How to Grip a Golf Club: The 15-Second Grip Check Every Golfer Should Know
Updated: Sep 4
Learning how to grip a golf club correctly is one of the simplest ways to improve your golf swing.
Your grip has a huge influence on the clubface, and the position of your hands can affect whether you hit a slice, hook or straighter golf shots.
But there's one part of the golf grip I see amateur golfers overlook all the time.
The trail hand.
For a right-handed golfer, that's your right hand. For a left-handed golfer, it's your left.
Most golfers spend so much time worrying about their glove hand that they completely ignore what the other hand is doing.
So here's a simple 15-second golf grip check you can use before you hit another ball.
Why Your Golf Grip Is So Important
Your hands are your connection to the golf club, so changing their position can have a significant effect on how the clubface behaves throughout the swing.
Get your trail hand too far underneath or too far over the grip and you may find yourself constantly trying to manipulate the clubface.
That's why, before making complicated swing changes, I always think it's worth checking the fundamentals.
And this is one of the easiest checks you can make.
Is Your Trail Hand Golf Grip Too Strong?
Take your normal grip and look at the crease or 'V' formed between the thumb and index finger of your trail hand.
If your trail hand sits too far underneath the golf club, that V can point too far outside your trail shoulder.
This would be considered a stronger trail-hand grip.
For some golfers, this can encourage the clubface to become too closed and contribute to shots such as:
Pulls
Hooks
Lower ball flights
Excessive clubface rotation
You may then feel as though you're constantly trying to stop the golf ball from going left.
The important point is that your grip could be contributing to the problem before you've even started your golf swing.
Is Your Trail Hand Golf Grip Too Weak?
Now let's look at the opposite extreme.
If your trail hand sits too far over the top of the golf club, the V between your thumb and index finger may point more towards the centre of your chest.
This is a weaker trail-hand position.
For some golfers, this can make controlling and squaring the clubface more difficult.
You might see:
An open clubface
Shots starting or curving right
Weak fades or slices
Inconsistent contact
Loss of distance
If you're constantly trying to square the clubface during the downswing, your grip is one of the first things worth checking.
How to Grip a Golf Club With a Neutral Trail Hand
Here's the 15-second grip check I want you to try.
Take your normal golf grip and look at the V formed between your trail thumb and index finger.
For a right-handed golfer, I like to see that V pointing approximately towards the right armpit/trail side.
For a left-handed golfer, simply reverse it.
This gives us a much more neutral starting point.
We're not trying to create an absolutely perfect position that every golfer must copy. Golfers are built differently and there will always be some variation.
Instead, we're trying to avoid the extremes.
A more neutral trail-hand position can make it easier to:
Control the clubface
Square the face through impact
Produce a more balanced release
Improve your starting direction
Create more consistent ball flight
And the best part?
It takes about 15 seconds to check.
Try This Simple Golf Grip Drill
Before your next practice session, take your grip without hitting a golf ball.
Look down at your trail hand and identify where that V is pointing.
If it's pointing dramatically away from your trail side, experiment with moving the hand slightly more on top.
If it's pointing too far across your chest, experiment with allowing the trail hand to sit slightly more underneath.
Then hit a few shots.
Don't immediately worry about changing your swing.
Pay attention to your starting direction, curvature and strike.
Your ball flight will give you feedback about what the clubface is doing.
You can even draw a small temporary guide on your glove or thumb area during practice to make the position easier to recognise.
Can Changing Your Golf Grip Fix a Slice or Hook?
Your grip isn't the only reason golfers slice or hook the golf ball.
Club path, clubface angle, strike location and your overall movement pattern all contribute to ball flight.
However, your grip can influence how easily you're able to control the clubface.
So if you're struggling with a persistent slice or hook, checking your grip is a fantastic place to start before making a major swing change.
Sometimes the simplest changes are the most effective.
The 15-Second Golf Grip Check
The next time you're on the driving range, don't immediately start hitting golf balls.
Take 15 seconds.
Check your trail hand.
Look at the V between your thumb and index finger and make sure you're not sitting at either extreme.
For many golfers, getting the trail hand into a more neutral position can make controlling the clubface feel considerably easier.
And remember:
A better golf swing can start before you even move the club.
Get your grip right first, then build your swing around it.
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