Best Way to Avoid and Correct Errors When Holding Your Golf Clubs

The way you hold your clubs really does control distance, direction and height. Here are some of the errors that you are most likely to make and how to avoid or correct them.

The ‘weak grip is one where the line or V between the thumb and index finger of one or both hands points up to the chin instead of towards the right shoulder. Caused by the left hand not being sufficiently over the club, the left thumb is too straight on the club and the logo on the glove isn’t showing. It can happen if you use an interlocking grip and interlock the whole of the fingers instead of just the tips. This can pull the left hand round to the left.

If you use a weak grip, the result is usually an open clubface through impact – in other words, the clubface facing away to the right with added loft. This allows the ball to slice away with a big bend to the right, being at its worst with a 3 wood or driver.

To correct it, keep the left hand well over and don’t interlock.

The ‘strong’ grip is one where the left hand is too far over and/or the right hand too far underneath. If you are a natural tennis player, your instinct is often to put the right hand under the club with the feeling of scooping the ball into the air. In this position the V between the thumb and index finger of the right hand points far too far outside the fight shoulder.

To correct this, sit the club in the fingers of the right hand and remember, your right hand must face your target and your target is on the ground down the fairway.

The result of using a strong grip is generally one of closing the face through impact, the clubface facing left with reduced loft. It produces strong shots – hence the name of the grip – but they lack height, particularly when using a driver, 3 wood or 3 iron. This is one of the hardest grip faults to correct. The lower you see the ball fly, the more likely you ate to put the right hand under the club. Resist your instinct from racquet sports. You are likely to be at your worst when wanting loft with a sand wedge – so take special care.

The grip should be a finger grip with the thumbs pulled up and not stretched down. The hands should fold and the fingers curl.

To feel a good grip, have someone hold the club towards you. Point your left hand along the club as though shaking hands and fold it over to take up the grip. Then point your right hand along the club, again as though shaking hands, and fold it over. This gives the correct finger grip.

The grip should stay constant from the start to the finish of the swing, although it might loosen slightly at the very end of the follow through. You need to hold the club firmly in the fingers but with freedom in the wrists. Most men hold a club far too tightly; many women hold too loosely, particularly in the left hand.

To practise keeping a constant grip, line up to a row of four balls. Hit one after another, taking your time, but feeling the grip staying constant from the first ball through to the fourth.