Golf Beginners Guide: The Grip

Beginners Guide to Golf: The Grip

As we approach the winter up here in New England, the number of rounds we all will be able to play is likely minimal. If you're like me, then you've shifted to an indoor league to keep your swing in check. 

Although it is not abysmally cold up here yet, I wanted to share some food for thought for this off-season and highlight some things you can focus on to improve your game before the spring. Today's post we will start off by focusing on your grip.

Your grip is something that can make or break your golf game. If you have inconsistencies with your grip, then you're bound to have mishits during your range session and on the course. As a right-handed player, I like to make sure I have a neutral grip. In my youth, I had a grip that caused my clubface to be wide open at impact resulting in the gnarliest slice you've ever seen. 

Here are a couple of things that both left and right-handed golfers can use to make sure their grip is in check on a cold winter day. 

Pictured above is the neutral grip of a right-handed golfer.
Notice that the thumb on the trail hand is aligned with the center of the shaft. 
Also, note that the lead hand (left) has the thumb to the left to maintain neutrality. 

1. Start with the Lead Hand

Hold your club with your lead hand (upper hand) at the top of the grip. The grip should run diagonally across the fingers from the base of the pinkie finger to the middle joint of the index finger. The handle should rest against the heel pad of your lead hand, and your lead thumb should point down the center of the shaft.

2. Place the Trail Hand:

Once your lead hand is in position, take your trail hand and place it on the grip below your lead hand.

The pinkie finger of your trailing hand should overlap or interlock with the gap between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand. Then the lifeline of your trail hand should rest on top of your lead hand's thumb.

3. Positioning of the Trail Thumb:

Your trail thumb should rest in the groove formed by the lead thumb and the palm of your lead hand.

The "V" formed by the thumb and forefinger of your trail hand should point toward your right shoulder as a right-handed player and your left shoulder as a left-handed player.

4. Check the Grip Pressure:

Maintain a balanced grip pressure – not too tight and not too loose. A common guideline is to grip the club with a pressure that is about a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being extremely tight. Overgripping can cause you to close that face too fast resulting in a duck hook, or leave you wide open at impact (watch out for those condos). 

5. Square the Clubface:

Ensure that the clubface is square to the target when you grip the club. This will ensure that your ball goes exactly where you intend it to go. Ever wonder why your shot went where it did? Check out your divot print to see where your clubface was at impact. It will likely always tell you a story that you didn't 'feel' at impact. 

6. Neutralize the Grip:

As stated above, you want to aim for a neutral grip, where both hands work together in a way that avoids excessive rotation of the clubface during the swing. Favoring one side over the other can lead to unintended outcomes. Sure, you were aiming at the flag. But your grip can tell a different story if you aren't careful. 

Always remember that there are variations to the golf grip. What works for some will not work for you, and what works for you will not work for some. Whether it is a ten-finger grip, or interlocked it is crucial that whatever you choose feels comfortable. You want to have as much control as you can while maintaining consistency. The off-season is an opportune time for you to make sure everything is in line so you can be confident when you book that first tee time of the new year.  

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next post to keep your mind on the game of golf this winter.

Cheers. 
Matt