In thie first of our Lee Westwood Video Tips series, the Englishman talks about the grip, how to set it and how to check that it's right

Lee Westwood Video Tips: The Grip

If you are looking to work on your basics this winter, your first port of call should be your grip. Your hands are the only thing in contact with the club and that’s why it doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or a beginner, working on and checking your grip regularly is essential. As the driving force behind the club, your hands are also where you get your feel from and they dictate where the clubface is pointing. There are some personal preferences here but I’d suggest that you try to secure as neutral a grip as possible. This is the best way to find power and consistency in the golf swing.

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Left hand checkpoint

Starting with the left hand, place it on the grip so the shaft runs through the fleshy part of your hand at the base of your fingers. This means the club isn’t sitting too much in your palms or your fingers. As you wrap your left hand onto the club, you are looking for your left thumb to run down the right side of the grip. A great checkpoint to have at address is to check how many knuckles you can see at address. I like to be able to see two in my left hand. This is a neutral position

Joining your hands

Your hands need to work together to control the clubhead and that’s why the way you join your hands on the grip is important. I have a slightly strange mix of an interlocking and overlapping grip but it means my hands can work together. Interlocking the hands is a good way to do it for those with smaller hands (that gives you more control). For kids starting the game or lady golfers with really small hands, a 10-finger grip (baseball style) is a good option. This part is personal preference and boils down to what feels comfortable to you.

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Right hand

As you place your right hand into position, your left thumb should fit into the v between the fleshy part of your thumb and forefinger of your right hand. The right thumb should point down the left side of the shaft. Your last check point is to look at the v between your right forefinger and thumb – this should point towards your right shoulder.

Neil Tappin
Editor

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. 

Throughout his time with the brand he has also covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 


Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X