The Golf Grip - How This Simple Fundamental Of The Golf Swing Can Impact Your Game

One aspect of the golf game that is often overlooked by beginner-intermediate golfers is the golf grip. Mismanagement of grip tension, how loose or tight you grip the club, and hand position could throw off ones entire swing. Having an incorrect golf grip can significantly decrease a golfer's power and accuracy. And for the advanced golfer, it can hamper their ability to shape shots.

There are two basic types of grips that are universally accepted: interlocking and overlapping. The interlocking is where the golfer slides his left index finger between the ring and pinkie fingers of the right hand. The overlapping grip occurs when the golfer lays his left index finger on top of his right pinkie or on top of the notch between his pinkie and ring fingers.

These grips allow the hands to hold the club steady while cocking and rolling the wrists throughout the swing. The grip should begin about one finger width from the end of the club, or more, for shorter controlled shots. When the hands are together, the club should lie along the callous pad line of the hands and not in the palms. When the hands are closed around the club, the thumbs should be aligned straight down the club grip.

Your forearms should form a V down toward the club. Although there is no hard fast rule as to how firmly the golfer should grip the club, the prevailing belief is that it should be loose, yet firm enough to keep it from moving in your hands. The swing will naturally cause the hands to strengthen the grip, so try to keep loose grip in your mind throughout the swing. Because there is no rulebook on the grip, it is just one of those aspects of the game that the golfer will have to experiment with, and adjust, through repetitive practice and play.

With practice, your grip should become something of a natural reflex; it should not play into any of your pre-shot routine swing thoughts. That said, a successful golfer will know when to self-police ones self to make sure that this fundamental aspect of golf is sound.