Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series in which we’re sharing improvements, learnings and takeaways from amateur golfers just like you — including some of the speed bumps and challenges they faced along the way.
For years, I’ve struggled with perfecting my golf grip — which is a pathetic way to admit that I still slice and hook the ball with more consistency than hitting it straight to my target.
This simple grip hack will confirm if your clubface is square at address
When you don’t have the right grip, you lack clubface control. When that happens, you either open it up (and slice), or close it too much (and hook). The madness can be frustrating, and, if you’re like me, will cause you to try all sorts of swing adjustments.
In reality, by simply having the right golf grip, these common flaws can be fixed.
So what does the ideal grip look like? GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mike Bender provides the answer below — and it takes just one subtle change to achieve it. Check it out!
What the perfect golf grip looks like
“If you feel like your swing’s limited and your wrists feel tight, there’s a good chance you’re holding the club too much in your palm rather than in your fingers,” says Bender. “In order to fix this, you need to develop a repeatable method that allows you to grip the club properly every single time.”
So how can you achieve this? Bender offers the following steps to discover the perfect golf grip.
How much grip pressure to apply during the golf swing
Step 1: Hold the club in the air in front of you with your right hand (for right-handed golfers), then place it securely in the crook of the fingers on your left hand. Many golfers make the mistake of gripping the club while it rests on the ground — which only promotes a palm-dominant hold.
Step 2: Wrap the last three fingers of your left hand around the grip, then slide your right hand down into its normal position. Now take your full grip and place the club on the ground (as if you’re addressing the ball).
Step 3: Before you lock in for go time, bring the club back up in front of you to check that you’ve got the correct golf grip. If you look down the knuckles of both hands, you should see that the last three fingers of your left hand (for righties) are all quite flat against the grip. If yours look and feel this way, then your grip is in the right spot.
But if those same fingers are sticking out like stairs, then you’ve got too much club in your palm — so repeat the above exercise until you get it right.
By simply rotating your wrist over and resting the club in your fingers rather than the palm of your hand, you can grip the golf club like a pro. It may feel strange at first, but after hitting a few balls on the range, your shots will be flying straighter due to a more square clubface.
