How to Grip the Golf Club Properly
By Bill Herrfeldt
How you grip the golf club is the single most important thing you'll learn because it will affect all parts of your swing. There are three basic ways that golfers grip the club: The first, the Vardon grip, is used by over 90 percent of golfers today. You overlap the pinkie of your bottom hand to the forefinger of the top hand. The second grip is the interlocking grip, where you literally interlock you bottom pinkie with the top's forefinger. The third grip is the "baseball" grip, where all 10 fingers grip the club. Regardless of the style you adopt, play better golf by doing it properly.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Place your left hand on the top portion of the club (if you are right handed). Then, put your other hand on the grip next to the first hand after covering the thumb of your top hand with it so that it fits nicely in the palm of your right hand (left hand if you are a lefty). Depending on the grip that you have chosen, either overlap or interlock the pinkie of your bottom hand as indicated or have all 10 of your fingers on the club.
Look at your hands and you will see "V's" made by both your forefingers and thumbs. For you to have a proper grip, they most likely need to be adjusted. The "V" made by your top hand should be pointing at your neck, while the "V" formed by the other hand should be pointed at your shoulder that's away from the target. This is a neutral grip and it should be used by people just starting out. With experience, you can try a stronger grip by positioning the "V's" slightly to the right if you are a right-handed player. Create a weaker grip by reversing the process. You most likely will hook the ball with a strong grip and you will probably hit a slice or fade if your grip is weak.
Check your club face to make sure it is facing your target when you grip the club. Notice that the pros on television are sure their club is aligned correctly on every shot. Many amateurs, however, pay so much attention gripping the club properly, they make this basic error.
Grip the club only as tightly as you would a baby bird. Many amateurs think they must grip the club tightly to achieve more distance. Actually, you will hit the golf ball further with less, not more, pressure in your hands. When you grip the club tightly, you create tension in your body that will cause it to be both less accurate and shorter.
About The Author
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.
