How to Grip a Golf Club: 6 Steps, Styles and Pressure

How to grip a golf club? Set the handle across the base of the fingers of your lead hand (not the palm), wrap the last three fingers, roll the lead thumb onto the top-right of the handle, then add the trail hand so its lifeline covers the lead thumb. Choose an overlapping, interlocking or ten-finger connection, aim for one to two knuckles visible on the lead hand and keep pressure light.

Below is a step-by-step routine based on the method taught at the Pinehurst Golf Academy, the three grip styles, how to check strong, neutral and weak positions, and how much pressure to use. New to the game? Pair this with our golf swing basics for beginners.

Why the grip matters

Your hands are the only contact with the club, so the grip largely controls where the clubface points at impact. In a Pinehurst article, Director of Golf Instruction Eric Alpenfels notes that in a poll of Top 100 Teachers, "81 percent acknowledged that the grip is one of the first things they work on with new students."

How to grip a golf club in 6 steps

These steps are written for a right-handed golfer (left hand is the lead hand). Left-handed players reverse them.

1. Place the handle

Hold the club out in front at about 45 degrees with your right hand. Turn your left palm toward you and set the grip "in the area between your first knuckles and the top of your palm," as Alpenfels describes.

2. Close the lead-hand fingers

Curl the left pinkie, ring and middle fingers around the handle. The undersides of these fingers should all touch the grip.

3. Set the lead thumb

Roll the left thumb over to the right side of the handle while curling the index finger around it, so the fatty pad at the base of the thumb presses down on the grip.

4. Add the trail hand

Slide the right hand toward the left and let the shaft sit between the first knuckles and the base of the palm, just like the lead hand.

5. Connect the hands

Wrap the right pinkie into the gap between the left index and middle fingers (overlap) or link it with the left index finger (interlock). Pinehurst notes that pressure from the right ring and middle fingers is important here.

6. Cover the lead thumb

Roll the right thumb to the left so the lifeline of the right palm sits directly over the left thumb.

Overlapping, interlocking or ten-finger grip?

• Overlapping (Vardon): the trail pinkie rests on top of the gap between the lead index and middle fingers. Common among tour players.
• Interlocking: the trail pinkie and lead index finger hook together. Often preferred by golfers with smaller hands.
• Ten-finger (baseball): all ten fingers on the handle. A comfortable starting point for juniors and players with less hand strength.

No style is "correct" for everyone. Pick the one that keeps your hands working together without tension.

Strong, neutral or weak grip?

Look down at address. A Golfshake guide describes a neutral grip as seeing "between one and two knuckles" on the lead hand, with the V of the trail hand pointing just inside the trail shoulder. Seeing no knuckles is a weak grip, which tends to leave the face open and can cause a slice (see how to fix a slice in golf). Seeing three or more knuckles is a strong grip, which can close the face and cause hooks.

How tight should you grip a golf club?

Firm enough to control the club, loose enough that your forearms stay relaxed. Many coaches describe it as holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing any out. Tension in the hands slows the release and makes it harder to square the face.

Is the grip the same for putting and chipping?

Full-swing and short-game grips share the basics, but many players use a different putting grip, such as reverse overlap or cross-handed, to quiet the wrists. For chipping, grip down the handle for control; see how to chip a golf ball.

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FAQ

What is the correct way to grip a golf club?

Hold the club in the fingers of the lead hand, lead thumb on the top-right of the handle, trail hand covering the lead thumb, one to two knuckles visible and light pressure.

Should I use an interlocking or overlapping grip?

Either works. Interlocking suits many players with smaller hands; overlapping is common with larger hands. Choose the one that feels secure without tension.

How many knuckles should I see on my lead hand?

About one to two knuckles is considered neutral. None suggests a weak grip, three or more a strong grip.

Why does my grip keep slipping?

The handle may be in your palm instead of your fingers, or worn grips and sweaty hands may reduce friction. Reset with the six-step routine and check your grips.