The grip on a golf club is the first indicator of experience in golf. It’s easy to look at PGA tour golf legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus and try to emulate what they’re doing.
Alright, golf legend in the making, let’s put you in golf school before your first stroke at The Masters. We don’t want you embarrassing yourself on Amen Corner.
Since golf’s advent in the 15th century, there have been many different grips used to hold on to your club. The grip is simply how you place your right hand and your left hand on the club to help you have better control of the club during your swing.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most popular grip types used by golfers.
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10-Finger Grip
We will discuss the ten-finger golf grip in detail below. For now, just think of it as the type of grip you would use to swing a baseball bat.
Overlapping Grip
The overlap grip is favored by many golfers that have larger hands so that they can better control grip pressure. For a right handed golfer, the overlapping grip means that your right pinky finger sits over the gap between your left index and middle finger.
Interlocking Grip.
Players with smaller hands tend to favor the interlock grip. In this grip the right pinky finger is placed between the left index finger and middle finger. This will help your arms work together instead of having one arm be dominant over the other. Often times players with small hands will have a dominant arm that will cause them to try to compensate with their swing. Using the interlocking grip is a better way for the player to compensate.
Neutral Grip
The neutral grip has the “V” formed by your hands lined up with your nose. This grip works very well for players that tend to hit the ball very straight naturally.
Strong Grip
With a strong grip the “V” formed by your hand placement on the club will be a little to the right side of your head as you address the golf ball . This will help golfers that tend to slice the ball.
Weak Grip
In a weak grip, the “V” formed by your hands is a little to the left of your head. This grip helps golfers that tend to hit a hook.
Once you find a grip that feels like the right grip for you then you can adjust with a neutral, weak or strong position to help with your ball striking ability. It is important to practice until it just feels like the natural grip for your swing. Getting this basic form in place will help your golf game immensely. You don’t want to experiment with a new grip while playing a round of golf. Find the best grip while practicing on the driving range and stick with it.
There is no grip more timeless and classic than the 10 Finger Golf Grip. Invented alongside the game, the 10 Finger Golf Grip is the first method of club holding you’ll attempt to master. Good players get comfortable with one style of grip before trying to master another style.
Grab your club and let’s see if this type of grip feels like the natural way for you to grip the club.
Basics of the 10 Finger Golf Grip
As its name suggests, the 10 Finger Grip is a grip that includes using all 10 of your fingers to grip the handle of your club. Also known as the Baseball Grip since it is very similar to what baseball players use. this grip makes many comfortable as a new golfer because the grip is the same as holding a baseball bat. Technique is a factor here, though. No one expects you to be Barry Bonds.
It is important to stress the word grip because this grip ensures the even distribution of the pressure across all fingers.
The Ten-Finger Grip is accomplished by taking your non-dominant hand and using it to grip toward the top of the club while your dominant hand grips directly below the non-dominant hand. There should be no gaps between the two hands, and your knuckles should line up straight.
Once you have mastered the grip, work on evenly distributing the pressure of your grip across all fingers. Even pressure ensures your grip is straight before you build toward your swing.
Take a swing, and see how it feels.
It might be the most basic of golf grips, but let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of going with the 10 Finger Golf Grip.
Advantages
Sometimes all you need as a beginner golfer is something you can master quickly. We all start somewhere when it comes to a swing, so let’s discuss why this grip is fundamental.
Simplicity
Simple is the best way to describe the 10 Finger Golf Grip. You probably knew what it was when you heard the term. With the grip being simple to master, you’re looking at the best foundation for learning to handle and swing a golf club.
Ease of Use
Making something simple to learn is a fantastic way for a novice to feel like they are making progress in golf. Children and teens can easily figure out their swing with this method.
Power
Power with this grip is a necessary addition to your swing. Golf experts say you’re getting more power with your swing if you’re using the 10 Finger Grip over any other golf grip.
Distance
Getting a few extra yards out of a swing is crucial in your development as a golfer. No one here wants you to be Happy Gilmore right away, but being able to eke out 5 or 10 more yards with each play sure does help. The 10 Finger Grip is a great way due to the power and control of your club with the grip.
Better With a Sand Wedge
We could talk all day about this grip being useful for driving, but how about a grip that can get you out of those sand traps? Because of the extra power and control, the 10 Finger Grip helps you in bunker situations. Talk about having an extra tool in your belt.
Now that we’ve firmly established some advantages of using the 10 Finger Golf Grip, let’s switch it up and discuss the disadvantages. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows with this grip.
Disadvantages
With all the advantages of using the 10 Finger Golf Grip, you know there have to be a few disadvantages. It’s important you know these before you hit the course or the driving range with this new level of education.
Increased Pressure
Whoa there. Relax a little bit. If the tension and pressure on your grip are equivalent to the way you want to strangle your least favorite person, then you’re doing it wrong. The 10 Finger Golf Grip is known for causing more tension, leading to less release on your impact.
Too Much Domination
Hand and wrist control are essential aspects of a drive that any golf swing coach will spend hours making sure you’re doing things correctly. However, the 10 Finger Grip can be troublesome for those who struggle with maintaining control of both hands and wrists. With this grip, the stronger hand can overpower your swing.
Limited Control
The 10 Finger Golf Grip is so strict in its placement that it limits your level of control. This grip is best for a straight shot down the fairway. However, this grip will not place you in the best situation if you need a curve on your ball.
Excessive Spin
Spin control is something your novice golfer probably doesn’t put much thought into. However, the best spin on the ball is part of the equation that places your ball in the best possible spot on the green. The 10 Finger Grip can create too much spin, putting your ball right where you don’t want it to be.
Not the Best for Chipping
A superb chip shot makes you feel like you can conquer the world. Unfortunately, the 10 Finger Grip is not something you’ll want to use here. With the level of body control you need for the perfect chip shot, this grip can cause you to top or skull some of your hits.
Conclusion
Consider yourself educated on the finer points of the 10 Finger Golf Grip. Now it’s time to practice. The best part about learning to grip a club is you don’t even have to go to the range. Still, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on a good day at the course.