Golf Glossary
Grip (how to hold a golf club)
In short
The grip in golf describes how you hold the club with both hands. It is the only connection between your body and the club and has a strong influence on where the clubface points at impact. There are three common grip styles: the Vardon or overlapping grip, the interlocking grip and the baseball grip. Grip also refers to the handle on the shaft.
What is the golf grip and why does it matter?
In golf, only your hands touch the club. Everything your body does in the swing is passed to the club through the grip. That is why many coaches say a good swing starts with a good grip.
The grip mainly controls the clubface. If you hold the club in a way that makes your hands open or close too much through impact, the face points open or closed. The ball then starts off line or curves. Many beginners' slices are caused by the grip.
The word grip has two meanings in golf. Usually it refers to how you hold the club, the position of your hands. It also refers to the rubber or synthetic handle at the top of the shaft. This page is mainly about the hold, with a short section on the grip itself at the end.
How to grip a golf club step by step
These instructions are for right-handed players. Left-handers swap hands.
- Left hand first: lay the grip diagonally across the fingers of your left hand, from the base of the index finger to just below the heel pad. The grip sits more in the fingers than in the palm.
- Close the hand: the thumb sits slightly right of centre on the grip. Looking down, you see about two to three knuckles of your left hand.
- Add the right hand: the right hand holds below the left, also more in the fingers. The left thumb disappears under the right palm.
- Join the hands: where the right little finger goes depends on the grip style, covered in the next sections.
- Check: the thumb and index finger of each hand form a V. Both Vs point roughly towards your right shoulder.
Check your grip before every shot until it feels natural.
Vardon grip (overlapping grip)
In the Vardon grip, the little finger of the right hand rests on the gap between the index and middle fingers of the left hand. It overlaps the left hand, hence its other name, the overlapping grip. The remaining fingers of the right hand hold the club normally.
The grip is named after the British professional Harry Vardon, who won the Open Championship six times between 1896 and 1914 and made this hold famous. Whether he invented it is not certain, as other players of his era used similar versions.
Today the Vardon grip is considered the most widely used grip among golfers. It connects the hands without interlocking the fingers. The right hand, usually the stronger one for right-handers, is slightly restrained, which helps keep the clubface steady.
The overlapping grip suits players with medium to large hands in particular. With very small hands it can feel a little loose.
Interlocking grip
In the interlocking grip, the little finger of the right hand links with the index finger of the left hand, so the two fingers hook into each other. This connects the hands especially firmly.
The interlocking grip is popular with players who have smaller hands and with many women and juniors. Some of the most successful players in history, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, also hold the club this way.
The advantage is that the hands work as one unit and can hardly shift against each other during the swing. The drawback is that interlocking too deeply can pull the grip into the palm and restrict wrist movement. Make sure only the fingertips link loosely and the grip stays in the fingers.
Neither interlocking nor overlapping is better in general. Both are equally valid. What matters is which one feels stable and natural to you.
Baseball grip (ten-finger grip)
In the baseball grip, all ten fingers are on the grip. The hands are not linked; they simply sit close together, much like holding a baseball bat. That is why it is also called the ten-finger grip.
This grip is very simple and feels natural to many beginners. It suits children, people with small or weaker hands and players with joint problems such as arthritis in the fingers. With more fingers on the club, holding it is easier.
The downside is that the hands can work more independently. The right hand may then take over and close the clubface at impact. If you use the baseball grip, pay particular attention to keeping both hands snugly together.
Some tour players also use the baseball grip successfully, so it is not only a beginner's option.
Grip strength and grip pressure
Besides the grip style, it matters how far your hands are rotated on the club. Coaches call this grip strength.
- Neutral grip: looking down, you see about two knuckles of the left hand. The Vs of thumb and index finger point towards the right shoulder or right ear.
- Strong grip: both hands are rotated further to the right and you see three or more knuckles. This helps close the clubface and can counter a slice. Too strong leads to hooks.
- Weak grip: the hands are rotated to the left and hardly any knuckle is visible. The clubface tends to stay open and the ball often goes right.
Grip pressure is just as important. Hold the club only as tightly as you need to. On a scale of 1 to 10, many coaches recommend about 4 to 5. Gripping too tightly tenses your forearms and shoulders, making the swing shorter and slower.
Common mistakes, putting grips and the grip itself
Common golf grip mistakes include:
- Holding the club in the palm instead of the fingers, which locks the wrists.
- Hands too far apart, so they work against each other.
- Too much grip pressure, especially on long shots.
- A grip that drifts during the round because it is not checked before each shot.
Putting has its own grips. A common one is the reverse overlap, where the left index finger rests over the fingers of the right hand. Other players putt with the left hand low (cross-handed) or use the claw grip.
The grip itself wears out. Many experts suggest checking it about once a year or after around 40 rounds. A slick grip slips and tempts you to squeeze harder. Under the equipment rules, the grip on normal clubs must be circular in cross-section. Only a putter may have, for example, a flat top.
Try it at Golf Lounge
A new grip often feels strange at first, and feedback is the fastest way to get used to it. At Golf Lounge a PGA Professional checks your grip in a 60-minute private lesson. A short focused session on a single movement detail is also possible. Swing analysis based on TrackMan data shows you straight away how a small change to your grip affects your ball flight. Lessons are available daily by appointment and can be booked online.
Frequently asked questions
Which golf grip is best?
No single grip is best for everyone. The Vardon or overlapping grip is the most common and suits medium and large hands. The interlocking grip often suits smaller hands. The baseball grip is simple and helps players with weaker hands. What matters is that your grip is neutral and stable.
What is the difference between the overlapping and the interlocking grip?
In the overlapping (Vardon) grip, the right little finger rests on the gap between the left index and middle fingers. In the interlocking grip, the right little finger and the left index finger hook into each other. Both connect the hands, with interlocking slightly firmer.
How tightly should you hold a golf club?
Only as tightly as you need to. On a scale of 1 to 10, many coaches suggest about 4 to 5. The club should sit securely in your fingers without tensing your forearms and shoulders. Too tight makes the swing short and slow, too loose lets the club twist at impact.
Is the baseball grip bad in golf?
No. The baseball grip is a recognised grip style. It suits children, beginners and people with small hands or joint problems, and some professionals use it too. The key is to keep both hands close together so the right hand does not close the clubface too much.
As of: October 2026