1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Golf

Holding the Handle - The Three Primary Grips

From Michael Lamanna, Director of Instruction, The Phoenician, for About.com

1 of 4

Light Grip Pressure

The hands must work together as a single unit when striking a ball with power. There are three common and fundamentally sound grips from which to choose, which are pictured on the following pages.

In addition to the type of grip you choose, another characteristic of a sound grip is light grip pressure. Gripping the club too tight can cause thin, weak shots that slice. A lighter grip enhances wrist hinge - a vital power source in the swing. This light pressure also increases the amount of clubface rotation, thus improving your chance of squaring the club at impact.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is light and 10 is tight, I recommend a pressure of 4 or 5. This allows the club to be swung with power and control. At address, feel relaxed and tension-free in your hands and forearms.

Sam Snead said, "Hold the club as if you had a little baby bird in your hand." This pressure, combined with the proper placement of the hands on the handle, will give you your greatest chance to produce longer, straighter shots.

Index: Holding the Handle - The Three Primary Grips

  1. Light Grip Pressure
  2. Vardon Overlap Grip (a k a Overlapping Grip)
  3. Interlocking Grip
  4. Ten Finger Grip (a k a Baseball Grip)

1 of 4

Explore Golf

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Golf
  4. Golf Tips
  5. The Three Basic Golf Grips - Most Popular Grips for Holding the Golf Club

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.