Technique
How do you hold a golf club?
Put your lead hand above your trail hand on the grip: left above right for a right-handed swing, right above left for a left-handed swing. The overlap, interlock and ten-finger methods describe how the hands join.
Place the hands
- Lead hand first. For a right-handed swing, place your left hand near the top of the grip, with the club across the base of the fingers rather than deep in the palm. Reverse the hands for a left-handed swing.
- Trail hand below. Bring the other hand onto the grip below it, with its palm fitting against the lead thumb.
- Choose how they connect. Try the methods below and find a comfortable connection you can maintain through the swing.
Three ways to connect the hands
- Overlap (Vardon). Rest the trail little finger over the gap between the lead index and middle fingers.
- Interlock. Link the trail little finger with the lead index finger.
- Ten-finger. Keep both hands alongside each other on the grip without overlapping or interlocking the fingers.
These connections are separate from how far the hands rotate around the handle. The PGA's illustrated grip guide shows hand placement and explains that distinction.
Continue with the clubs in a golf set, golf etiquette or all the game guides.
Written by Craig Fearn, The Golf Gift Co. Last updated .