Thorbjorn Olesen Grip

Pros and Cons of Every Golf Grip Style

Best Grip? Overlapping vs Interlocking

Grip style: Vardon (overlapping)

Hand position: strong

Putting grip style / hand position: Reverse overlap

Every knuckle on the back of the left hand facing forward, right hand “V” pointed away from the target… Yep, Thorbjorn Olesen’s grip is a strong one, all right.

The strapping young Dane, a mere pup of 25 as of early 2015, definitely runs with the pack of golf’s new breed. His super-strong grip mirrors those of fellow 20-somethings Harris English and Jason Day, as well as numerous pros of a slightly older vintage.

Already a two-time winner on the European Tour, Olesen pounds the ball well past the 290-yard mark on average – not bad for a guy who goes 5’9”, 152 pounds. That’s what a strong grip will do for you. Before you go changing your grip, however, note the tradeoff in accuracy: Olesen hasn’t cracked Europe’s top 120 in fairway percentage a single year since his 2011 debut.

He’s coming off an excellent season on the greens, though, which helps explain his status as an up-and-comer. Thorbjorn Olesen’s grip with the putter is as sound as it gets – hands joined by draping the left index finger across the fingers on his right hand, both hands positioned in neutral, left wrist “uncocked” and not a trace of visible tension.

Despite all the attention paid to innovative grips like the “claw,” and the eye-opening results of long putter users like Adam Scott, the standard reverse overlap remains the putting grip of choice for the majority of the world’s pros. On that count, Olesen is old school.

Player Profile

Golf Grip Terms

Note: All descriptions are for right-handed golfers.

Vardon / Overlapping Grip: Method of holding the club by placing the right pinky finger on top of the crease between the left index and middle fingers. Named for British golf legend Harry Vardon.

Interlocking Grip: Method of holding the club by wedging or locking the right pinky finger between the left index and middle fingers.

Neutral: Position in which the hands are directly aligned with the clubface. The golfer with a neutral grip can typically see two full knuckles on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Weak: Position in which the hands are rotated left (toward the target) on the club’s handle. The golfer with a weak grip can typically see one full knuckle on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Strong: Position in which the hands are rotated right (away from the target) on the club’s handle. The golfer with a strong grip can typically see more than two full knuckles on the back of the left hand when addressing the ball.

Reverse Overlap Putting Grip: Conventional putting grip style with the left hand above the right and the left index finger extending downward, on top of the fingers of the right hand.

Cross-Handed / Left Hand Low Putting Grip: The right hand is placed at the top of the handle, above the left hand, the opposite of a conventional grip.

Claw Putting Grip: The left hand is placed in the conventional position, at the top of the handle, with the right hand lower on the handle and holding the club between the thumb (on the grip’s underside) and fingers.