Strong Golf Grip: How to Grip the Club to Hit Straighter Shots
Learn how a strong golf grip vs. weak golf grip influences your accuracy with every club
Did you know that something as simple as a strong golf grip can help cure a slice? The way you grip the golf club has a major influence on your shot shape. Let's learn how a strong vs. weak golf grip can change your shot shape and how to pick the one that will help you hit the ball straighter.
First, it’s important to note that your goal in selecting a grip is to find one that helps you consistently square up the club face at impact and allows you to properly release the club.
Looking back on my playing career, whenever I made a grip change, it was not easy. But I’d stick with it and over time it paid off. As an instructor, grip is one of the first things I check at the start of each lesson. If your hands are positioned too far in one direction, it can lead to erratic shots. Making adjustments to your grip can be the first step toward better contact and results.
What is a Strong Golf Grip
Here's how a strong golf grip compares to neutral and weak grips
So, what is a strong golf grip?
A strong golf grip is when both hands are turned back toward your trail side in relation to the middle of the club’s grip. To determine the middle of the grip, imagine a line coming up from a square club face to the grip. The top of your lead hand faces up and when looking down at it you see three or more knuckles. The “V” formed between your trail thumb and index finger points outside of your trail shoulder.
A strong golf grip makes it easier to deliver a closed club face at impact. A closed club face transfers draw sidespin onto the ball, increasing the likelihood of a draw ballflight.
Strong vs Weak Golf Grip
Strong vs. weak golf grip
To understand the differences in a strong vs weak golf grip, we need to recognize that there are three types of grips: strong, neutral and weak.
These terms describe the way your hands are positioned on the club. In contrast to the strong golf grip described above, a weak golf grip is the complete opposite.
A weak golf grip is when both hands are turned forward toward your lead side in relation to the middle of the grip. When you look down at your lead hand, you barely see any knuckles. Instead, you see two or more knuckles on your trail hand. The “V” between your lead thumb and index finger will point towards the lead half of your body.
A weak grip promotes an open clubface at impact. An open clubface transfers fade sidespin onto the ball, increasing the likelihood of a fade ballflight.
A neutral golf grip is when the lead hand thumb is slightly back in relation to the middle of the grip. When you look down at your lead hand you see one or two knuckles. The “V” between your trail thumb and index finger points toward your trail shoulder.
Here's a quick breakdown of each type of grip:
| Grip Type | Orientation | Shot Shape Influence |
| Strong | Vs point outside trail shoulder | Draw |
| Neutral | Vs point to trail shoulder | Neutral |
| Weak | Vs point to lead shoulder | Fade |
Whichever grip you select, make sure that you grip the club in your fingers and not in your palms.
The direction and distance of a golf shot ultimately boils down to the orientation of the club face at impact. Delivery of the club face to the ball is directly correlated to the position of your hands at the start of your swing. That's why how you grip the club influences the type of shot you hit.
Benefits of a Strong Golf Grip
Now that you know about strong, neutral, and weak golf grips, how do you choose the best one for you? Well, a strong golf grip offers a few benefits, which I'll explain. The top two are:
- Promotes hands turning over through impact
- Counteracts a slice
A strong golf grip promotes an active release, allowing the hands to fully turn over through impact, unlike a weak grip, which restricts the hands from fully turning over and typically results in a slice.
One of the biggest benefits of a strong golf grip is that it may lessen your tendency to slice the ball. Having your hands positioned in a strong golf grip encourages fast swing speed and allows you to completely release the club. A strong golf grip eliminates an open clubface at impact and the transfer of fade sidespin onto the ball. If you struggle with slicing the ball or generally miss shots to the right (for a right-handed player), a strong golf grip will help you release the club properly through impact and result in more accurate shots.
Drawbacks of a Strong Golf Grip
One of the most common strong golf grip problems is hooking the ball. If you struggle with hooking the ball, weaken your grip.
The main drawback of a strong golf grip is your hands might become overly active releasing the club through impact. To lessen the hook and straighten out your shots, try weakening your grip. This will help you to have a more open clubface and reduce the excessive draw shaped ballflight.
Match Your Grip to Your Shot Shape
Remember, your goal in selecting a grip should be finding one that consistently squares up the club face at impact and allows you to properly release the club.
The grip can be one of the more challenging parts of your swing to adjust. To find a grip that works best for you, make small incremental changes either by strengthening or weakening your grip. Experiment on the driving range. Take your time hitting balls and notice the variations in your shots, both distance and accuracy, based on your grip adjustments. Finding the right grip will lead to a more predictable ballflight and lower scores!