Pros and Cons of Every Golf Grip Style

Best Grip? Overlapping vs Interlocking
    Grip style: Vardon (overlapping)Vardon grip Hand position: NeutralNeutral grip Putting grip style / hand position: Reverse overlap / neutral
    reverse overlap grip

    Tommy Fleetwood Grip
    American golf fans may be unfamiliar with this young Brit, but Tommy Fleetwood’s grip on a great future – like his grip on the golf club – appears quite secure.

    Fleetwood turned pro in 2010 following an outstanding amateur career, winning a Challenge Tour event in his second season and claiming his first European Tour title in 2013. He’s a wiry lad at 5’11”, 170 pounds, but he’s plenty long and deadly accurate. In 2014, Fleetwood ranked among Europe’s top 40 for both driving distance and fairway percentage, and finished 12th for greens in regulation.

    Fleetwood’s fluid swing is based on a solid, simple grip. Left hand: Nice and neutral, the “V” between thumb and forefinger pointing to his chest. Right hand: Matching the left, with the “V” aimed a tad right (as opposed to aligning directly with the shaft).

    While he’s not quite as proficient with the putter, Tommy Fleetwood’s grip is just as sound. He holds the handle every so lightly with his large hands, gently laying the left index finger across his right ring finger to form a classic reverse overlap. Like nearly every high-level player, Fleetwood exhibits little or no tension in his arms when putting.

    An overly firm grip can prove fatal not only in pressure-packed situations, but under the most informal circumstances. If you struggle within five feet of the cup or have a hard time controlling your speed on the greens, check your grip pressure. Here’s a great drill to help you find the pressure that produces your best results:

    Grip Pressure Experiment

    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.
vardon grip interlocking grip
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.
neutral grip weak grip
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.
strong grip reverse overlap
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.
cross handed Claw Grip