Published November 4th, 2026
To hold a golf club correctly, set the handle in the fingers of your lead hand so it sits close to 90 degrees to your palm, not diagonally through it. Then turn both hands to a neutral position and keep your pressure light. That one change is the focus of this Rick’s Tips video, where TGW Master Fitter Rick Hatfield helps a golfer named Brooke find more range of motion and more clubhead speed.
Below, you’ll find the video, a five-step grip checklist, the three grip styles, and how grip strength shapes your ball flight.
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Watch: Rick’s Tips, Getting a Grip on Your Golf Swing
What Rick Changes in the Video
Brooke is an athletic golfer who hits the ball straight but not far. Rick sees the cause right away: the club runs diagonally through the palm of her left hand, which limits her mobility and her ability to build clubhead speed through impact.
He moves the handle into the fingers of her left hand, 90 degrees to her palm. According to Rick, the new grip puts her in a stronger, more ergonomic position, gives her more range of motion, and lengthens her backswing without her left arm breaking down. That extra time to build speed should add several miles per hour of clubhead speed at impact. Brooke’s verdict: more comfort, more mobility, and more distance.
What Actually Matters in Your Grip
Three parts of your grip change what the ball does:
- Where the handle sits in your lead hand. In the palm, it restricts mobility and shortens your backswing. In the fingers, it frees your wrists to hinge and release. This is the change Rick makes in the video.
- How far your hands are rotated. A neutral, strong, or weak hand position has the biggest influence on where the clubface points at impact.
- How hard you squeeze. Excess pressure tightens your forearms and slows your release. Light, even pressure lets the club move freely.
Whether you overlap, interlock, or use all ten fingers matters far less. Tour players win with all three, so choose the style that keeps your hands connected and comfortable.
How to Hold a Golf Club Step by Step
These steps are written for right-handed golfers. If you play left-handed, reverse every hand reference.
Step One: Set the Lead Hand in the Fingers
With the clubface square, set the handle across the base of your left-hand fingers so the club sits close to 90 degrees to your palm. Close your fingers, then fold your hand over with the thumb just right of center. At address, you should see two to three knuckles, with the V between your thumb and index finger pointing toward your right shoulder.
Step Two: Add the Trail Hand
Place the handle in the fingers of your right hand and fold it over so the lifeline of your right palm covers your left thumb. Your right-hand V should also point toward your right shoulder. When both Vs match, your hands work as one unit.
Step Three: Connect Your Hands
Link your hands with an overlapping, interlocking, or ten-finger grip, covered in the next section. Whichever you choose, leave no gap between your hands.
Step Four: Set Light, Even Pressure
Hold the club firmly enough to control it but loosely enough to waggle the head freely. If the tendons in your forearms stand out at address, you are squeezing too hard.
Step Five: Test Your Range of Motion
Without moving your arms, hinge the club straight up using only your wrists. If the hinge stops early and feels stiff, the handle is still in your palm. Move it into your fingers and try again. The extra hinge you feel is the range of motion Rick is after.
The Three Golf Grip Styles
Overlapping Grip
The little finger of your right hand rests on the gap between the index and middle fingers of your left hand. Known as the Vardon grip after Harry Vardon, it is the most common style among adult golfers.
Choose it if you have average to large hands.
Interlocking Grip
The little finger of your right hand hooks between the index and middle fingers of your left hand. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both used it.
Choose it if you have smaller hands or your hands tend to separate during the swing.
Ten-Finger Grip
All ten fingers sit on the handle, which is why it is often called the baseball grip.
Choose it if you are a junior, a newer golfer, or a player with limited hand strength. Keep your hands pressed together so they do not work independently.
Neutral, Strong, and Weak Grips
Grip strength describes how far your hands are rotated on the handle, not how hard you squeeze.
- Neutral: Two to three lead-hand knuckles visible. The clubface returns square most easily, so start here.
- Strong: Hands rotated to the right, with three or more knuckles visible. The face tends to close, which can reduce a slice but can also cause a hook.
- Weak: Hands rotated to the left, with one knuckle or fewer visible. The face tends to stay open, which promotes a fade or slice.
If your miss is a hook, an overly strong grip is a common cause. Rick’s Tips Part 2: Control Your Hook covers that fix.
The Bottom Line
Your grip is the fastest, cheapest fix in golf. Follow Rick’s lead: put the handle in the fingers of your lead hand, set both hands neutral, keep your pressure light, and test your wrist hinge before every range session.
A good grip is easier to repeat on good equipment. Shop the full selection of golf grips, explore Golf Pride or Shop All Brands, and pick up fresh golf gloves so your hands stay put from the first swing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are straight answers to the grip questions golfers ask most often.
How should a beginner hold a golf club?
Start with a neutral grip, with the handle in the fingers of your lead hand and two to three knuckles visible at address. The ten-finger grip feels most natural for many beginners. Once your contact is steady, try overlapping or interlocking and keep whichever feels most connected.
How tight should you hold a golf club?
Firmly enough to control the club but loosely enough to waggle the head without your forearms tightening. If your forearm tendons stand out at address, lighten your pressure. It is the quickest grip fix most golfers can make.
Can changing your grip add distance?
Yes, if your current grip restricts your motion. In the video, moving the handle out of Brooke’s palm and into her fingers gives her a longer backswing, and Rick says it adds several miles per hour of clubhead speed. Check where the handle sits in your lead hand before changing anything else.
What is a neutral golf grip?
A neutral grip shows two to three knuckles on your lead hand at address, with both Vs pointing toward your trail shoulder. It lets the clubface return square without extra hand manipulation. Use it as your starting point.
What is the difference between a strong and weak golf grip?
A strong grip rotates your hands away from the target and tends to close the clubface. A weak grip rotates them toward the target and tends to leave it open. Start neutral and adjust in small steps based on your miss.
Should I use an overlapping or interlocking grip?
Use overlapping if you have average to large hands and interlocking if your hands are smaller or tend to separate. Neither adds power or accuracy on its own. Try both and keep the one that feels most secure with light pressure.
Is the golf grip different for left-handed golfers?
The fundamentals are the same, with every hand reference reversed. Your right hand is your lead hand, and your Vs point toward your left shoulder. Follow the same checklist with your hands swapped.
How do I know if my golf grips are the right size?
Hold the club in your lead hand. Your middle and ring fingertips should lightly touch your palm. If they dig in, try a larger size, and if they do not reach, try a smaller one. TGW’s Golf Grips Buying Guide covers sizing in more detail.
How often should I replace my golf grips?
Golf Pride recommends replacing grips once a year or every 40 rounds. Replace them sooner if they feel hard, slick, or shiny, because worn grips make you squeeze harder.
