Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano Grip

Pros and Cons of Every Golf Grip Style

Best Grip? Overlapping vs Interlocking

Grip style: Vardon (overlapping)

Hand position: Neutral

Putting grip style / hand position: Varies between conventional and “claw”

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano’s grip is just what you’d expect from this “Steady Eddie” golfer – neutral and rock solid.

The Spaniard was a well-established contender on the European Tour before jumping to the PGA TOUR full-time in 2014. From 2005-13, he won seven times in Europe and ranked among the top 40 money winners in seven of nine seasons.

Though he didn’t exactly light up the U.S. tour in his first full season, Fernandez-Castano does boast a grip worth analyzing. It mirrors his Spanish compatriots Miguel Angel Jimenez, Pablo Larrazabal and Rafael Cabrera-Bello in its neutral positioning – flat left wrist, the “Vs” of both hands (formed by each thumb-forefinger combo) aligned with the club’s shaft. Fernandez-Castano’s simple grip sets the foundation for an easy, rhythmic swing.

Things get a bit more complicated on the greens. With the putter, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano’s grip looks similar to that of another of his countrymen, Sergio Garcia. Fernandez-Castano creates a “claw” by clutching the top of the handle in his left hand; he positions the index and middle fingers of his right hand down the club’s right side, close to the shaft, with his right thumb securing the putter.

Like many pros who try the “claw” or other unconventional putting grips, Fernandez-Castano has shown mixed results. But don’t let that stop you from experimenting if you’re having a hard time holing putts inside 10 feet. The “claw,” cross-handed putting and even switching sides (e.g., right-handed to left) have helped many golfers break out of a slump.

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.