5 Things You Need to Know About Gripping the Golf Club

1. The Right Grip for You

The best grip in golf is the one you are most comfortable using and that gets the best result. There are three primary gripping styles. First, you have the Vardon grip, which has been around for more than 100 years. With this grip, you want to place the little finger of the lower hand in over the top of the middle and index fingers of the top hand. Second, you have an interlocking grip. This grip is similar to the Vardon, but instead of an overlapping grip, you put your little finger in between the middle and index finger and interlock the grip. Lastly, you have the baseball grip. The baseball grip is just as it sounds in that you place all 10 fingers on the club.

2. Greet Your Club

Some have likened the proper grip pressure in golf to a proper handshake. When greeting someone with a handshake you want it to be firm, but not so firm that you injure the other person. Conversely, you never want to throw a limp handshake out there to greet someone. Well, it is the same thing when you take hold of the golf club. A grip that is tight will result in an over swing, and a one that's too loose will get you an out-of-control golf shot. Remember, the golf club is your friend, and if you treat it well, it will return the favor.

3. Get a Grip

The actual grip on the golf club is as important as how you grip the club. If the grip is too big, it will cause a loose grip and result in the club's face coming open at impact. Now, if the gripping exterior on the club is too small, you can lose control of the club, and the accuracy of your golf swing will suffer. In addition to size, a golfer must make sure the grips on the club have enough traction. A worn or slick surface can cause a problem with the smoothness and control of the swing. Replacing worn grips can save a few strokes on the course, and it is relatively easy to do.

4. Take a Deep Breath

One technique that may help you relax your grip is to take a deep breath before taking the last grip. Even with the best training and the most practice, people will tense up right before they swing the club and over grip, causing a hook or pull shot. With this relaxation, you also need to relax your arms, as well. Tense arms can also result in a missed shot.

5. Don't Change that Grip

Sometimes, golfers will alter their grip to offset a flaw in their swing. While this may have positive results in the short-term, it will hurt your swing in the end. If you have a good grip that feels right for you, do not change it just because there is something else wrong with the swing. This will have a domino effect and cause you to have to rework the entire swing later on down the line.