Best Way to Choose Your Best Grips

You have a variety of grips to choose from. The one that suits you best will take into account the size and strength of your hands as well as the length of your fingers.

• The basic grip is the ‘baseball’ grip, in which all eight fingers and both thumbs are on the club. It is ideal if you have small hands and can be the easiest one to learn with in the first couple of lessons. However, it has some drawbacks: the hands can easily get out of position and can slip apart if your palms are sweaty or you are undisciplined!

• The Vardon grip is generally considered to be the perfect and most orthodox one – it is used by most professionals. The little finger of the right hand fits between the first and second finger of the left hand. It pulls the hands together and unites them. The conventional Vardon grip may not be right for you if your little finger is very small. Many men have a little finger almost the same length as their third finger, which makes it easier for them.
• The finger spread needed for a perfect Vardon grip. The index finger is spread away for its trigger position and the little finger must easily separate from the third finger. If you start golf as a child this can be easy. If you start as an adult this spread can prove impossible.
• The ‘piggyback’ is aversion of the Vardon grip which can be easier and is just as good. The little finger of the right hand just sits on top of the index finger of the left and doesn’t require the same spread. Remember that the little finger doesn’t really do anything. Just relax it and sit it on the outside wherever it feels comfortable. Don’t struggle to put it in a specific position.

• The interlocking grip is often taught to complete beginners, but beware of it. The tips of the left index finger and right little finger are linked, locking the hands together and allowing less movement. For women it is generally a very poor grip because it takes the left index finger off the club, which reduces the strength of the left hand quite dramatically. Women need all the left hand strength they can achieve. Even a left-hander playing golf right-handed might not find the interlocking grip satisfactory.