Lilihammer Lessons - Lesson 1: The Grip

Lilihammer Lessons Part I: The Grip

A consistent, effective golf swing starts with your grip. It’s your only connection to the club, and even small adjustments can make a significant difference in control, power, and consistency. Here are some steps to help you build a confident, fundamentally sound grip.

Step 1.

Pick up the club where the grip ends and the shaft begins with your dominant hand and hold it in front of you so the leading edge of the club head is pointed straight up and down. 

Place your lead hand (left hand for righties) on the bottom half of the grip so that the grip is running diagonally from the bottom knuckle of your pinky to the middle of your index finger

Step 2.

Wrap your lead hand fingers around the grip so that so that 2-3 knuckles are visible, and that the “V” made between your thumb and index finger are pointed towards your trail shoulder (right shoulder for righties)

Step 3.

Position your trail hand (right hand for righties) on the grip below your lead hand so that the palm is facing the target and the grip is running from the first knuckle of your pinky to the middle of your index finger. 

Step 4.

Wrap your fingers around the grip and check that the “V” made between your thumb and index finger are pointed at your trail shoulder. Your right thumb pad should be covering your left thumb.

Step 5.

Maintain a balanced grip pressure - firm enough so that the club doesn’t slip out of your hands but soft enough so that your wrists, arms, and shoulders aren’t tense. You want to be able to control the golf club without it slipping around in your hands.

Now that we’ve got the basic steps to a perfect grip, let’s take a look at the three most common types of grips:

Types of grips:

Interlock - Trail hand pinky “locks” between the index and middle fingers of your lead hand

Overlap - Trail hand pinky rests on top of the groove between your index and middle fingers of your lead hand

Ten finger - Trail hand pinky is wrapped around the grip below your lead hand index finger

While the interlock is the most popular, this is mainly about preference and comfort, so try them all and see what feels the most comfortable. You’ll see plenty of people using each style of grip!

You should have a pretty neutral golf grip now, and it’s a great starting point for more consistent, powerful and controlled shots. Remember that the grip is one of the most important parts of your game as it’s your only connection to the golf club, so you should take your time to set your grip before you hit every shot.