Brian Harman 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: Cross-handed (left hand low)

He’s part of a legion of University of Georgia products on the PGA TOUR, but does Brian Harman grip it and rip it like his fellow Bulldog and lefty, Bubba Watson?

Hardly. Their alma mater and handedness may be the same, but Harman’s and Watson’s golf games are anything but similar.

For starters, the 6’3” Watson towers over Harman, who stands 5’9” and weighs 150 pounds. Their grips are different, too. Where Watson’s is strong in the extreme, Harman’s is only mildly so. In fact, the former junior phenom features a pretty neutral hold with his right (top) hand, which he turns only a touch away from the target. His left hand is stronger, with the palm more underneath the handle.

This left hand position helps Harman generate a full release through the hitting zone to maximize power. Despite his size, he averaged a respectable 289 yards off the tee in 2014.

Brian Harman’s grip with the putter is somewhat unusual, but it’s effective. He’s a cross-handed guy, but differs from most by rolling his right (bottom) hand well under the handle until the wrist actually bows outward. Harman’s left hand, meanwhile, shows a pronounced angle or cup at the wrist. He keeps the back of his right hand very flat on the through-stroke, maintaining a square putter face.

Harman enjoyed his best season in 2014, earning his first win at the John Deere Classic. His key stat for the year: a ranking of eighth on tour in three-putt avoidance. It’s an overlooked but very important figure.

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.