Golf Grip
Grip It and Rip It

The golf grip is a fundamental part of your game and very important.

It can be applied in three different ways. The best golf tips for beginners is to try to adopt one of these methods straight away, as bad habits are really hard to break.

Beginners tent to start with a baseball grip, which is basically hands wrapped around the shaft, and to be honest some have a lot of success with it. However, their game doesn't really improve because they don't apply either one of the three proper golf grips.

The terms 'strong' and 'weak' are used when referring to the grip, and are meant to describe the position of the hands. When one or both hands are rotated clockwise, the grip is considered strong. When rotated anticlockwise, the grip is weak. The ideal golf grip is neither too strong nor too weak. Another rule of thumb is the more knuckles you can see on either hand as you look down the shaft, the weaker the grip is. Ideally you only want to see the first two knuckles.

Golf Grip Tips.

Imagine you are holding a Budgerigar in your hands, then you won't grip the club tightly, the grip must be light and loose, your grip will naturally tighten on impact, through the swing.

Place the palm of your left hand flat against the front of your left thigh. Now, keeping your little finger on your thigh, rotate the thumb side of your hand a quarter-turn anticlockwise. This motion puts your hand at a 45 degree angle, with your little finger on your thigh and your thumb in the air. This is the angle at which you want your left hand to grip the golf club.

Hold the club in your left hand, maintaining the 45 degree angle. The shaft should lay snugly in your curled fingers than in your palm. This will enable you to hinge your your wrist more naturally. Having properly aligned your left hand on the golf club, add your right hand. Grip the club in the fingers of your right hand, and notice the V formed at the base of the right thumb and forefinger. The V should point at a spot between your right ear and right shoulder (as will the V formed with your left hand). This is known as the Vardon grip, named after Harry Vardon.

Golf grips

The three grips illustrated above can all be used successfully. Most golfers use the Vardon overlap grip (far right). Fewer golfers use the ten finger grip (far left), and fewer still use the interlocking grip (center)- but those that do include Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus!

Golf Grip Tips

Remember, the tighter you grip the club, the less flexible your wrist become, and the slower the club head will be able to strike the ball. The looser you grip the club, the faster the club head will travel, the further the ball will be projected in the air.

The constant contact between your left thumb and its point of contact with the right palm is important to your grip. The pressure point should stay constant all the way through your golf swing.

As a practice exercise, place the pointed end of a golf tee where your thumb and palm touch as you grip the club. Then swing the club or hit some golf balls. If the tee comes out, you haven't kept contact, and your elbows are pulling apart in your swing.

Golf Grip Training Aids

I believe that the golf grip is so important that I recommend you use a golf training aid to help with your grip. I personally use the David Leadbetter Swing Setter as this training aid also helps with my swing and can be used indoors during the winter and of course all year round.

The David Leadbetter is made with a unique patented Form Moulded Grip (made by Golf Pride) which guarantees a perfect grip every time. You can buy this now from Amazon by clicking on the product link.

Another great golf grip training aid available from Amazon which is considerably cheaper than the swing setter is the Rick Smith Tempo and Grip Trainer which gets an average 5 star rating on Amazon.

I once herd a tip from a golf pro who said that during the off season in winter time a good tip was that whilst you're sitting at home watching TV, sit with a golf club in your hand so you can practice and keep the 'feel' of your golf grip.

The Rick Smith Tempo and Grip Trainer allows you to do just that, plus also helping you with your swing tempo which is very important.

This product is lightweight, portable, easy to store and is a great warm up aid before you go out onto the golf course.

Tempo is also extremely important, especially for weekend golfers who perhaps haven't picked up golf club all week then go straight out at the weekend and attempt to play golf.

The Rick Smith Tempo and Grip Trainer will help you keep your tempo throughout the week with just 5 minutes use at home in the evenings keeping you good and ready to swing in tempo smoothly at the weekend!

This is in stock now at Amazon, and the best price I've seen anywhere just click the product link to find out more:-

These are just 2 great golf training aids that will guarantee you a perfect golf grip. For further reviews on golf training aids visit our page at golf training aids.

Lesson five lining up your Golf Shot