The Definitive Guide on Golf
Grips:
5 Tips and What Absolutely Not To Do
Playing golf is a mental game as much as it is a game of skill. You can do everything by the book and still not be making consistent strikes. Why does that happen?
With all its rules and intricacies, golf is a wonderful and enjoyable sport. While many things go into a great golf game, a big part of it boils down to how you grip your golf club.
In this article, we go over the importance of having the right golf grip, how you can work on your grip, and one thing you should absolutely avoid doing.
Let’s dive in.
Why Are Golf Grips So Important?
| Let’s face it. You can’t
make successful swings and have a good game if your golf grip is
weak.
If you want to fix your slice, make your shots more consistent, and improve your ball strike, you’ll want to pay attention to how you grip your golf club. Most likely, that’s where the problem lies. The ideal golf grip will increase your accuracy on the golf course and allow you to achieve maximum distance on all your shots. |
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To credit better ball strikes to one aspect of golfing may sound bizarre, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Remember, a grip is the only time your hand is connected to the club. This is when you make all the decisions that influence your golfing style which may or may not result in a win.
Tips to Improve Your Golf Grip
Knowing how to grip a golf club can be instrumental to your golf game. You can avoid many problem shots and faults just by correcting your golf grip. Don’t know how? Don’t worry, we’ve got you.
Here are a few tips that can help:
Tip #1: Practice Proper Hand Placement
There is a right way and a wrong way to hold a club in your lead hand. If your golf grip sits in the middle of your palm, it can make swinging your wrist to hit the ball a nightmare. Since it can drastically impact your wrist position, it may even make squaring up the clubface difficult and make stability a near impossibility.
Instead, shift the focus more towards your index finger and thumb. Create a cradle with your fingers and slip the golf club right inside it. When you do this, make sure your thumb sits ever so slightly at the trail side of the grip.
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Tip #2: Ensure You Have a “V” ShapeTo avoid issues related to your “palm” position, always hold your golf club with your weaker hand and opt for a V position. In essence, the “V” ensures that you’re holding your club at the right angle which will help you achieve better consistency in your shots. |
Ideally, the “V” should point more towards the trail shoulder, enabling you to see more knuckles in your lead hand. It may sound like rocket science, but if you experiment enough, you’ll make a “V” shape at some point during the game when you use the right golf grip.
Tip #3: Experiment With Pressure
A grip that’s too tight can do more damage to your game than you think. Most times, it doesn’t even make sense to apply so much pressure to your golf stick that your knuckles turn white.
Think your grip might be too tight? You stand to lose the direction of your shot. Is your grip too loose? You can lose control of your club as you swing it. You’ll need to find a middle ground and stick with it.
Firm hands, loose wrists, and consistent, soft pressure are key. To put this into practice, start with short shots before moving on to full swings.
Tip #4: Be Mindful of the Gaps
| Whether it’s a baseball
grip, interlocking grip, or overlapping grip, it doesn’t matter which
grip you use.
As long as it does its job, you’re better off leaving it alone instead of experimenting with other grips. |
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One thing you do have to be cautious about, however, is not to let any gaps appear in your hand position. These gaps usually show up between the little finger on the trail hand and the first finger on the lead hand. Allow the club to move more freely, especially during transition and impact.
Tip #5: Learn to Control the Ball
Your golf grip is so much more than just one aspect of your golf game. If you want to control your club’s movement as you swing, come down an inch or two off the end of your grip. This will help keep your ball safely in play.
It would be wise to note, however, that it might also impact the speed of your swing negatively so if you’re looking for more control, you may want to opt for short shots instead. You can easily practice these shots in your backyard or driveway before putting them in action on a golf course.
Golf Grip: What Not To Do
Gripping your golf club along the joint that connects the palm of your hands with your fingers is a wrong move. It may feel like you’ve got the perfect grip, but unfortunately, it’s too strong. It will square the clubface significantly making you lose power and direction.
Ideally, you want to grip the golf club between the middle joints of your fingers, irrespective of the grip you use. This will give you just the right position to hit a shot without the need for corrections and adjustments.
Wrapping Up: Developing The Right Golf Grip Takes Time and Patience
Changing your golf grip takes time before you begin seeing positive results on the golf course. However, it holds immense potential in improving your game. Put in the time, adjustments, and patience and you’ll eventually become a better golfer.