You might have the finest golf swing in the world, but if you don't have a proper grip you will still hit an assortment of errant shots. Your grip is responsible for the transfer of power from the large muscles of your body to the club, as well as delivering the clubface in a square position at impact. Professionals are particular about how they place their hands on the club, and you should be, too.
Significance
Your grip affects the direction, distance and trajectory of your shots. Shots that slice to the right can be improved by rotating both hands on the club to the right, and hooks can be eliminated by rotating them to the left. If your grip pressure is too firm, you will lose distance and hit shots that fly with too low of a trajectory. If your grip pressure is too soft, you can expect weak shots that miss the target in both directions.
Types
There are three basic types of grips. The overlap grip, used by most male professionals, is formed by placing the pinkie finger of the right hand over the index finger of the left hand. The interlocking grip, used by most female professionals, is formed by hooking together the pinkie finger of the right hand and the index finger of the left hand. The 10-finger grip has all 10 fingers on the club and is used by children and players with small hands.
Function
An effective grip allows your wrists to hinge and unhinge naturally and your forearms to rotate smoothly throughout the swing. This can be accomplished by placing the club in the fingers of both hands, as opposed to placing it in your palms. You know you have the club placed correctly in your hands when the club shaft forms a 90-degree angle to your left forearm at the top of your backswing.
Identification
Grips can be described as weak, strong or neutral. This refers to the alignment of the V's of each hand, which are the lines formed between the thumb and forefinger. A weak grip is formed when the V's are aligned toward your right cheek, and helps prevent a hook. A strong grip has the V's aligned toward your right shoulder, and helps prevent a slice. If your V's are between the two, you have a neutral grip. Experiment with all three grips to find the one that produces the best shots for your swing.
Time Frame
Grip changes take time and may feel awkward and uncomfortable at first. This discomfort may last for weeks, but you should be rewarded with longer and more accurate shots if you stick with it. You should also recalibrate your grip each season to ensure that you are getting the most out of your grip and golf game.
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