Best Way to Hold the Golf Club

There are several different ways of holding the club, the most normal being the Vardon grip, also known as the overlapping grip. Whatever grip you choose to use, remember that it should be firm and light, with most of the pressure coming from the last three fingers of the left hand and the middle two of the right.

With the hands in this position, they form a unit in which they work together. Should the V-shape between the respective forefingers and thumbs not be parallel, the hands will work independently, so the club face will be incorrect at impact. Remember:

• V-shapes parallel
• hands together
• firm but light and constant pressure from the last three fingers of the left and the two middle fingers of the right hand.

Holding the club too tightly will cause tension and greatly reduce the free flowing movement of the swing, causing crooked shots and lack of distance.

As your game improves and your swing grows stronger, you may need to change the position of your hands. However, as a beginner or high-handicapper, you should use the above hand positions. Adjustments may be necessary from time to time during your golfing career, either to re-discover that straight ball flight or to learn how to curve the ball in the air. If the hands are moved left on the shaft, the ball will tend to curve to the right, and vice versa. But all such changes to your grip should be discussed with your golf professional before you start to attempt them seriously.

Instructions:

• The left hand first. Be sure that the club head is placed correctly on the ground, with the club face square, pointing directly forwards. It should not be open (to the right) or closed (to the left). With your right hand at the top of the grip, hold the club steady so that the club face doesn’t move off the target line. Now place the left hand so that it lies diagonally on the shaft from where the forefinger joins the palm to the underside of the pad at the base of your hand. Your left arm should be fairly straight.
• With the right hand all the while keeping the club face still and pointing towards the target, fold the fingers of your left hand around the shaft, with the base of the left hand 1/2 in (1 cm) from the top of the club.
• Lay the left thumb along the shaft. The natural curling of the fingers and the diagonal position of the hand will cause the thumb to lie slightly to the right of centre of the shaft.
• Note how the thumb of the left hand together create a line which points up towards the right shoulder. This means that you are holding the club properly with your left hand, and is a useful check whenever you are going through your grip routine, either on the practice range or when you are out on the golf course.
• Note that the end of the left thumb and the knuckle of the left forefinger are at the same height above the ground – also a useful routine check to ensure that you have the correct grip.

• Then the right hand. With the right arm bent and elbow pointing towards the hip, place the right hand on the shaft slightly below the left, with the two middle fingers of the right hand under the shaft.
• Curl the index finger around the shaft and place your right thumb slightly on the left side of the shaft. Your left thumb should now be fitting snugly into the palm of your right hand.
• Finally, place the little finger of your right hand over the knuckle of your left forefinger. As a beginner, you should always place the little finger of your right hand last, to avoid misplacing the right hand.
• The hands are now correctly placed on the shaft with both lines between respective thumbs and forefingers pointing, parallel with each other, at the right shoulder.