Getting a Grip on Your Swing

I’ve recently discovered that amongst the many facets of the game of golf, my grip was the thing setting me back. I’ve worked on my swing, my body placement and my game over the past few years but I never thought my grip would be so important. It is, and I cannot stress it enough. A special thanks goes to my golf instructor for giving me these swing saving tips.

We’ve all heard by now that there are many grips to choose from, which can be a bit confusing when you’re starting out. Grip manufacturers offer many options for a better swing. Everything from the material they use, the feel and the fit, to new products like talc, sprays and tapes. These options are great, but getting your hands on the club is step number one. Think about size when you’re choosing the right grip. Your hand size should be reflected in the size of your clubs grip. Choose one too big or too small and you could loose strokes, or worse hurt yourself. Try the club’s grip out; try several sizes or brands to find your particular fit.

It is not imperative to have a professional replace your club’s grip. Anyone can do it with a little know-how, and the right materials. It helps in learning about your particular clubs and saves a lot of money. All you will need is the new golf grips, an exacto knife, double sided tape, a cleaning solvent, and a work bench vice.

Then follow these easy steps:

Place your club in the vice and tighten with the grip being exposed. Use the exacto knife to remove the old grip, slicing away from your body. Clean the shaft well with a cleansing solvent then allow the club the dry. With the club’s grip area exposed, wrap the double-sided tape down the shaft the length of the grip. Ensure the portion of the shaft is completely covered and remove the backing from the double-sided tape. Pour some more solvent over the tape, line the grip up with the club and slip it on towards the club’s head. Remove the club from the vice; place the head on the floor to make any minor adjustments. Then make sure to let the grip dry for at least three hours.

Now it’s all up to you and your finger positioning. There are notably three finger grips which you should start from.

* Baseball grip, interlock and overlap grips.

To do the Baseball Grip, hold the club with your left hand. Slide your right hand; make sure all your knuckles are lined up underneath your shaft. The forefinger, middle finger, ring finger and small finger are placed on the handle. The baseball grip has your right hand resting next to the side of the index finger of your left hand. Ensure all of your fingers are actually touching the club. This is a great grip for people with small hands and/or a less strong grip. It allows a firmer grip because all of your fingers are on the club and gives your swing a bit more force. Unfortunately, it also makes it harder to control the club head, so practice often.

* The interlock grip is a bit different. The pinkie of your right hand is intertwined with the index finger of your left. This helps your hands to connect during your swing. It is a popular grip for women golfers and others with a smaller grip. You should hold your club with your left hand - three of your knuckles should be visible and your left thumb should be slightly at the right of the center of the Grip. Then, place your right hand on the club. The index finger, middle finger and ring finger should touch the end of the club handle and the pinkie of your right hand should interlock with the left index finger.

* For the over lock grip, the pinkie of your right hand rests on top of the index finger of your left. The ring finger of your right hand also touches the index of your left. This grip gives the feeling your hands are connected and working in conjunction with your swing. It’s mostly used by the professionals, so don’t get too upset if this grip takes sometime to fully conquer.

I hope this little tutorial helps you and your game. Sometimes a little trial and error is necessary to improve what might otherwise be a plateau in your game. Take your time, get some professional help if needed, and have a great summer out on the golf course or at the pitch and putt.