What is the right golf grip?

Keith Woods shares his thoughts on how important good golf grip fundamentals are to playing better shots more often.

How do you grip a golf club

Keith Woods shares his thoughts on what is the right golf grip and how important good fundamentals are to playing better shots more often.

What is the right golf grip?

There is no, one way of gripping the golf club. Hands vary enormously in size and shape so to have a single methodology is impossible.

Indeed, there are examples of players who have reached the very top of the game with what, on the face of it, appears to be a faulty grip. Luke Donald is one who has a classic golf grip ad you can read his tips here.

The key to a good grip is whether you have control of the clubhead and whether it offers you the range of motion you need in the golf swing.

As such, there are some core principles we should all follow regardless of the size and shape of our hands.

More on how to grip the club correctly

How to set the grip

The position of the left hand (for right handers) is the key to a good grip. Bring your left hand into the club from the side, then crook your left forefinger and let the grip run along the palm of your hand.

Fold your gloved hand over, on top of the club so that the pad of your left hand sits on top of the shaft.

From there, bring your right hand on from the side. This will mean that the palms of your hands are sitting opposite each other.

Fold your right hand over and the thumb of your left hand should sit neatly in the crease between your right thumb and forefinger.

More top swing tips

Range of motion

A good grip will provide your hands with the range of motion they need to make a powerful swing that works on a good line.

In fact, your hands will naturally get the club working on a good path. The correct grip allows you to create the correct angles so that you can release them with power and accuracy through impact.

If your grip is poor, the range of motion you need in your wrists will not be there. Not only will you lose power but you’ll also get the club working on an ineffective path.

Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.