Click here for 50% off first lesson

Menu
Golf Upgrades
0
  • +Book Lesson
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Package Rates
    • Locations
    • Testimonials
    • Follow Us On Social Media
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
      • Tik Tok
    • Golf Upgrades Coaches & Associates
    • Board of Advisors
    • Team Golf Upgrades (PGA Jr League)
  • Services
    • Individual Lessons
    • PGA Junior League
      • Book Team Practice - PGA Jr League
      • Team Schedule
    • On Course Playing Lessons
    • Radar Session
    • Online Lessons
    • 2023 Junior Camps
      • Camper Information & Liability Waiver
      • 2023 Summer Camps
      • 2023 Spring Break Camps
  • Resources
    • Download Golf Upgrades Mobile App
    • Download OnForm Video Analysis App
    • Ebook - Beginner's Guide to Golf
    • Blog
    • News Articles
    • Partners
      • Big Brothers Big Sisters
      • Hyperice
    • FAQ's
  • Sign in
  • Your Cart is Empty
Golf Upgrades
Golf Upgrades
  • +Book Lesson
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Package Rates
    • Locations
    • Testimonials
    • Follow Us On Social Media
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Tik Tok
    • Golf Upgrades Coaches & Associates
    • Board of Advisors
    • Team Golf Upgrades (PGA Jr League)
  • Services
    • Individual Lessons
    • PGA Junior League
    • Book Team Practice - PGA Jr League
    • Team Schedule
    • On Course Playing Lessons
    • Radar Session
    • Online Lessons
    • 2023 Junior Camps
    • Camper Information & Liability Waiver
    • 2023 Summer Camps
    • 2023 Spring Break Camps
  • Resources
    • Download Golf Upgrades Mobile App
    • Download OnForm Video Analysis App
    • Ebook - Beginner's Guide to Golf
    • Blog
    • News Articles
    • Partners
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters
    • Hyperice
    • FAQ's
  • 0 0

Join our free newsletter for golf tips, golf articles, and ways to improve your golf game 🍃

The Golf Grip Explained: What is a Good Golf Grip? | San Diego Golf Lessons

November 16, 2021

There is no single "right" golf grip that works for everyone, as different players may find that different grips work best for them. For example, some players may prefer an interlocking grip in which the fingers of one hand are hooked around the fingers of the other hand, while others may prefer an overlapping grip in which the pinky finger of one hand overlaps the index finger of the other hand. Additionally, some players may opt to grip their clubs more tightly or lightly depending on their levels of skill and comfort, while others may choose to use a long thumb down the shaft or a short thumb down the shaft to better control their swings. There are also many variations and options beyond these basic considerations, including whether to show three knuckles or two knuckles when gripping the club and whether to keep the hands active or relatively still during swings. Ultimately, what matters most when it comes to your golf grip is finding one that enables you to hit good shots consistently, regardless of any other factors. Whether you take lessons from a professional instructor or experiment on your own, just make sure you keep practicing until you find a grip that works well for you! More specifically, the grip maximizes the number of shots that achieve the desired distance and direction. Whatever combination of preferences a player utilizes to accomplish that objective becomes a good grip.

Areas of Consensus

There are more areas of agreement than disagreement concerning the grip among teachers and players. These areas of consensus are:

  1. Even though the hands should hang naturally in a natural position, the correct golf grip does not seem to come naturally to the novice player. When the club is first placed in the hands of a beginner, they invariably hold it in a position which either fails to return the face to square consistently or does not provide maximum clubhead speed. Therefore, the grip must be learned.
  2.  If a student misunderstands the grip from the beginning, they can always change it, but it takes longer to feel natural. The student can expect that they will instinctively want to return to their former grip in stressful situations. It may be necessary to experience some discomfort. The repetitive effort to practice a proper grip eventually pays off.
  3. For most players, the palms of the hands should almost face each other or turn slightly inward because that is the way most arms hang. In some cases, particularly with heavy, large-chested golfers, the hands can work effectively if each is rotated slightly outward, i.e., weak left, strong right, provided the rotation is equal. Opinions vary on where the “V’s” formed by the thumbs and index fingers should point and how many knuckles should be seen when looking down at the hands. The majority feels that when the palms are not aligned close to parallel, the hands work against each other.
  4. Grip pressure should be light enough to encourage clubhead speed without losing directional control. It should be firm enough to keep the club from turning in the hands-on contact, yet not so tight that it destroys feel or speed.
  5. The placement of the hands should facilitate working together as one unit, with no slippage or repositioning.
  6. Ultimately, the player should become comfortable with the grip and confident about the clubface position during the swing.
  7. The last three fingers of the left hand capture the club handle against the butt portion of the palm, while the right-hand cradles the club handle more in the fingers.

Grip Options

The consensus guidelines listed above could be used to develop a philosophy on the grip—however, many variations impact results for individual students. Preference choices can be made for each of the four basic principles of grip (placement, positioning, pressure, and precision).

Placement refers to the location of the player’s hands on the vertical axis of the club. How far up or down the shaft is each hand placed? Should a player choke down on the grip or go up slightly over the butt end? Are the hands spread apart? Are they flush with each other, overlapped, double overlapped, one on top of the other (as in some players’ putting grip), or cross-handed?

These are examples of placement choices. The choice of grip placement is affected by the size of the player’s hands and their strength and suppleness. For example, the Vardon overlapping grip was passed down from one of the game’s early great players, Harry Vardon, who had large fingers and strong hands. Even so, other options must be considered for players who do not have athletic hands, like those with short fingers, those weak in grip strength, junior players, and others who find the overlap position less suitable for their hand structure.

The ten-finger grip, sometimes called a baseball grip, is natural for most new players. They seek to cover more of the grip surface to use the right hand to exert pressure against the shaft to square the face and provide power. A ten-finger grip that does not overlap or interlock offers more right-hand leverage because more of the grip surface on the lower part of the shaft is covered. This grip is often recommended for young golfers, players with smaller hands that occupy less area on the hold, or players who cannot generate sufficient speed through centrifugal force using their more prominent muscles. Placing additional emphasis on the right hand by putting more of it on the grip could be a disadvantage if the player has not trained their left side to be an equal partner in the swing. The ten-finger grip is generally recommended for those previously mentioned because of the tendency to put early leverage pressure on the shaft with the right hand.

Golf Upgrades Grip Preferences

  1. The grip is what aims the club face and starts a ball in a particular direction.

  2. Left (lead) hand should attach to the club so that the hinge pin and heel pad sit on top of the grip.

  3. Right (trail) hand should match up symmetrically to left and form a trigger between the right index finger and thumb.

  4. Grip pressure should be in the last three fingers of your left hand and the middle two fingers of the right hand.

  5. Grip pressure needs to be firm enough to have full control of the golf club.

Source: PGA of America 

As we continue to grow and develop our brand, we want to make sure that we provide the best possible experience for our customers. We have a lot of great things in store, and we would love to hear more from you. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list so you can stay up to date and develop your golf game through Golf Upgrades. And don’t forget to follow us on social media for even more content like this!

We encourage you to browse around our website and check out some of the reviews from our satisfied customers. We think you will be impressed with what you see, and we hope you will consider joining us for golf lessons around San Diego as we continue working hard to provide the best possible experience for golfers everywhere. Thanks for taking the time to read this article, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

  • Share:

Leave a comment


Also in Golf Upgrades Blog - Golf Lessons & Golf Instruction

Unlocking Your Golf Potential: Embrace Challenges with a Growth Mindset (Kids Version)
Unlocking Your Golf Potential: Embrace Challenges with a Growth Mindset (Kids Version)

May 09, 2023

Are you a young golfer looking to improve your game? The key to unlocking your potential lies in developing a growth mindset

Read More

Mastering Golf with a Growth Mindset: Embracing Challenges and Unlocking Your Potential
Mastering Golf with a Growth Mindset: Embracing Challenges and Unlocking Your Potential

May 09, 2023

In this blog post, we explore the power of a growth mindset in the context of golf. Discover how embracing challenges, persistence, and a willingness to learn from criticism can propel your golf game to new heights. We delve into the importance of embracing failure, seeking out new challenges, and learning from others in order to continuously improve. By focusing on the process and adopting a growth mindset, you'll not only enhance your golf skills but also cultivate a positive and fulfilling golfing experience. Join us as we uncover the keys to mastering golf with a growth mindset.

Read More

Team Golf Upgrades - Creating A Positive Experience for My Junior Golfers
Team Golf Upgrades - Creating A Positive Experience for My Junior Golfers

April 28, 2023

Read More

Follow

View our 5-star reviews >
Download our mobile app >

  • Home
  • Book Lesson
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Warranty
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Refund policy
  • Blog - Golf Lessons & Golf Instruction
  • Additional Resources
  • Blog - San Diego Golf Lessons
  • FAQ's

Sign up to get the latest on everything Golf Upgrades 🍃

© 2023 Golf Upgrades.
Powered by Shopify