Getting a Grip on Your Golf Swing

Getting a Grip on Your Golf Swing

Article by Matthew

Getting a Grip on your golf swing

In order to obtain a good golf swing one must first understand their grip. The amazing Ben Hogan said it best “A player with a bad golf grip doesn’t want a good swing.” When an icon in the sport has such a profound statement, we really need to listen to him.

My philosophy, like most other casual golfer is “grip-it and rip-it!” This statement can be misleading. I believe the main reason behind the statement was to try and speed up play. However, some casual golfers interpret this statement a different way. Grip the club as tight as you can and swing for the fences. I’ve learned from experience that this will lead to a poor swing, and in some cases a lost ball. The main reason is that the club is being gripped too tight. Gripping the club too tight will lead to a number of problems with your swing usually resulting in thin, weak shots that slice. You must find proper balance between how tight the club is grip as well as the grip that you choose to use.

Yes, there is more than one golf grip that is used today. I’ve learned that there are actually three main types of grips that are used. Because the grip is so vital to the success of your swing, you need to understand each grip and figure out what works, and feels the best for you.

The first grip that we’ll discuss is called The Vardon Grip, or sometimes called the Overlapping Grip. This is the most common grip among the great players. The grip is named after Harry Vardon who popularized this grip around the turn of the 20th century. To correctly grip you club with the Vardon grip, you need to take the little finger on the trailing hand and place it between the index and middle finger on the lead hand (for right handed golfers, the lead hand is the left). The lead hand thumb should fit in the lifeline of the training hand.

The next most common grip is called the interlocking grip. To achieve this grip you must interlock your lead hand’s index finger with your trailing hand’s pinkie. This type of grip ensures that there are no unnecessary movements during your swing. By using this grip and choking up on the club, you can give yourself better control.

Last but not least is the Ten Finger Grip. This commonly referred to as the baseball or hammer grip. This is considered to be the easiest way to hold a golf club. It is also the least preferred among golf instructors. It does have some advantages. For example this grip allows people who experience joint pain, or have arthritis, to grip the club with much less difficulty. Just grip the club as if you were gripping a baseball bat. Have the index finger on your lead hand and the pinkie finger on your trailing hand placed so they are flush together but not interlocking.

Now that you know that there are different grips to choose from, you’ll need to find out for yourself which one works best for you. Give them all a try. Once you find one that works best you need to address how firmly you grip the club.

Sam Snead once said, “Hold the club as if you had a little baby bird in your hand.” Another was to understand this is to think of your club as a tube of toothpaste. Grip it too tight and you’ll squeeze out all of the toothpaste. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is light and 10 is tight, you’ll want to stay around a 4 or 5. This will allow the club to be swung with power and control. This light pressure also increases the amount of club face rotation, thus improving your chance of squaring the club at impact. These are all good things.

Always remember that your hands must work together as a single unit when striking a ball. I know this is easier said than done. But, at address, you want to remain very relaxed and tension free, especially in your hands and forearms.

Good luck and happy golfing.

For more information on golf tips or discount golf supplies, please visit Grip And Rip Golf Supplies.

About the Author

Matthew Krueger is President and CEO of Grip And Rip Golf Supplies. The site provides the casual golf with access to helpful tips to improve their games as well as great information on where to find the best pricing on golf supplies and accessories