Types of Basic Golf Grips

Every great shot you have ever hit begins long before the swing — it begins with how you hold the club. The grip is the only part of your body that touches the club, and yet most amateur golfers spend more time worrying about their backswing than the connection that controls every degree of clubface, every gram of pressure, every fraction of timing.

Three grip styles dominate modern golf. Each one solves a slightly different problem, and each one has been used by major champions. The trick is knowing which style suits your hands, your strength, and the way your body naturally wants to release the club.

The three classic grips

The Baseball — also called the ten-finger grip — is the simplest of the three. All ten fingers sit on the club, much like holding a baseball bat. It is intuitive, comfortable, and a popular starting point for juniors and players with smaller hands. The trade-off is that the two hands work more independently, which can lead to inconsistent clubface control as your swing speed increases.

The Interlocking grip locks the little finger of the trailing hand into the gap between the index and middle finger of the lead hand. The two hands behave as a single unit. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Rory McIlroy all use it. It is the strongest unifying grip of the three — particularly helpful for players with shorter fingers or those who want maximum control.

The Overlap (or Vardon grip, named after Harry Vardon who popularised it) rests the little finger of the trailing hand on top of the index finger of the lead hand. It is the choice of most professional golfers — including Ben Hogan, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott. It feels natural for players with longer fingers and offers a balance of unity and independent feel.

How to pick yours

Start with hand size. If your hands are small or your fingers short, the interlock will likely feel most secure. If your hands are larger or your fingers long, the overlap will feel more natural. The baseball grip is best reserved for beginners, juniors, or players returning from injury — it is a stepping stone, not a destination.

Then test feel. Take five swings with each style on the range. Pay attention to two things — the clubface at the top of the backswing, and the consistency of your strike. The grip that gives you the squarest face and the most repeatable contact is the one to commit to. Switching back and forth is the surest way to never improve.

What comes next

Choosing your grip style is only the first step. The next two lessons will tackle the two things that derail more amateurs than anything else — gripping the club too tight, and the silent angle of your hands that controls whether the ball hooks or slices. Read on.