How to grip your golf clubs in 5 simple steps

Good golf begins with a good grip. Especially if you are a beginner in the game, one of the basic fundamental skills you will learn is how to grip your golf clubs perfectly. 

Learning how to grip your golf club is a crucial inevitable mini-course that every golfer would have to go through. Whether you are playing the game as a professional or for recreational purposes, it is essential to learn how to hold your golf club correctly.

Let me fill you in a bit.

As a golfer, how well you can hold your gold club will determine how well you can make excellent swings. Yes. It is as important as that! Unfortunately, many golfers are not aware of this fact, so they stick to a defective grip pattern. 

When golfers use a defective grip, and it worked for the moment, they feel somehow satisfied with it and make it a standard, especially making them feel comfortable. That is one of the underlying factors for poor swings on the course. 

Without the proper grip, you may find it challenging to make consistent shots. You need to master your grip if you want to gain control over your golf club. A master of the game knows how to make the best use of the golf clubs.

The grip is as important as the game. It is one of the top secrets of every iconic player that has ever graced the course. So, when you see Tiger Woods doing some wonders on the greens, it is not a talisman; he has learned and mastered how to grip his golf club to make a winning swing. 

So, here’s the good news, once you also finally how to grip your golf club, oops, you can ahead and become a great magician on the course. 

Of course, it may seem somewhat weird to put so much emphasis on how to grip your golf club. If that’s what you are thinking right now, you are not alone. I have always had the same thought until I see one of the greatest golfers of all time on TV. He openly revealed that proper grip is the number one secret to his iconic success.

Now, having known ‘why,’ you need to learn the grip, let’s go and learn the ‘How.’

Step 1: Evaluate your grip 

Before you learn how to hold your golf club correctly on the course, you need first to understand that your grip needs help. 

I have always learned from amateur golfers that they tend to opt for an easier way to make things comfortable for them while learning new golf skills. Of course, those technical rules can get complicated for newcomers, but not an excuse to go the wrong way. 

So, first of all, you need to evaluate how you grip your golf club and know if you need to improve or not. You wonder why? The reason is simple. It is hard to accept a new skill if you don’t think the current one is faulty. When you can pick some errors in handling your golf club, you are good to go.

If you find it difficult to evaluate your grip, try to provide answers to these few questions: how well do you hold your club? How do you pick it up? What position are your fingers in when you grip? Do you feel comfortable when having it? If you answer these questions honestly, you discover the areas that need improvement.

Step 2: Check your grip Size

The rubberized grips on the golf club are available in different sizes. Make sure that you are using the right size for you. Note that because your club’s grip has a standardized measure, it does not mean that it is right for you – not many golfers know these secrets. 

If you see that you are holding a club with the wrong grip size, it is time to bring out money and get new ones. It might not be a planned investment, but it is essential to improve your grip and game.

Meanwhile, the right size for you depends on the shape of your hands. So, if you have short fingers, a shorter grip is best for you. But, if you have a shovel-like hand, you should consider a larger one.

Step 3: Hand Positioning 

When it comes to making a proper grip, the way, you position your hand matters. Note that it is best first to hold your club in the weaker hand. For example, if you are right-handed, you pick your club up with your left hand. 

While holding it with your left, make sure that your left thumb points down the right side of the shaft. After that, use your right hand to grip the club. Ensure that your right thumb sits on your left thumb facing downwards.

Step 4: Interlock or overlap your hand 

This puzzle has become a topic of argument in the golf world. The reason is that some players like overlapping, while some prefer the interlocking style. I wouldn’t say one is better, but most golfers prefer the overlapping grip called ‘The Vardon Grip.’

Whichever option you choose, what matters here is to ensure your left-hand thumb aligns with your right-hand palm middle finger.

Step 5: Pressure 

Your golf club is like water. Do you why? If you hold it too tight, you will lose it; if you hold it too loose, it will spill away. So, the right way to handle your golf club is to be moderate. If you hold your golf club too tightly and play a shot, you might lose your golf club’s heel in the process. And, if you handle it too lightly, you won’t have control over it. Hence, make your grip soft but firm.

Finally

While learning how to grip your golf club on the course, make things neutral at first. It might not sound too professional, but you need to bear this golden rule in mind. The regulations of gripping discussed above are neutral. It will aid you to have better control over your golf club without holding it too tightly.  Mastering your grip is essential to play golf comfortably and develop new skills consistently.