How you place your hands on the golf club directly affects the clubface and how the clubhead moves throughout your swing.
Many golfers are hesitant to make grip adjustments because they may feel uncomfortable at first. However, experienced instructors understand how grip changes affect the clubface and ball flight. With the right adjustment, improvements can be dramatic and happen quickly.
Here are some ways to help you find your best control.
1. Lead arm hanging position
Your lead arm has a natural hanging position and it varies from person to person. During the swing, your arm will naturally return to this position. Because of this, when you place your lead hand on the club, it should look similar to how it looks when your arm hangs naturally, assuming you want to hit a relatively straight ball.
2. Correct grip size
The club should be held primarily in the fingers so that your hands feel secure without having to grip them tightly. This allows your wrists to hang and loosen properly during the swing. If the club sits too low in the palm, it can restrict movement and often creates a wear mark on the heel of the glove. Having the right size gloves helps make sure you can do it right.
3. How hands are tied
There are three common ways of connecting the hands on the club: the lock, the overlap, and the 10-finger (baseball) grip. Either can work well depending on hand size and comfort. Many golfers find that the overlap or 10-finger grip works best for smaller hands, while the grip can accommodate larger hands. Often the best option is simply the one that allows you to control the club and hit the ball straighter.
4. Releasing the trace hand
Track hand position affects how the club is released during the forward swing. When the hand rests more on top of the club, the ball is more likely to fade. When it rests more naturally on the side and covers the toe of the lead, the ball tends to fly straighter. When the hand moves further down the club, the arm can more easily close and produce a swing. Matching this hand position to your natural release can improve consistency. my mentor, Mike Adamsthere is a battery of tests that I use to better identify the position of the track hand.
5. Safe but not tight
A proper grip allows you to keep the clubface square while still generating speed. Your hands should feel secure and your fingers should stay closed around the stick, but your grip should not be too tight. Good players often hold the club tight when managing club head speedyet still allow the club to swing freely without excessive tension.
