Why this handy grip guide was one of our most-read pieces of the year

Fundamentals are crucially important for a solid golf swing, but they aren’t always the most riveting topics. Alas, in 2024, our readers seemed interested in improving them.

Over the past year, one of our most-read pieces in the instruction space covered perhaps the most important fundamental: the grip. And while something mundane like how to hold the club might seem trivial, it’s hugely important for making a solid swing.

Padraig Harrington might’ve said it best when he appeared in a video for the Champions Tour earlier this year.

“There is no point in playing this game unless you have a good grip,” he said.

You may be able to get away with a poor grip for a while but if you want to become truly elite, you’ve got to learn how to grip the club with solid fundamentals.

If you want to read the full article, you can click here. Otherwise, we’ve summarized its key points below.

How to perfectly grip the golf club

So you want to learn how to properly grip the golf club? Great! However, making a grip change can feel awkward. Worry not — this is normal. Stick with the changes and you’ll position yourself for long-term success.

Here are three keys Harrington suggests for learning how to grip the club.

1. Fingers, not palms

The first key for a proper grip is holding the club in your fingers, not in the palms. Harrington suggests thinking about how you might pick up a suitcase and apply that technique to your grip.

2. Don’t grip on the ground

Harrington says that when gripping the club, you shouldn’t have any part of the club touching the ground. Hold the clubhead off the ground and then put your hands on the club on the grip.

3. Look at the thumbs

Once you’ve got your fingers under club, it’s time to place your thumbs on top. Harrington suggests placing the lead-hand thumb slightly across the grip, and then placing the trail-hand thumb on top.