Free Golf Tips For Beginners - The Golf Grip

As the golf grip is so important, here are some free golf tips for beginners on the golf grip. If you are a more experienced golfer then these golf tips might help you to reassess your grip. If you have a certain swing fault such as a hook, use the description of the different grip types and positions to learn how to fix it.

The three basic grip types are the interlocking grip, the overlapping grip, and the ten finger grip (or baseball grip.) Each grip has three different grip angles; distance, neutral, and control. There are also three different grip strengths; a weak, strong, or neutral grip. The grip you should use will depend on your strength, hand size, finger length, and how you want to shape your shot - just find the grip that suits you and that is comfortable.

3 Grip Styles

The ten finger grip gives you good leverage and is an alternative grip that can be tried by children or women. It produces less club head speed though, resulting in less distance. It is not a grip that I would recommend for most golfers as the overlapping or interlocking grips are far more versatile.

If you have larger hands or longer fingers try the overlapping grip which is considered by many professionals as the best grip to unify your hands. This grip is not good for people with short fingers as they tend to place their right hand too far over or under the club when trying to get comfortable.

The interlocking grip is good for golfers who have small hands or fingers but be careful of gripping the club too much in the palm of your right hand. With this grip, the pinkie of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the left hand.

The Three Grip Angles

With the distance grip variation, the grip runs diagonally across the base of the fingers from the base of the index finger to the pad at the base of the pinkie. This grip maximizes the wrists flexibility and is good for distance but also offers sensitivity. It does require, though, more strength and skill to square the club head at impact.

Probably the best grip angle for most golfers is the neutral grip. This grip runs diagonally from the base of the index finger to the middle of your palm below the heel pad. You have the most flexibility for any type of shot making ability and it is a good balance between distance and accuracy.

With the control grip you will achieve maximum control for more accuracy but as you will have less flexibility in the wrists you will attain less distance. The club runs across the base of your index finger to the top of your heel pad on a more diagonal path.

3 Grip Strengths

If you want to reduce slicing then try the strong grip which is also good for distance but you won't be able to fade the ball. With this grip you have to rotate your hands so that you will see the "V" made between thumb and forefinger pointing towards your right shoulder. Also, find the hollow between the two tendons in the wrist directly above your thumb and you will see that it is lined up with the right side of your club shaft.

The neutral strength grip is the preferred grip for most golfers. The "V" should now point towards your right ear and the point mentioned before of your wrist lines up with the center of your shaft. With this grip you can move the ball right to left (draw) or left to right (fade.) It requires a bit more strength to square the club at impact.

The weak grip is when the point in your wrist is lined up with the left side of your shaft and the "V" points to your chin. This grip can be used to eliminate hooking the ball but you won't be able to hit a controlled draw. It also requires more strength to square the club at impact.

To Summarize

Which ever grip you use, remember that the palms of your hands face each other. The grip is held in the fingers of the right hand and the palm and fingers of the left hand. Also, when gripping the club, leave a half inch of the grip protruding beyond your left hand. Your hands should fit snugly together and feel unified and you should grip the club tightly and consistently throughout the entire golf swing. I hope these free golf tips for beginners for gripping the club will help you with your golf.

Mick Euan Tait is a golfer, golf fan, and golf writer. Head over to his website where you will find free golf tips for beginners.