Attention golfers! The grip that is attached to your golf club is just as important as any factor in your golf swing and is involved in every stroke or swing you take, from driving it off the tee to putting. Considering that, ask yourself these questions: One, have you ever taken a hand measurement to be fit for your golf grips? And two, how often do you regrip your clubs?

The golf grip size plays a larger role in your golfing success than you might think. That’s because playing with grips that are too small or too large will have a negative impact on your swing and ball flight. The importance of getting the right grip size is one of the keys to having consistency in your golf game. Additionally, if you are playing with older, worn golf grips, it is likely you will experience some slippage in your grip during the golf swing. And slippage is bad because there will be a decrease in power and accuracy if the grip is slipping in your hands.

With that said, the following are the most important things to take into consideration with golf grips: size, feel, caring for them, and how you grip the golf club.

Different Sizes of Golf Grips

First off, let’s ensure you have the correct grip size, because there are many different grip sizes available to golfers, depending on the size of their hands and preference. The main grip size categories that are available include Junior, Undersized, Standard, Midsized, and Jumbo/Oversized. So how do you know which size golf grip is appropriate for you? Fortunately, there is something simple you can do at home to find out.

All you need to do is take a ruler or measuring tape and measure the length from your wrist crease to the tip of your middle finger. After recording the length of the measurement, simply refer to the sizes below to find the perfect grip for you, as recommended by one of the leading grip manufacturers, Golf Pride.

• Crease to Middle Fingertip: < 5″; Recommended Grip Size: Junior
• Crease to Middle Fingertip: 5″ to 6.5″; Recommended Grip Size: Undersize
• Crease to Middle Fingertip: 6.6″ to 7.5″; Recommended Grip Size: Standard
• Crease to Middle Fingertip: 7.6″ to 9″; Recommended Grip Size: Midsize
• Crease to Middle Fingertip: 9.1″ to 10″; Recommended Grip Size: Jumbo/ Oversize

Types of Grips and Their Feel

Cord, standard, or padded? After finding the proper grip size, it is time to decide which configuration type of a golf grip is best for you. PGA Professional Steve Buzza does a great job breaking down the difference between these types of grips in this video. As Steve mentions, personal preference plays a role in the type of grip that feels best to you, as the texture changes from grip to grip. Not all golf grips will feel the same, for a host of reasons. Some will be extremely tacky, almost like a sticky feel, and provide a more secure feeling that the golf club won’t slip in your hands. Here is a great list provided by Skilled Golf as the tackiest golf grips in 2022!

Be sure to ask a Golf Expert here on Curated about customizing the grips on any new golf clubs you order through us, instead of later having to replace the stock grips because you don’t like them. The latter can be expensive and an extra hassle that can be avoided. Oftentimes, manufacturers will allow this customization at little-to-no upcharge, depending on the individual grip and its availability.

Beforehand, it would be a good idea to see and touch the various grip types yourself, perhaps at a local golf store, to get to know the feel of them. Once you know the type of grips you prefer, along with your correct size, you can provide that information to your Curated Golf Expert for your best fit and best prices on golf equipment!

Extend the Life of Golf Grips

Now that we have covered the basics of which grips to get for your clubs, next we need to discuss how to help keep them playable for a long time. Fortunately, it will only take a few minutes to clean and care for all your grips on your clubs. You just need two buckets of warm water: one soapy, one non-soapy; plus towels and a brush. Quite simply, there isn’t much to it: watch as Evan from Golf Pride demonstrates a step-by-step process of how to clean your grips. It is well worth the short time invested to keep your golf grips clean and tacky to ensure for the best grip performance each time you tee it up.

How to Grip the Golf Club

So far we have established the importance of finding the correct grip for you, based on size, feel, and type. Now it is pertinent that we discuss how to hold the golf club in our hands. You have probably seen some mention of the “perfect golf grip” at times in different articles or videos because it is a fundamental aspect to developing consistency in your golf swing. To that end, the steps below to see how you should grip the club.

Note: Pictures are for right-handed golfers.

Step One

The way you grip the golf club is the single most significant factor in learning how to golf. If you are right-handed, take your golf club and grip it with your left hand (opposite for left-handed players). Pay close attention to the photos because where you place it in your hand is critical.

The grip should be at a small angle, with only two-and-a-half fingers (index, middle, and half of the ring finger) touching the grip, as seen in the image. The pinky finger should not yet be in contact with the golf grip.

Step Two

Now that you have the correct position, close your hand naturally. If done appropriately, your thumb will be somewhat to the right of the grip's center (not directly down the shaft, but slightly to the right side). Match it to the image before proceeding to the next step.

Step Three

After we've completed the first two steps, positioning our left hand on the golf grip, hold the club, and aim the clubhead to the heavens so that your arm extends out in front of you in a comfortable position like you're trying to shake somebody's hand.

Then, take your right hand and open it. Next, insert the pinky of your right hand in the space between your left hand's pointer and middle fingers. You can put it inside or on top of that gap, depending on your desire.

In the meantime, maintain your open right hand with your palm facing left and away from you, and slowly begin to close your hand, not grasping the club too tightly or too loosely. As illustrated in the second photo above, the right thumb is now at an angle, and your thumb's pressure point will be on the left-center of the golf grip. Do a few practice swings to get a feel for your new grip!

Note: This will most likely feel strange with your new grip, however that is a great sign you are gripping the club correctly! This indicates that changes are taking place, and you will feel more at ease and improve from where you are now in your practice.

Now that we've achieved the perfect grip, let's proceed to the three ways to grip the golf club now that we have the fundamentals. These will all be subtle changes in the way of gripping the club as you will read below!

Three Ways to Grip the Golf Club

The three most common ways of gripping a golf club are the interlock grip, the overlap grip, and the baseball grip. Each way has a slight variation to each of them, with a little experimenting you will find the best one for your golf game.

Don’t get this confused with the perfect grip! This process is used for each one of these three options; think of it as the fundamentals of gripping a golf club. The first several steps are the same, but the following three examples offer variations on your finger placement.

Interlocking Grip

The interlocking golf grip can give more control of the golf club, depending on the golfer. It is recommended that you try the interlock golf grip, and see if it feels comfortable for you after testing it out for a few days. The interlocking grip has been used by golf greats such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Jack Taylor from Livestrong demonstrates the difference between the interlocking grip and the overlap and baseball grips in the quick and effective video below. The main difference you will see in the interlock grip is that you will be putting your pinky finger between your middle finger and index finger by “interlocking it.”

Overlap Grip

The Overlap Grip is also known as the “Vardon Grip” because it was made famous by legendary golfer Harry Vardon, who was one of the best golfers in the early 20th century. Ducan Woogler does a great job of explaining how to use this method in this short clip. This grip has since been used by legendary golfers such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and Phil Mickelson, with all having great success using this method. Contrary to the interlocking grip, you will be resting your pinky finger between your middle finger and index finger by “overlapping it.”

Baseball Grip

The baseball grip is exactly what it sounds like—using a ten-finger grip just as you would in swinging a baseball bat, with the hands separated from each other. Only a handful of current professional golfers are using the baseball/ten-finger grip, including Scott Piercy and Robert Streb. It takes more hand-eye coordination with this type of grip because it is easy to use your hands too much in the golf swing and lose accuracy. But don’t let this deter you from trying the baseball grip, because it might just be right for you!

Bonus Tip: Grip Pressure

Grip pressure is extremely important in the golf swing. If the golf grip is too tight, you will decrease your accuracy and distance, leaving you more frustrated on the golf course. You want to have enough pressure to hold onto the golf club, but not squeeze it tightly. Many golf teachers have taught that you should imagine grip pressure like holding a bird: You want to hold it firm enough that it won’t fly away, but not so tight that you would hurt the bird. It is important to find a happy medium between the two.

It is also important to note that if you are hitting the ball far to the right, holding the golf club too tightly can lead to the dreaded slice. Golfing legend Tom Watson, who you might have seen hitting the ceremonial opening tee shot at the Masters with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, does a great job of explaining grip pressure in this short clip, and how it can impact your golf game.

All the things discussed here, from the size of the golf grip to the way you grip the golf club, can play an important role in your golf swing. And remember also that if your grips feel slippery or worn, try cleaning them first before getting new ones. Finally, if you are in the market for new golf clubs, make sure to consider the grips when discussing your options with your Curated Golf Expert, and get them fitted to your needs.