Seeking a perfect grip in golf is like seeking a perfect jacket--what works for you might be inappropriate for another, even someone whose taste and size matches yours. Some grips such as the Vardon, named after Englishman Harry Vardon, one of the game's early greats, are more popular than others.
The Vardon Grip
The Vardon grip helps the hands work together as a unit. The weaker hand is fully on the club and guides the clubface. The dominant hand wraps partly on the weaker hand, a position that helps it transfer the power generated by the uncoiling of the body instead of overpowering the guiding hand. A signature of the Vardon grip is the little finger of the right hand of right-handed players fits in the slot between the second knuckles of the left hand's middle and index fingers.
The Hogan Grip
Ben Hogan, generally considered one of the best ball-strikers ever, made a few alterations to the Vardon grip. Hogan stressed in his instruction books that a golf grip is individual and different golfers may need to experiment. His changes were to put the shaft more in the palm than Vardon did, to shorten the thumb of his left hand a fraction of an inch to better support the club at the top of the backswing and to wrap the little finger of the right hand around the knuckle of the left hand's index finger.
The 10-Finger Grip
For golfers who have trouble unhinging their wrists as the club passes through the ball, the 10-finger grip might work better. Both hands are fully on the club in this grip, just as you would grip a baseball bat.
Interlocking Grip
Another variation--the interlocking grip--benefits players with smaller hands. The little finger of the dominant hand weaves together with the index finger of the dominant hand. Though it's not as popularly used, it is favored by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, as of 2010.
Neutral Grip
No matter the grip, it's important to put the guiding hand in the correct position. Beginning players should start with a neutral grip, which means--for a right-handed player--the V formed by the thumb and index finger of the left hand points at the right shoulder. Another guide is to have the back of the left hand face the target.
Weak and Strong Grips
When a neutral grip doesn't work, players should experiment by rotating the hands slightly on the grip and noting the results on shots. Rotating to the left from neutral is a weak grip; the opposite is a strong grip. The whole point is to get the clubface square at impact, so a weak or strong grip might work best for you depending on how you release the club.
References
- Perfect Golf Swing Review: Grip
- "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf"; Ben Hogan and Herbert Warren Wind; 1957
- YouTube: Free Secret Golf Tips : The Baseball Swing in Golf
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