The Short Answer: To grip a golf club correctly, place the club in the fingers and palm of your lead hand, position your trail hand over your lead thumb, and aim the "V" formed by both thumbs and index fingers toward your trail shoulder. A proper grip helps control the clubface and ball flight, leading to more consistent and accurate shots.
If you're looking to improve your golf game, the easiest way to start is with your hands. The grip is the only physical connection between you and the golf club. A proper grip sets the tone for your entire golf swing, influencing clubface control, direction, power, and consistency. Many amateur golfers struggle with distance or accuracy not because of their swing mechanics, but because they haven’t learned the correct grip.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to hold a golf club the right way. We’ll cover the different types of grip, the correct hand positions, grip pressure, and common mistakes.
Why Grip Matters in Your Golf Game
Before you make any changes to your swing or stance, start with the grip. The way you hold the golf club affects the angle of the clubface at impact. That means it directly affects ball flight, shot shape, and whether you hit the golf ball straight, draw it, or slice it.
Every movement in the golf swing is built on the foundation of grip. Too many amateur golfers try to fix their swing plane or club path without realizing the problem starts in the hands. Without the right grip, your swing cannot reach its full potential.
The correct grip also lets you maintain consistent grip pressure. That consistency gives you better feel, more control, and improved clubhead speed. A poor grip can introduce tension into the arms and shoulders, limiting range of motion and tempo.
The Basic Grip Components
Lead Hand (Top Hand)
For a right-handed golfer, the left hand is the lead hand. For a left-handed golfer, it’s the right hand. The lead hand should be the first to go on the golf shaft.
Place the club so it runs diagonally across your fingers and into the heel pad of your palm. Avoid holding the club entirely in the fingers or solely in the palm. The correct position is a balanced blend of both.
Once your fingers wrap around the club, place the left thumb slightly right of center on the shaft. This thumb positioning is crucial for stabilizing the club during the swing. The "V" formed by the thumb and index finger should point toward your trail shoulder.
You should be able to see two to three knuckles of your lead hand when looking down. This creates what’s called a strong grip. A strong grip helps many players hit the ball longer and straighter, especially with the driver or fairway wood.
Trail Hand (Bottom Hand)
Your trail hand supports the lead hand and locks in control of the golf club. Bring your trail hand in from underneath the grip. Wrap the fingers around the club, and let the pad of your trail hand rest on top of the lead thumb.
The thumb of your trail hand should go slightly left of center on the shaft. Like the lead hand, this forms a second "V" between your thumb and index finger, which should also point toward your trail shoulder or just inside it.
Grip Pressure
Grip pressure often gets overlooked, but it’s just as important as hand placement. Think of grip pressure on a scale from 1 to 10:
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1 = so light the club could fall out
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10 = squeezing the club like a baseball bat
Aim for a 4 or 5. That’s firm enough to maintain control of the club, but relaxed enough to keep tension out of the shoulders and arms. A lighter grip helps generate clubhead speed and better feel through the ball.
Types of Golf Grip
There are three main types of grip. Each has benefits, depending on your hand size, strength, and comfort level.
Overlap Grip
The overlap grip is used by a lot of golfers, including many professionals. The pinky finger of the trail hand rests on top of the index finger of the lead hand. This grip is great for players with larger hands and offers solid control.
Interlock Grip
This grip is popular among powerful players like Tiger Woods. The pinky finger of the trail hand interlocks with the index finger of the lead hand. It provides a strong connection between the hands and is preferred by golfers with smaller hands.
Ten-Finger Grip (Baseball Grip)
All ten fingers make contact with the club, and the hands sit side by side. This grip is often used by beginners and players who need more help generating clubhead speed. It’s also common among women and juniors due to smaller hand size.
Each grip style can work effectively. The right grip is the one that lets you control the clubface and swing comfortably without tension.
Grip Mistakes, Club Adjustments, and How to Practice Them Right
Common Mistakes with the Golf Grip
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Thumbs Down the Center: Many beginners position both thumbs straight down the center of the shaft. This limits wrist mobility and makes it harder to create a full wrist hinge. It also opens the clubface and leads to slices.
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Palm Grip: Holding the club too far into the palm restricts range of motion and forces you to grip harder. That tension affects the entire swing and leads to weak shots.
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Overly Strong or Weak Grip: Seeing too many knuckles (over-rotated hand) creates a strong grip that can cause the clubface to close at impact. A weak grip (V pointing left of your chin) causes the face to open and can lead to slices.
Grip for Different Clubs
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Drivers and Fairway Woods: A strong grip with moderate grip pressure can help promote distance and a slight draw. Because these clubs are longer and more flexible, having a secure grip without tension is important for swing speed and timing.
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Irons: For mid and short irons, a neutral grip is typically more effective. Focus on precision and consistent contact. Too strong a grip might make it harder to control the trajectory.
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Wedges and Chipping: In the short game, control matters more than speed. Use a light grip pressure with a secure, connected hand position. This allows you to feel the clubhead and make crisp contact with the ball.
How to Practice Your Grip
You don’t need to be on a golf course to practice your grip. You can do this at home while watching TV or sitting in the backyard. Use a golf glove or mark your glove with lines to check finger placement and hand angles.
Here’s a simple practice routine:
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Set the clubface square to a target.
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Place your lead hand with the grip across the fingers and palm.
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Close your fingers, place your left thumb just right of center.
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Add the trail hand, pad over the thumb, fingers wrapped around.
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Check your V’s, both should point to your trail shoulder.
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Lighten your grip pressure, then rehearse a takeaway.
Repeat these steps until the grip feels natural. Over time, your muscle memory will lock it in.
Grip with Confidence. Grip with BRUCE BOLT.
Every great golf swing starts with your hands. Your grip is everything. It’s how you connect to the golf club, control the clubface, and shape every shot from tee to green. That connection has to feel stable, secure, and consistent.
BRUCE BOLT premium golf gloves are built to deliver the grip and feel you need through every part of the swing. Whether you’re launching a fairway wood or dialing in an iron, our gloves help you stay locked in. No slipping. No hesitation.
Better golf doesn’t come from overcomplicating the swing. It comes from mastering the basics. A consistent grip. Steady pressure. Smooth tempo. With a glove that moves with you. Not against you. You can swing with confidence and trust your hands to do the job.
Ready to build a more reliable swing from the grip up? Start with BRUCE BOLT.
