First we need to establish some reference points on your hands so that
you can easily place your hands in the correct position for each grip
style that will be described. Although this article will give
instruction as if you're a right handed golfer, if you are a Lefty,
then use the instruction in the same manner just reversing the hands
(Right instead of Left etc.) An easy way to apply this golf grip
exercise will be for you to use a marker to draw reference points on
your hands and/or a golf glove(s).
Grip Reference Points
The reference points listed below have abbreviated identifiers marked
in parenthesis that will be used to identify them throughout the
remainder of this golf instruction guide.

Left Hand Marks



"(AS)" Anatomical Snuffbox - If you hold your hand in front of you
with your fingers pointing away from you and your palm facing down,
the "Snuffbox" (Actual Anatomical Name) is located on the right side
of your wrist at the "base" where the wrist hinges. Continue pointing
your fingers away from you and turn your hand counter clockwise
pointing your thumb straight up. Flex your wrist so that your hand
moves up and down vertically. While doing that, place the tip of the
index finger of your Right hand on the "top" of your Left wrist. While
your Left hand is flexed vertically upward, you will be able to feel
two tendons on top of your Left wrist. In between those two tendons it
feels like there is a "pocket. That "pocket" is your "Snuffbox." Draw
a small ? inch "X" on top of the "pocket."
"(BK)" Dots on your Big Knuckles - Make a fist with your Left hand
putting the big knuckles that are located at the base of your fingers
on "top" of your fist, palm facing down, and draw a ? inch size dot on
the "top" of each of your first 3 knuckles.
"(BIF)" Dot at the base of Index Finger - Looking at your palm, draw
a ? inch dot at the base of your index finger in the center of the
finger on top of the crease or fold in the skin.
"(D)" D on the Callas Pad at the base of your pinky - With your palm
facing you, draw a letter "D" (Short for Distance) atop the Callas at
the base of your Pinky finger.
"(N)" N on the Right side of your palm - With your palm facing you and
your fingers pointing straight up, visualize a horizontal line in the
middle of your palm. Now draw a letter "N" (short for Neutral) on the
right side of your palm on the horizontal line you just visualized.
The "N" will be located just below the "D" that you just marked.
"(C)" C on the Heel Pad - With your palm facing you and your fingers
pointing straight up, visualize a vertical line running through the
"D" and "N" that you just marked. Draw a letter "C" (Short for
Control) on top of the Heel Pad. The letter C should be about 1-1.5
inches below the N that you marked.
"(TRS)" Line on the top right side of thumb - Point your thumb away
from you with the thumbnail on top. Visualize the top center of your
thumb, splitting your thumbnail in two equal halves. Focusing on the
"right half", now visualize the center of that half and mark it down
the center by drawing a line from the first to second knuckles. This
is the top-right side of your thumb.
"(LV)" V between thumb and forefinger - With your palm facing away
from you and your fingers pointing up, hold your thumb against your
index finger. A "V" is formed between the top of your thumb and index
finger.

Right Hand Marks


"(BP)" Dot at the base of your Pinky - Looking at your palm, draw a ?
inch dot at the base of your pinky finger in the center of the finger
on top of the crease or fold in the skin.
"(MIF)" Dot on the middle knuckle of the index finger - Looking at
your palm, draw a ? inch dot in the middle of your index finger over
the middle (2nd) knuckle where the crease is in the skin.
"(LL)" The Lifeline - With your palm facing you and your fingers
pointing up, mark the lifeline in the palm of your hand. It's the line
at the base of your thumb pad that runs from the bottom of your palm
up and in-between your thumb and forefinger toward the top right side
of your palm.
"(RV)" V between thumb and forefinger - With your palm facing away
from you and your fingers pointing upward, hold your thumb against
your index finger. A "V" is formed between the top of your thumb and
index finger.
"?" and "(RV)" support the golf club - Hold your hand in front of you
with your fingers pointing straight up, the palm facing left and your
thumb facing you. Fold all 4 fingers over at the second knuckle. Tilt
your index finger to the right so that it leans backward and notice
that your index finger should now look like a question mark (?). Your
question mark (?) shaped index finger and the "V" shape between your
thumb and index finger (RV) are what supports the golf club at the top
of your golf swing.

A Few Rules


The palms on both hands "Always" face each other - The correct
placement of your Right hand on the grip is determined after first
placing the Left hand on the grip to ensure the correct positional
relationship between both hands. If you hold your hands out in front
of you with your fingers outstretched and your thumbs pointing up and
press your hands together with the palms facing each other and then
rotate your hands clockwise, and counterclockwise, that "relationship"
between both hands maximizes your wrists ability to "cock" and "un-
cock" during the golf swing and maximize the potential for club head
speed. No matter whether your Left hand uses a strong grip or weak
golf grip, your Right hand always mirrors what your Left hand is doing
so that the palms face each other.
Each hand's thumb and forefinger are "Always" held together creating a
"V" as mentioned previously in the "Grip Reference Points" section.
The Right hand "Always" uses a finger grip with the golf shaft lying
across the fingers always at the same angle.

Left Hand Grip Variables

Three Grip Angles

The Grip angle is the angle at which the golf shaft runs across the
palm and/or fingers of your left hand.

The "Distance" Grip. - This is the one that Tiger Woods uses. Tiger
says it gives him the best combination of sensitivity and control.


Advantages


Maximizes wrists ability to "cock" and "un-cock" for maximum club head
speed.

Good for distance and sensitivity.


Disadvantages


Requires more strength and skill to square the club face at impact.


A distance grip is achieved by gripping the golf shaft in the hand at
an angle that runs from the base of the index finger (BIF) across the
base of the fingers to the top of the callus that is located at the
base of the pinky finger (D). After wrapping the fingers around the
club, most of the gripping strength will be felt in the fingers with
"some" pressure on the bottom of your heel pad. The thumb is placed
against the index finger (LV).

The "Neutral" Grip. - Good grip for most people.

Advantages


Gives the most flexibility in terms of shot-making ability.

Balance between distance and accuracy.


Disadvantages


None.


A neutral grip is achieved by gripping the golf shaft in the hand at
an angle that runs from the base of the index finger (BIF) across the
palm to the (N) marking. Wrap the fingers around the club. The
gripping strength will be felt between the fingers and firmly against
the bottom of your heel pad. The thumb is placed against the index
finger (LV).

The "Control" Grip.

Advantages


Gives maximum control for accuracy.


Disadvantages


Minimizes wrists ability to "cock" and "un-cock" resulting in less
distance.


A Control grip is achieved by gripping the golf shaft in the hand at
an angle that runs from the base of the index finger (BIF) across the
palm to the (C) marking. Wrap the fingers around the club. The
gripping strength will be felt between the fingers, the palm and the
top of the heel pad. The thumb is placed against the index finger
(LV).


Three Grip Strengths

The "Strength" of the grip is determined by the position of your hand
on the grip in comparison to the relative position of the clubface as
you rotate your hand around the grip to the left or the right. The
reference point used to determine the correct rotational position of
the hand on the grip is the anatomical snuffbox (AS). To view the
"Strength" of the grip using the (AS), setup to a golf ball as if you
are going to hit it with the clubface pointing squarely at the target.
Grip the club with your Left hand and look down at the top of your
Left hand and determine whether the (AS) is over the top of the club
shaft (neutral) or on the left side (weak) or right side of the shaft
(strong). The following descriptions will include what the particular
"Strength" being described looks like.

The "Weak" Grip.


Advantages


Helps eliminate hooking the golf ball.


Disadvantages


Very difficult to hit the ball right to left.


Looking down at the top of your hand, with the clubface pointing
squarely toward the target, the anatomical snuffbox (AS) is just off
to left side of the grip. Your thumb will be on top of the club shaft
and your "V" (LV) points toward your chin and you can see 1 - 1.5
knuckles (BK).

The "Neutral" Grip. - This is the one that Tiger Woods uses. It's a
good grip for most people.

Advantages


Ideal grip for hitting the golf ball left to right or right to left.


Disadvantages


Requires more strength to release the club squarely at impact.


Looking down at the top of your hand, with the clubface pointing
squarely toward the target, the anatomical snuffbox (AS) is directly
over the top of the grip. Your "V" (LV) points toward your right ear
and you can see 2 - 2.5 knuckles (BK). Tiger Woods sees 2.5 knuckles
(BK).

The "Strong" Grip.

Advantages


Helps eliminate slicing the golf ball.

Good for getting more distance.
Good amateur grip as it requires less strength to square the clubface
at impact.


Disadvantages


Difficult to hit left to right.


Looking down at the top of your hand, with the clubface pointing
squarely toward the target, the anatomical snuffbox (AS) is on the
right side of the grip. Your "V" (LV) points toward your right
shoulder and you can see 3 knuckles (BK).


Three Unifying Grips

These Grips describe how to unify and snug your hands together so that
your hands function as a single unit. Note: When placing your hands
together, don't try to smash them together to make them tighter
because that looses valuable leverage. Just make them feel unified and
snuggly fit together.

The "10 Finger Grip." - This Grip places all 8 fingers on the golf
shaft.


Advantages


Good leverage.
Good alternative for kids and women.


Disadvantages


Less Club head speed especially if the hands are allowed to spread out
down the grip and not be snuggly against each other.


A 10 finger grip is achieved by gripping the golf shaft with all of
the fingers on the shaft. The outside of your Right hand pinky finger
is pressed against the outside of your Left hand index finger.

The "Overlap Grip." - This is considered by many pros as the preferred
method of unifying the hands.

Advantages


Good for larger hands


Disadvantages


On people with small hands, the Right hand can tend to slip too far
over or too far under the club in an effort to feel snug and fitted.


An overlap grip is achieved by placing all of the hands on the shaft
and lifting the pinky of the Right hand off the grip and pointing that
finger straight out and then sliding the Right hand toward the Left
hand until the third finger on the right hand is placed snuggly
against the index finger of the Left hand. Now lay the Right hand
pinky finger down over the notch that is formed between the Left hands
index finger and second finger.

The "Interlock Grip." - This is the grip that Tiger Woods likes. Tiger
started using it because his idol Jack Nicklaus used it.

Advantages


Good for smaller hands.


Disadvantages


There is a tendency to grip the club too much in the palm of the Right
hand.


An interlock grip is achieved by placing all of the hands on the shaft
and lifting the pinky of the Right hand off the grip and pointing that
finger straight out and then sliding the Right hand toward the Left
hand until the third finger on the right hand is placed snuggly
against the index finger of the Left hand. Now raise the index finger
of the Left hand off the grip and point it straight out and interlock
the Left hand index finger and Right hand pinky finger by laying the
Right hand pinky finger down in the crotch between the Left hands
index finger and second finger and laying the Left hands index finger
down in the crotch between the Right hands pinky finger and third
finger.

Maintaining stability throughout the swing
The correct placement of the Left hand down the grip is obtained by
allowing ? inch of the grip to extend out or protrude out beyond the
bottom of your hand. If you were gripping the club in both hands, you
should be able to see ? inch of the end of the club shaft grip
protruding to ensure that you have the maximum stability of the golf
club in your hands throughout the swing. Doing this does not cause you
to lose any distance.

Making a complete Grip

Step One: The Left Hand Grip



Square the clubface to the target line.
Grip the club ? inch down from the top of the shaft on the "grip
angle" you have chosen; "distance", "neutral", or "control".
The thumb and forefinger are placed together forming the "V" (LV).
With the club head resting on the ground and the clubface still square
to the target, look down at the top of your Left hand and rotate your
Left hand around the club, counterclockwise to the left or clockwise
to the right to the appropriate Left hand "grip strength" that you
have chosen using your reference marks to verify the correct position
as "weak", "neutral" or "strong".

Step Two: The Right Hand Grip


With the golf club still on the ground in your Left hand, the easiest
way to visualize how to get the Right hand on the golf grip is by
grabbing the golf grip just like you were shaking hands with someone.
With your Right hands palm approximately facing your left hands palm,
place your Right hands fingers on the grip at an angle from the dot at
the base of your pinky (BP) to the dot in the middle of your index
finger (MIF).
Place the Lifeline (LL) on the top right side of your Left thumb
(TRS).
Wrap your fingers around the grip. Keep your thumb and forefinger
together forming the "V" (RV) and form the question mark (?) with your
index finger. The tip of your thumb and index finger on your Right
hand will touch or nearly touch. There will probably be a gap between
your index finger and the second finger of your Right hand on the grip
because of you forming the question mark (?) with your index finger.

Step Three: Unify your Hands
Unify your hands using one of the "Unifying Grips." Your hands should
fit together comfortably and snuggly.

Grip Pressure and Feel
The golf grip should feel snug and unified in your hands, if it
doesn't then un-grip and re-grip making small adjustments if
necessary. You should maintain a consistent unchanging grip pressure
throughout the entire golf swing. Grip the club as loosely as you can
while still maintaining control of the golf club throughout the entire
swing.
Regular Practice
After you've determined which grip combination you intend to use
regularly, practice it until its memorized and use the grip reference
points to ensure you place your hands correctly every single time.
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