Learning how to properly grip a golf club can improve your swing and overall game. An incorrect grip will cause the club to rotate in your hands and make poor contact with the ball, resulting in an inconsistent shot. Your grip affects the power, control, and accuracy of your shot, so use the grip that works best for your shot.
Relax Your Grip
Do not grip the club too tight. Rick Martino, an instructor with the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA), suggests you imagine the club is an open tube of toothpaste. Grip the club gently enough so the toothpaste does not shoot out, but firmly enough that it does not slip or rotate. Keep your hands relaxed on every swing, and do not get into the habit of tightening your grip. If your hands are still slipping, check the grips of the club, and change them if they are old and worn.
Two Basic Grips
Use one of the two basic grips that feels more comfortable to you. The interlocking grip is used by both beginner and professional golfers. Grip the club with your left thumb pointing straight down the club under your right hand if you are right-handed. Cross the index finger of your left hand so it rests between the pinkie and ring fingers of your right hand. The overlapping grip, meanwhile, is the most popular grip, the PGA's Martino notes. Use the same grip as the interlocking grip, but instead of crossing fingers, put the pinkie finger of your right hand on the indent between the index and middle finger on your left hand.
Different Grips for Different Shots
Place your club head on the ground, and grip the club in your left hand with your thumb pointing straight down the shaft. Professional instructor Dan Pasquariello, writing for "Golf" magazine, suggests shifting your thumb to the 1 o'clock position on the grip, so that it points slightly to the right. Place your right hand over the bottom of your left hand with the thumb pointing to the 11 o'clock position, slightly to the left. For a straight shot, Turn your left wrist clockwise until you can see two knuckles. For a fade shot, turn your left wrist counterclockwise until you see only one knuckle. For a draw, turn your left wrist clockwise until you see only three knuckles.
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