Proper Golf Grip:
A Step-by-Step Guide
to a Perfect Swing

A correct proper golf grip is the single most important fundamental in golf — it is your only connection to the club, and getting it right can transform your game entirely. The three standard proper golf grip types are the Overlapping Grip (Vardon), the 10 Finger Grip, and the Interlocking Grip. All are correct — it is simply a matter of finding which suits you best.

If you are a seasoned golfer and frustrated with your game — see more here

Let’s get into more detail about how to place the club into your hands correctly. (For this guide, I will be referring to a right-handed golfer). Starting with your left hand first, there are two guidelines on your hand that will help you position the club correctly. The middle crease on your index finger and the crease just above your little finger are highlighted here.

Place the club diagonally across the two crease points of your left hand

Once you have placed the golf club in your hand correctly, there are a few things to check as you close your fingers and thumb around the club — your thumb sits either on top of the golf grip or slightly to the right side, and you should be able to see at least two knuckles of your left hand.

Your fingers wrap around the club to secure it in place

If you are holding the club in the right place in your left hand, there is a simple way of checking it. If you take your back three fingers and thumb off the golf grip, the club should rest under the meaty pad of your hand and the crease in your index finger and should be perfectly balanced. If the club goes up the palm of your hand, you will find that the club slips and you will struggle to keep hold of it.

The club should rest perfectly balanced under the meaty pad of your hand

Once you are happy with this, replace your fingers and thumb onto the club. A crease is formed between your thumb and index finger, which should point between your chin and left shoulder.

Now it’s time to put your right hand onto the club. I will demonstrate the overlapping grip first and explain the other golf grips afterward. The crease formed where the two middle fingers join your hand is the guideline we will be using.

Place the club along the two crease lines of the right hand, then apply the trigger finger

Now to make the golf club secure, wrap your fingers around and close your hand onto the golf grip, slightly separate your right index finger and allow the club to rest in the middle joint of your index finger. This is known as the trigger finger — similar to pulling the trigger on a gun.

Placing the right thumb onto the left side of the grip forms a “V” shape between index finger and thumb

Once you are happy with the index finger placement, rest your right thumb onto the golf grip. Placing it onto the left side of the golf grip will form a “V” shape between your right index finger and thumb.

Now we need to link the hands together — we can do this in one of three ways. Let’s start with the overlap golf grip first. Take the little finger of your right hand off the golf grip so that we can place it in the gap between your left index finger and middle finger.

The overlap grip — little finger of the right hand rests in the gap between left index and middle finger

By sliding both hands together, we can complete the overlap golf grip. Holding the golf club this way unites the hands to complement each other and work as a unit. Now, this doesn’t feel comfortable for some golfers with different-sized hands and fingers — that is why I’ll show you two other ways of holding the club.

Again, let’s start with your left hand first. Place your left hand on the golf club as described above. Keep your index finger off the golf grip. Place your right hand onto the club in the same way, and hold your right little finger off the golf grip. Slide your hands together so that your left index finger and your right little finger are both off the golf grip — then interlock them together.

The ten-finger proper golf grip is quite popular for golfers with smaller hands or larger fingers. It’s the least popular of the three proper golf grips but, nevertheless, a correct way to hold the golf club.

Place the golf club in your left hand as described above with all fingers and thumbs on the club. Place your right hand onto the golf club and this time wrap your little finger onto the club as well. Now slide your right hand up the grip until both hands touch each other — but do not unite them in any way. This forms the ten-finger grip as all ten fingers are on the grip.

I would recommend hitting at least 20 golf balls with each proper golf grip to give them a fair trial. It’s normal for one to feel much nicer than the others — stick with it. The nice thing is you can use the same grip for all clubs in your bag, except for the putter.

The Butterfly grip is one of the least known grips. I would describe it as a specialist golf grip most commonly used for chipping and bunker shots. It neutralizes both hands and lets you keep more loft on the clubface through impact without pointing the golf club to the right. It’s fantastic for putting more spin on the golf ball, giving greater control when the ball lands on the green.

Start with your left hand — place the golf club through the middle joint of your left index finger and the crease above your little finger. This time, when you wrap your hand over the golf club, make sure you can see all the knuckles of your hand, and your thumb will move around to the right-hand side of the golf grip. This is known as a strong grip.

What is a Strong Proper Golf Grip?

A strong proper golf grip is not about how tight you are holding the golf club — it simply means both of your hands are too far around to the right (if you are right-handed). Four knuckles will be showing on the left hand and the right thumb will be resting on the right side of the golf grip rather than the left side.

What is a Weak Proper Golf Grip?

It’s the complete opposite of a strong golf grip. With your left hand placed on the club, you will struggle to see any knuckles, and commonly your thumb will be to the left side of the golf grip. The golf club tends to sit in the palm rather than across the correct crease points.

No matter which grip you play with, it’s really important that you hold the golf club with the right amount of grip pressure. On a scale of 1–10, if ten is the tightest you can hold the club, you shouldn’t hold it at more than 5.

This principle is recognised across all levels of the game. You can read more about grip fundamentals in the official R&A Rules of Golf — the governing body for the sport worldwide.

A simple way to judge this is to hold the club as tight as possible for 2 seconds and then relax — you should feel the tension drop out of your body. This relaxed amount is often the best. Most commonly, golfers hold the golf club way too tight, which slows down hand speed and causes a loss of distance.

Size

Generally, if you are male with a medium-sized hand, a standard thickness grip will suit you. If you have a medium palm but short fingers, a smaller size might suit best. If you have a medium palm with longer fingers, a midsize or jumbo grip could be the best option.

Tape

Many golfers don’t realise that extra tape can be added underneath the grip to thicken it. If a standard grip isn’t quite thick enough but a midsize is too thick, two extra layers of tape can make just the right difference.

Condition of a Grip

The acid test — hold the golf club up to the light. If it appears shiny, it either needs cleaning or replacing. A shiny grip means you will instinctively hold the club tighter, which shortens your muscles and reduces clubhead speed.

Golf Glove

One final consideration for your proper golf grip — should you wear a golf glove? My answer is always personal preference. I choose not to wear a glove unless my hands get hot. Remember — golf gloves provide additional grip, so make sure yours is fit for purpose. Holes and shiny black marks mean it’s time for a new one. Always have at least two fit-for-purpose gloves in your bag.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about the different ways you can hold a golf club to achieve a proper golf grip. Taking time to get your grip right is time well spent. I have had the privilege of coaching thousands of golfers, and generally the most successful golfers spend time on the fundamentals — including the grip, setup, and body alignment.

If you do need to change your grip, give it time to feel normal, and don’t be tempted to go back to what feels comfortable — this will stop you from progressing towards a perfect golf grip.

For more on the Timeless Golf Swing® method, explore our Platinum Coaching Programme, book a VIP Day with Julian, or download a free sample of the Proper Golfing Handbook.