Your grip is the only connection between your hands and the golf club. It affects the clubface, wrist movement, contact, and direction of your shots.
A poor grip can force you to make adjustments during the swing. A proper golf grip gives you a better chance to return the clubface square and make consistent contact.
Here is how to hold a golf club correctly.
How to Grip a Golf Club Step by Step
These instructions are for a right-handed golfer. Left-handed golfers should reverse the hand positions.
1. Start With the Clubface Square
Before placing your hands on the club, point the clubface toward your intended target.
Hold the club in front of you around waist height. This makes it easier to see the clubface and position your hands correctly.
2. Place the Club in Your Lead-Hand Fingers
For a right-handed golfer, the lead hand is the left hand.
Run the grip diagonally across your fingers, starting near the base of your little finger and moving toward the middle joint of your index finger.
Avoid holding the club entirely in your palm. A palm-heavy grip can limit wrist movement and make it harder to control the clubface.
Close your fingers around the grip and place the heel pad of your hand over the top. Your thumb should sit slightly to the right of the center of the grip.
When you look down, you should generally see about two knuckles on your lead hand.
3. Add Your Trail Hand
For a right-handed golfer, the trail hand is the right hand.
Place the lifeline of your trail hand over your lead-hand thumb. The palms should face each other, and the hands should feel connected.
Your trail-hand thumb should rest slightly to the left of the center of the grip.
The V shapes created by each thumb and index finger should point somewhere between your chin and trail shoulder.
How Tightly Should You Hold a Golf Club?
Many golfers grip the club too tightly.
Excessive grip pressure creates tension in the hands, arms, and shoulders. This can reduce wrist hinge and make the swing feel stiff.
On a scale from one to ten, use a grip pressure of about four or five.
The club should feel secure, but your hands and forearms should remain relaxed. Try to maintain the same pressure throughout the swing instead of squeezing harder during the backswing or downswing.
Overlapping, Interlocking, or Ten-Finger Grip
There are three common ways to connect your hands.
Overlapping Grip
Place the little finger of your trail hand over the gap between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand.
This is a popular option for golfers with average or larger hands.
Interlocking Grip
Interlock the little finger of your trail hand with the index finger of your lead hand.
Golfers with smaller hands often find this grip comfortable. Avoid locking the fingers together too tightly.
Ten-Finger Grip
Place all ten fingers directly on the club without overlapping or interlocking.
This grip can work well for beginners, junior golfers, and players with limited hand strength.
There is no single grip style that works for everyone. Choose the option that keeps your hands connected without creating tension.
Strong vs. Weak Golf Grip
A strong or weak grip does not describe how tightly you hold the club. It describes how your hands are rotated on the handle.
Strong Golf Grip
For a right-handed golfer, a strong grip means the hands are rotated more to the right.
You may see three or more knuckles on the lead hand, and the trail hand may sit farther underneath the grip.
A stronger grip can make it easier to close the clubface, but an overly strong grip may contribute to hooks or pulls.
Weak Golf Grip
A weak grip means the hands are rotated more toward the target.
You may see one knuckle or fewer on the lead hand, and the trail hand may sit farther on top of the grip.
A weak grip can make it harder to square the clubface and may contribute to shots that curve to the right.
A neutral grip is the best starting point for most golfers.
Can Your Grip Cause a Slice?
Your grip can contribute to a slice if it makes it difficult to close the clubface.
For a right-handed golfer, a weak grip may leave the face open at impact. When the clubface is open relative to the swing path, the ball can curve to the right.
Moving your hands slightly toward a neutral position may help. However, avoid making an extreme change after only a few bad shots.
Your swing path, alignment, and impact location can also cause a slice. Read our full guide on how to fix a golf slice for additional tips.
Build a Grip You Can Repeat
A proper golf grip should feel secure, relaxed, and repeatable.
Start with the clubface square, place the handle through your fingers, connect your hands, and avoid excessive pressure.
Practice building the same grip before every shot. A more consistent connection to the club can create a stronger foundation for better contact, improved control, and more predictable ball flight.
