Pros and Cons of Every Golf Grip Style |
Best Grip? Overlapping vs Interlocking |
Grip style: Interlocking![]() |
Hand position: Slightly strong![]() |
Putting grip style / hand position: Reverse overlap / neutral![]() |
The rare “Next Big Thing” who fulfills that label’s promise, Rory McIlroy is as natural a swinger of the golf club as you’ll ever see. It all starts with the Northern Irishman’s grip.
Rory McIlroy grip features a slightly strong left hand position, which promotes freedom of movement in the arms and shoulders as he sweeps the club to the top and down into the ball. While this grip position leaves him somewhat vulnerable to the occasional hook (see his ill-fated tee shot on No. 10 in the final round of the 2011 Masters), the tradeoff is well worth it. A weaker grip position could sap some of McIlroy’s power and prevent him from hitting his favored shot, the high draw.
In winning the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Open Championship by age 25, McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the youngest the achieve that feat. He’s got something else in common with them, too: an interlocking grip.
On the greens, Rory McIlroy grip has changed to match the teachings of putting guru Dave Stockton. McIlroy employed an unconventional style in his early years, but switched to a neutral, reverse-overlap putting grip in 2011. Holding the putter this way helps him keep the back of his left hand square to the target line through impact – the key to Stockton’s method.







