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Ben Hogan, in his book [1], stated that "golf begins with a good grip". This admonition has been echoed by virtually all golf instructors, who uniformly emphasise the importance of a good grip as being the fundamental keystone of a good golf swing. Why do all golf instructors place major emphasis on a good grip?In the modern, total body golf swing, where the rotating torso is the power generator of the golf swing, the arms and hands are flung passively around, and in front, of the body by the rotating torso during the downswing. At the top of the backswing, the wrists are hinged backwards, so that the clubshaft can be placed behind the head, parallel to the target line. During the downswing, the wrists have to unhinge, as the arms/hands are flung passively around, and in front, of the actively rotating torso. The major function of the hands is to hold onto the golf club with a minimum amount of tension, so that the wrists can unhinge in such a manner that the clubface can become square to the ball-target line at the time of ball impact. The hands do not actively manipulate the golf club during the modern, total body golf swing and the grip strength has to be light-moderate in intensity so that the wrists are free to passively unhinge during the downswing. David Leadbetter states "that one should think of the hands as conductors through which the speed and power created by the turning motion of your body is transferred to the clubhead" [2].
In this photo of Aaron Baddeley near-impact, note that the clubface is approaching the ball so that it will become square to the ball-target line at the time of impact.
Aaron Baddeley - from reference number [3]
The primary function of the hands is to hold onto the clubshaft in such a manner that the clubface will be allowed to become square to the ball-target line at the time of impact, and this feat is best accomplished if the hands are in the neutral position (palms facing each other across the clubshaft). Consider the fact that the clubhead may be travelling at >100 mph at the time of impact. At such a high velocity, the golfer cannot possibly make small hand adjustments during the late downswing to correct for small imperfections in the alignment of the clubface as the clubhead nears impact, and the golfer has to rely on a good grip that will always allow the clubface to become square to the ball-target line at impact. One of the fundamental feastures of a good grip is a neutral hand position, whereby the hands are placed alongside the clubshaft in such a manner, that they will automatically, and passively, reach the impact position in a consistent manner - such that the back of the left hand, palm of the right hand, and clubface always faces the target at the time of ball impact.Approach to establishing a good grip
A golfer should start with the hands hanging relaxedly alongside the side of the body. Note that they hang down naturally from the shoulders with the palms facing the body. That is the position that hands should adopt when gripping the club.
In this photo, David Leadbetter demonstrates how the palms of the hands should face each other at address. He has tilted his right shoulder down so that the right hand can lie slightly below the left hand (which is the normal situation when gripping a golf club).
Leadbetter hand positioning - from reference number [4]
This is the final appearance of a good grip -- note that the palms are facing each other across the grip and that the back of the left hand faces the target.
Leadbetter grip - from reference number [4]
To get to that ideal grip position, one should start off with the left hand.
Golf instructors recommend different approaches to gripping the club with the left hand. Some golf instructors recommend holding the golf club directly in front of the chest at a 45 degree angle to the ground (with the right hand holding the clubshaft) and then gripping the club's grip with the left hand. Other golf instructors recommend placing the clubhead on the ground, and tilting the clubshaft 45 degrees to the ground, and then gripping the club. It is not critical which approach one adopts as long as the club's grip is placed diagonally along the lower palm of the left hand. The club's grip should not lie solely within the fingers (as would occur if one gripped a flagpole with one's fingers) or across the mid-palm or upper palm.
Here is an excellent diagram demonstrating how the grip should be positioned in the left hand.
Hogan grip diagram - from reference number [3]
Note that the top of the grip lies below the hypothenar muscle bulge and that it lies in the lower palm between the hypothenar eminence and the base of the 5th finger. Note that the grip lies diagonally across the lower palm so that it crosses the proximal phalanx of the index finger. When the fingers are closed, three fingers of the left hand (3rd, 4th, 5th fingers) are primarily responsible for gripping the club grip firmly, but not tightly, in the left hand. The index finger lies more loosely across the grip. Most importantly, one should never let the grip ride high in the palm, so that it is directly over, or inside the hypothenar eminence (along the lifeline palmar crease). One should remember that the left hand golf grip is primarily a three-finger grip, and not a palm grip.In this famous B&W photo from the 1950s, Ben Hogan demonstrates the position of the grip in the left hand.
Hogan left hand grip - from reference number [5]
After the club's grip is placed in the correct position across the lower palm, the left hand is closed so that the left thumb lies along the top of the shaft. It is perfectly acceptable for the left thumb to lie slightly along the right side of the center of the grip, but a golfer should avoid allowing the left thumb to slide down the right side of the grip so that it lies fully alongside the right side of the grip - that would cause the left palm to slide over to the right and result in too strong a left hand grip.This is the correct appearance of a neutral left hand grip as seen from above. Note that the left thumb extends down the center of the grip. Note that the left thumb is relatively tightly opposed to the side of the index finger knuckle, and that the "V" line (formed between the left thumb and left index finger knuckle) points to the right. Note that you can see 2-3 knuckles of the left hand (left 2nd finger knuckle, 3rd finger knuckle).
Leadbetter left hand grip - from reference number [4]
When viewed from the side, you can see that the last three fingers (3rd, 4th and 5th fingers) of the left hand are primarily responsible for gripping the club. The tips of the 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers should just touch the side of the base of the thumb (inner side of the thenar eminence) thus effectively trapping the club under the fleshy pad of the thenar eminence. If the tips of the fingers do not reach the thenar eminence, then the grip's width is too large for the golfer's hand size. If the tips of the fingers slide under the inner edge of the thenar eminence, then the grip's width is too small for the golfer's hand size.
Leadbetter left hand grip - from reference number [4]
After the left hand has been correctly placed on the grip, the golfer should then hold the club at 45 degrees in front of the body, and allow the right hand to approach the grip from the right side.
Els grip - from reference number [6]
Note that Ernie Els prefers to have his his left thumb slightly to the right of center. He then places his right palm against the grip so that the palms face each other. He then wraps the right palm over the left thumb so that the lifeline palmar crease ("cup" of the right palm) rests over the right side of the left thumb and slightly over the top of the left thumb. This will cause part of the right thenar eminence to lie on top of the left thumb. Placing the right hand firmly over the left hand in this manner helps to interlink the hands, so that they can better function as a close-knit unit. Also, note that the right 3rd and 4th fingers are used to firmly grasp the club's grip, and that the grip is in the fingers and not the palm of the right hand. The club's grip lies in a finger-channel that is created as the 3rd and 4th fingers curl under the shaft. The 5th right finger lies on the top of the left hand's fingers, in the groove between the left second finger and left third finger (see Vardon grip photo).
Els grip - from reference number [6]
Note that Els prefers to separate the right index finger from the other fingers, and that his right thumb lies over the top of the grip and ends just to the left of center. This allows the right index finger and right thumb to grip the club in a pincer movement that offers finer control of the clubhead's movements. I highly recommend that beginner golfers grip the club in this manner, because it increases one's "feel" of the clubhead. Note that there is no gap between the right index finger's knuckle area and the proximal half of the right thumb, and that they are closely opposed to each other on the top of the grip (a tee placed in the gap between the right thumb and the right second knuckle would not fall out as there is sufficient thumb side-presssure to keep the tee in place). Most importantly, note that the palms of the left and right hands are facing each other across the grip and that the back of the left hand, and palm of the right hand, are each facing the target -- this is a perfect example of a neutral grip.
A strong left hand grip occurs when the left palm slides further to the right over the top of the grip, so that the left palm faces the ground and one can see 3-4 knuckles of the left hand when viewed from above. A weak left hand grip occurs when the left palm slides to the left and under the grip, so that the left palm faces the sky and one can only see 1 knuckle of the left hand when viewed from above. A strong right hand grip occurs when the right palm slides to the right, and under the club, so that the right palm faces the sky. A weak right hand grip occurs when the right palm slides further over the top of the left thumb so that the right palm faces the ground.
Consider this photo showing three grip variations -- neutral grip, strong grip, and weak grip.
Grip variations - from reference number [7]
The neutral grip is in the center, and it results in a neutral clubface. The strong grip is on the left and it results in a closed clubface (which predisposes to pulls/hooks). The weak grip is on the right and it results in an open clubface (which predisposes to pushes/slices). The worst possible hand grip combinations include a weak left hand and strong right hand, and/or a strong left hand and weak right hand -- because the palms will not be facing each other across the grip and the two hands will be working in opposition. David Leadbetter states in his book [2] that "your grip is a two-handed alliance and not a battle for supremacy", and the two hands are much more likely to work in concert if the palms of the two hands are facing each other across the grip.
There is an alternative method of checking whether the grip is neutral, and it is performed by looking down on the completed grip from above.
Grip Vs - from reference number [5]
Each hand produces a V-appearance, which is due to the V-angle formed between the thumb and index finger of the same hand. It is important to ensure that the V-angle of the right hand is parallel to the V-angle of the left hand, and that both V-angles point to the right. Leadbetter suggests that the V-angle of the right hand should point at the right shoulder, but other golf instructors suggest that it should point to a position inside the right shoulder eg. right ear. It is not critically important to have the right hand V-angle pointing at the right shoulder, rather than the right ear, because it depends on whether the hands at address are perfectly centralised between the legs, rather than being positioned closer to the inside of the left thigh. It is more important to ensure that the V-angles are parallel to each other, and that one can see no more than 2-3 knuckles of the left hand, and that the back of the left hand faces the target.
Finally, it is important to ensure that the two hands form a cohesive structural unit, so that they can function as a single club-gripping agent. To facilitate that unitary-functioning phenomenon, most good golfers overlap/interlock the two hands in some manner. The two most frequently used overlapping/interlocking grip techniques are the i) Vardon overlap technique (named after the famous British golfer Harry Vardon) and the ii) interlocking technique.
Vardon overlap grip - from reference number [4]
The characteristic feature of the Vardon overlap grip is the overlap of the right 5th finger over the left fingers, usually resting in the groove between the left second finger and left third finger. The gripping action of the 5th right finger helps to keep the two hands together so that they can function as a single, cohesive unit. Some golfers prefer to rest the right 5th finger over the top of the left second finger, rather than nestle the right 5th finger finger in the groove between the left second and third fingers, and that personal grip choice is a perfectly acceptable Vardon grip variant.Golfers with small hands may prefer to use the interlocking grip technique, which is used by a minority of PGA tour players (including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus).
Interlocking grip - from reference number [4]
Golfers using the interlocking grip technique interlock the right 5th finger and the left 2nd finger as demonstrated in the above photo. There is no evidence that the interlocking grip is inferior (or superior) to the Vardon grip. A golfer should choose the grip variant that allows the hands to grip the club securely without any sense of hand/finger discomfort or tension.
Golf grip tips (presented in a question and answer format)
1. Question: How firmly should a golfer grip the golf club?Answer: The grip strength tension should be light, and because individual golfers have different understandings of the term "light" grip tension, it may be better to think in terms of a numerical scale. If grip strength tension is calculated on a scale of 1-10 (1 being very loose, and 10 being very tight), then the average grip tension should be between 3-5. There are a few occasions when it is suitable to increase the grip strength eg. increasing grip strength to a grip strength tension of 7-8 when hitting the ball out of thick rough, in order to prevent thick grass (that wraps around the clubhead) twisting the clubhead sideways.
2. Question: Are there situations where it is preferable to use a weak grip?Answer: A weak grip is useful when one deliberately wants to maintain an open clubface throughout the downswing and immediate post-impact followthrough period eg. when hitting a flop shot near the green. In general, a weak grip should be avoided for full shots. A weak grip should especially be avoided if a golfer has a tendency to slice the ball.
3. Question: Why do some golf instructors favor a strong grip, rather than a neutral grip?Answer: The most logically coherent viewpoint favoring a strong grip is presented by the SLAP authors in their book [7]. They state that a strong grip is more likely to produce a square clubface at impact, because the hands at impact are further forward compared to their postion at the address position. Consider this photo of the impact position (seen from above).
Impact position - from reference number [8]
The hands at impact are in grey while the hands at address are in blue. The SLAP authors persuasively argue that the clubface is more likely to be square at impact if the golfer adopts a strong grip, rather than a neutral grip. There is considerable merit in their argument, and a strong grip may be very advisable if a golfer has a significant hip slide/shift during the DS that causes the hands to be far forward at impact, thus causing the clubface to be open at impact. Each individual golfer should consider the advisability of adopting a slightly stronger grip if he cannot square the clubface at impact using a neutral grip. Many PGA tour layers use a slightly strong grip, and that fact is highly significant. However, a golfer should definitely avoid over-cooking the "strong grip" situation and adopting a very strong grip, where both V's point right of the right shoulder.
4. Question: What are the disadvantages of a very strong grip?Answer: A very strong left hand grip exists when the left hand slides more over the top of the grip, so that the palm of the left hand faces the ground, rather than facing directly away from the target. A very strong right hand grip exists when the right hand slides more under the clubshaft, so that the right palm faces the sky, rather than facing the target. Many beginner golfers automatically adopt a very strong grip (especially a strong right hand grip where the "V-angle" points well outside the right shoulder). The first disadvantage of a very strong grip is that it predisposes one to a too-inside backswing path. Much more importantly, there is a natural rotation of the arms during the downswing that will cause the two palms to be approximately perpendicular to the ball-target line at impact. This will cause the clubface to be closed, and not square, at impact, and a closed clubface will result in pulled shots (shots that go left of the target). Why do the arms rotate naturally (automatically) during the downswing so that the palms are roughly at right angles to the ball-target line at impact? This is a natural (automatic) phenomenon in the modern, total body golf swing, because the arms are flung passively around the body in the downswing, secondary to the uncoiling-rotation of the torso (the modern, ltotal body golf swing can be perceived to be like "a dog wagging its tail" type of golf swing, rather than a "tail wagging the dog" style of golf swing). The hands and wrists are totally passive, and their only function is to hold onto the golf club. Due to centrfugal forces, and the subsequent natural (automatic) passive counterclockwise rotation of the left forearm and passive unhinging of the wrists during the downswing, the wrists will likely end up in their natural postion at the time of impact - with the palms facing each other and roughly perpendicular to the ball-target line. The only way to prevent this natural, passive phenomenon from happening (when using a very strong grip) is for the golfer to actively resist the left forerarm rotation during the downswing, and/or actively resist the counterclockwise rotation of the left wrist, so that the clubface can be square at impact. Any active-resistance movements of the forearms and wrists/hands are totally discouraged in the modern, total body golf swing, because they may disrupt the direction and/or smooth passage of the clubhead swingpath, or the overall fluidity of the total body swing.
5. Question: Why should one avoid active wrists/hands in the modern, total body golf swing?Answer: In the early history of golf, when golfers only had whippy, hickory-shafted clubs available, advanced golfers used "educated hands" to actively manipulate the club, so that they could square the clubface at impact. In the modern, total body golf swing using stiffer steel shafts, a golfer squares the clubface at impact by perfecting the rotatory movement of the entire torso around the spinal axis, so that the clubface is squared at impact. The hands and wrists passively hold onto the club, and there should be no attempt to actively manipulate the club during the downswing. In fact, it is near-impossible to actively manipulate the club in the immediate pre-impact zone, and a mere 5 degree inaccuracy in driver clubface alignment will cause one to totally miss the fairway! The famous golfer, Ben Hogan, stated-: "Consciously trying to control the clubface at impact is folly. You cannot time such a delicate and devilish thing. It happens too fast, much too fast" [1]. Remember that the entire downswing takes approximately 1/5 second to complete, and there is no time for the brain to instruct the wrists/hands to actively change the clubface angle during the downswing. Finally, consider the fact that the "effective" clubhead weight at the time of impact is approximately equivalent to 120 lbs (due to the compounding effect of centrifugal forces), and the wrists are only capable of exerting about 20 lbs of rotational force. Therefore, one cannot expect the wrists to be capable of precisely altering the clubface alignment through the peri-impact zone (unless you are Tiger Woods)!
6. Question: Why don't you recommend the baseball grip, where all 10 fingers hold onto the grip?Answer: A baseball grip prevents the wrists from hinging easily, and it also prevents the hands from functioning as a close-knit unit. Older players with very weak hands may consider using a baseball grip, but only if absolutely necessary.
7. Question: You recommend adopting a grip that allows the two hands to function as a close-knit unit. What hand actions allow the two hands to function as a close-knit unit?Answer: There are two actions that allow the two hands to function as a close-knit unit. The first action is the use of an overlapping or interlocking grip (as previously described). The second action is the way the right hand sits securely, and firmly, over the left hand as demonstrated in this dramatic photograph from the book "The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing" [9], a book containing astonishingly beautiful graphic images.
Close-knit grip unit - from reference number [9]
9. Question: How important is the grip to the overall workings of the golf swing?
Answer: Nick Faldo thinks that it is of critical importance, and in his book [10] he states-: "I am often asked how important grip pressure is to the overall workings of the swing, and the simple answer is that it means everything. I play my best golf when my arms and shoulders feel soft and syrupy, and that sensation stems directly from the pressure I exert in my hands. It all boils down to balancing feel and control. The ideal grip pressure is one that enables you to forge a close working relationship with the clubhead: you have to be able to feel it, move it, waggle it and - ultimately - control it."
9. Question: Luther Blacklock, in his series of articles on the "Lost Fundamentals of Hogan", which is available at the Golf Magazine website (http://www.golfinternationalmag.com), argues that the interlocking grip is problematic and should be avoided. Is his argument valid?Answer: Luther Blackblock presents a very good argument and I find his argument somewhat persuasive. I would recommend that all golfers read his series of articles.
Luther Blacklock argues that the "deep" version of the interlocking grip, where the web spaces of the relevant fingers are deeply interlocked, predisposes a golfer to adopt a too long left thumb (where the left thumb is extended far down the top of the clubshaft) and that the "long" left thumb causes the clubshaft to change its angle relative to the left forearm in the address position. A "long" left thumb causes the clubshaft to be elevated slightly (upcocked slightly) in the address position, and this causes the clubface to become too closed during the early takeaway, as the clubshaft moves along a steeper than normal takeaway path. Luther Blacklock states that the end result is a closed clubface at the top of the backswing. Luther Blacklock labels this situation Tigeresque because Tiger Woods uses an interlocking grip. Interestingly, I noted that Tiger Woods does seem to have a clubshaft that seems to be too elevated when he reaches the end-takeaway position (see next photo).
Tiger Woods at the end takeaway position - from reference number [11]
Note that Tiger Woods' clubshaft is elevated slightly at the end takeaway position. However, I don't see a closed clubface.Based on personal experimentation, I have found that when I use the "deep" version of the interlocking grip, that my clubface is very closed at the end takeaway position, so I think that there is considerable merit in Luther Blacklock's argument that a "deep" version of the interlocking grip stifles easy rotation of the left forearm during the early takeaway and causes the clubface to become too closed in the early takeaway.
Golfers who note that their clubface is too closed during the takeaway when using the "deep version" of the interlocking grip, should therefore seriously consider changing their grip to the Vardon style overlapping grip.
References:
1. Ben Hogan's Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. Ben Hogan.
2. The Golf Swing. David Leadbetter.
3. V1 Home website. http://v2.v1home.com
4. 100% Golf: Unlocking Your True Golf Potential. David Leadbetter.
5. The Fundamentals of Hogan. David Leadbetter.
6. How to Build a Classic Swing. Ernie Els.
7. The Complete Encyclopedia of Golf Techniques. Edited by Paul Foston.
8. Swing like a Pro. Ralph Mann and Fred Griffin.
9. The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing. Nick Bradley.
10. A Swing for Life. Nick Faldo.
11. Tiger's New Swing. John Andrisani.
