.

How Grip Style Affects Your Swing

Your grip style influences clubface angle, swing path, and release timing. The interlocking grip promotes unity and control, making it easier to maintain clubface awareness through impact. This helps with consistency but may limit maximum clubhead speed for some players.

The overlap grip balances control and freedom, allowing natural wrist hinge and release. This creates optimal conditions for both accuracy and distance. Most players find this grip provides the best feel for shaping shots.

The ten-finger grip maximizes leverage and power generation. However, it requires more conscious effort to keep hands working together. Players using this grip must focus on maintaining connection throughout the swing.

Hand position changes impact point and shot shape. A strong grip closes the clubface, promoting draws and reducing slices. A weak grip opens the clubface, encouraging fades and reducing hooks. Neutral positions promote straight shots but require precise timing.

Who Should Use Which Grip

Interlocking Grip:

• Players with small hands or short fingers
• Golfers seeking maximum hand unity
• Those who struggle with grip separation during the swing
• Players who prefer the techniques of Woods or Nicklaus

Overlap Grip:

• Golfers with average to large hands
• Players wanting the most traditional, proven style
• Those comfortable with classic instruction methods
• Competitive golfers seeking tour-standard techniques

Ten-Finger Grip:

• Beginning golfers learning the game
• Junior players with developing hand strength
• Senior players with reduced grip strength
• Anyone with hand injuries or arthritis
• Players wanting maximum leverage and power

Hand Position Recommendations:

• Neutral: Best for most golfers, promotes consistent ball striking
• Strong: Helps slice-prone players square the clubface
• Weak: Assists hook-prone players in controlling ball flight

Test different combinations to find what produces your best results. Your ideal golf grip might differ from conventional wisdom based on your unique swing characteristics.

Maintaining Your Grip

Clean your grips regularly with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Dirt and oils reduce traction and affect performance. Wipe grips dry after each cleaning to prevent moisture damage.

Replace grips annually or after 40 rounds, whichever comes first. Worn grips lose tackiness and force you to grip tighter, creating tension. Fresh grips restore proper feel and confidence.

Store clubs in moderate temperatures away from extreme heat or cold. Temperature extremes damage grip materials and accelerate wear. Proper storage extends grip life and maintains performance.

Check grips before each round for a smooth, tacky feel. If grips feel hard or slick, replacement improves your game immediately. Quality grips are an affordable upgrade that impacts every shot.

Putting Grip Variations

Putter golf grips use different styles than full swing grips. The conventional putting grip resembles your full swing grip but with lighter pressure and more palm contact for stability.

The cross-handed grip reverses hand positions, with your lead hand below your trail hand. This style reduces wrist action and promotes shoulder-controlled strokes. Many players find this improves consistency on short putts.

The claw grip positions your trail hand like holding a pencil, with fingers on top of the grip. This unconventional style eliminates wrist breakdown and helps players struggling with the yips.

Arm-lock putting places the grip against your lead forearm, creating a locked lever system. This method gains popularity among tour players for its consistency under pressure.

Experiment with different putter golf grips to find what produces your most consistent stroke. Putting success depends more on repeatability than matching your full swing grip style.