Get a Good Golf Grip With These Free Golf Tips For Beginners
In this article I will present some free golf tips for beginners on the golf grip positions. These tips are also for the more experienced golfer that needs to re-evaluate their grip. From the description of the different grip types and positions, you might be able to identify a swing fault such as a slice and learn how to fix it.
The interlocking grip, the overlapping grip, and the baseball grip (or ten finger grip) are the three basic grip types. For each grip type, there are three grip angles that you can use; control, neutral, and distance. Furthermore, you can apply three different grip strengths; a weak, neutral, or strong grip. Which grip should you use? It will depend on what size of hand and fingers you have, your strength and how you want to play the ball. The most important thing is to find a grip that is comfortable and efficient.
Grip Styles
The baseball grip is not used by many golfers because the overlapping or interlocking grips are far more adaptable. It is a grip that gives you good leverage but the problem is that it produces less club head speed which translates into less distance. Some beginners, children or women use this grip but I would recommend they either of the other two grips.
If you have larger hands or longer fingers try the overlapping grip which is considered by many professionals as the best grip to unify your hands. This grip is not good for people with short fingers as they tend to place their right hand too far over or under the club when trying to get comfortable.
The interlocking grip is good for golfers who have small hands or fingers but be careful of gripping the club too much in the palm of your right hand. With this grip, the pinkie of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the left hand.
Grip Angles
With the distance grip variation, the grip runs diagonally across the base of the fingers from the base of the index finger to the pad at the base of the pinkie. This grip maximizes the wrists flexibility and is good for distance but also offers sensitivity. It does require, though, more strength and skill to square the club head at impact.
The neutral grip is most likely the best grip angle for most golfers. This grip runs diagonally from the base of the index finger to a point below the heel pad of your palm. The neutral grip offers a good compromise between distance and control as you have the most flexibility to undertake any type of shot making.
With the control grip you will achieve maximum control for more accuracy but as you will have less flexibility in the wrists you will attain less distance. The club runs across the base of your index finger to the top of your heel pad on a more diagonal path.
The Three Grip Strengths
The strong grip is used to reduce slicing and is also good for distance but don't use this grip if you want to fade the ball. This grip variation requires you to move your hands around so that when you look down at your left hand, the "V" between your thumb and forefinger will point towards your right shoulder. Also, the point between the two tendons in the wrist above your thumb should be in line with the right side of the club shaft.
The neutral strength grip is the ideal grip for the majority of golfers. With this grip you can draw the ball or fade the ball easily. It requires a bit more strength to square the club at impact. This time, the "V" should be pointing towards your right ear and the point of your wrist that I mentioned before will line up with the center of your shaft.
The weak grip can be used to get rid of a hook. Some disadvantages are that you will not be able to hit a controlled draw and it requires more strength to keep the club head square at impact. Looking down at your left hand, you will see the point in your wrist lined up with the left side of your shaft and the "V" pointing at your chin.
Summary
Hopefully, these free golf tips for beginners will help you grip the club correctly. No matter what grip you use, just remember that the palms of your hands will always face each other. The right hand is known as a fingers only grip and the left hand is a palm and fingers grip. Most important is to leave half an inch of the grip protruding beyond your left hand. Lastly, you should grip the club firmly and constantly throughout the entire golf swing and your hands should fit snugly together and feel unified.
May 22 2008 02:07 am | Golf