How to Hold a Golf Club
The grip on the golf club is the first step taken during the set up for the golfer as he prepares to swing. If this key element is not performed correctly it can greatly affect the outcome of the shot. That being said, it is important to rehearse how to hold a golf club as you prepare to swing. There are diffferent methods for gripping the club and the three most common are the Vardon Grip, named after the great golfer, Harry Vardon from the early 20th century. It is a grip method whereby the pinky finger of the right hand overlaps between the index and middle finger of the left but does NOT interlock, the Baseball grip, which is pretty much as it sounds and is taken by butting the hands together similarly to holding a baseball bat and the Interlocking Grip, which is the grip preference of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and my also personal favorite.
The Interlocking Grip is performed by taking the left hand, laying it open and cradling the top part of the shaft of the club in the crease of the two middle fingers of the hand not counting the thumb. The club should protrude approximately 1 1/2 “ below the bottom part of your left hand as illustrated in the photo on the left. This is primarily to allow the golfer to maintain better control throughout the swing and also not to cause the golf glove to wear excessively from the friction between the hand and the top of the golf club rubbing together. As the right hand holds the club the grip is also set lightly in the crease of the fingers while the pinky of the right hand interlocks the index finger of the left hand to allow both hands to work together while swinging the golf club. See Illustration above. The grip on the club should be relaxed and tension free at all times to allow for greater accuracy and speed as you swing. Practicing how to hold the golf club will increase your chances for a successful result so don’t neglect this important part of the swing. Happy Golfing to All!
Interlocking Grip