Learning how to grip the golf club can be complex for lots of amateur or first-time players. That’s because many of those newer golfers envision a golf shaft to be similar to a baseball bat, where one hand is sitting on top of the other, with no interlocked fingers.
But, as any regular golfer knows, that’s not the case when gripping a golf club.
While there are lots of elements to having a consistent golf swing, the first thing any player needs to master is the grip. Without success holding the golf club, there will be little success in hitting the golf ball.
Since so many players often experience slicing or hooking with each shot, PGA Top 50 coach Alex Elliott recently explained a grip hack on his Instagram that can slowly fix the issue. Take a look at the video below to see for yourself how one simple adjustment in your grip can lead to better shots on the course.
How to grip the golf club to eliminate slicing or hooking
Elliott doesn’t beat around the bush in the video, strictly showing viewers how to grip the golf club three different ways.
Hooking the golf ball
He first describes a grip that’s most commonly associated with hooking shots. The image below shows how the line drawn on Elliott’s hand points to the outside of his shoulder (on a right-handed player). When this occurs, a golfer can expect the club face to close more than they prefer, hitting the heel of the club and causing a hook.
Slicing the golf ball
Next, Elliott shows how the line on his hand points towards the middle of his chest; and even towards his left armpit. When this happens, as seen in the image below, it causes the clubface to open up as it makes contact with the ball. This leads to a slice.
How to grip the golf club for more consistent shots
Finally, Elliott shows the proper way to grip the golf club.
As you can see in the image below, the line on his hand lines up to his right armpit (again, this is for a right-handed player).
By making just this subtle adjustment, you’ll learn how to grip the golf club the right way, giving you more club control as you make contact. This will help you hit the ball straighter, and eliminate infuriating slices or hooks.