Grip advice

[Razorhog]

I currently use a 10 finger grip, which feels natural to me. I've read that people with smaller hands might use this grip, and I do have small hands. I wear a men's small glove and some brands are still too big in a small (Nike smalls seem to fit well).
I'm currently reading Ben Hogan's "5 lessons" and he really stresses the grip, and strongly suggests interlacing the right pinky in between the left index and middle finger. I've tried this and it just feels strange...
Any advice?

[beung]

To me the interlocking grip feels the most natural but that is because that is all I have used.

I think the main issue with the 10 finger grip is that it somewhat inconsistant.

You tend to grip the club with both hands too much. With the interlock or overlap you tend to grip more with your top hand and use your lower hand to control the club. Very little grip preasure is used by your right hand to prevent the club from slipping out of your hands.

You can also have varying gaps between the top and lower hand. Since the top and lower hand are not "connected" like they are in the interlock or overlap, you can sometime have no gap to a very large gap - its much harder to do that with the other grips.

[jmurdock]

I have somewhat small hands and I use the overlap grip. Interlock feels weird to me.

[Razorhog]

As I read more on the subject, I get conflicting information. Some people say the 10 finger is better for smaller hands, while some say the interlock is better. I'm going to play 9 holes this afternoon and I'll experiment

[DavidFehertysBike]

I have small hands myself and i use a kind of modified overlap grip. I just split a little gap between my left index and middle fingers and slide my right pinky in there. My hands arent big enough for a traditional overlap so thats the compensation i make. the interlock has never been comfortable for me.

[1chaos52]

I have played with my grip the last year or so because I have always had a problem feeling comfortable with the club in my hands. This often caused me to grip really hard right as I was beginning my backswing.

I first trieds the inter-lock grip and found that I still had problems with gripping too tight and not feeling comfortable. I tried the overlap, but my hands were too small and I kept feeling like I was going to let the club go.

I finally compromised between the two. I open up my fingers between the index and middle finger on my left hand, but I keep my feft index finger underneath my right handand lay my right pinky right inside the gap I have made. By doing this, my hands are automatically in the right position so that the v's between my thumb and index finger on both hands point in the ideal direction. The grip is comfortable, and I am finally gettin used to it and hitting the ball well.

Unfortunately I do have some nerve issues in my hands so finding the right grip has always been an issue for me.

[iWALK18]

I Have gone from 10 finger to interlocking to overlapping (and I have fooled around with the Furyk double overlap... but who hasn't?) . Every time you switch it feels very awkward, but trust me it gets better and soon it will start to feel more comfortable.

You just need to stick to it.

And I honestly think that there are VERY few people who should use the 10 finger grip.

[Avid Golfer]

Another grip options you could try is Greg Norman's Intermesh grip (shown in the picture below).

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2...termeshxc4.jpg

[roverT7]

And realize (as Hogan says in the book) any grip change is going to take forever to feel "natural"...

[bflat450]

This is my take... I used to have a complete baseball grip, 10 fingers and my thumb did not go into my lower hand! Can you believe that. My uncle told me that If I really wanted to get better I needed to change my grip. So one day I started interlocking my thumb into my other hand and although it felt awkward I worked with it and realized I got more control. I then moved to the overlapping pinky grip and that summer was the first time I broke 80 shooting 78. Thanks uncle!!

[lolzzlolzz]

If you're going to do the stuff from Ben Hogan's book, I suggest you do things exactly as he says. I have small hands as well and can still do the grip from his book. I also believe, as he does, that the overlapping grip is the only "correct" grip. Interlocking may be "okay" but it doesn't allow the correct distribution of power between both the left and right hand like the overlapping grip does. 10 finger grip is out of the question...

Edit: I also suggest trying to play without gloves. Your left hand will hurt for the first week or so but you'll get used to it. Nowadays, I only put on my glove for shots when my hands are sweaty. Anyone know if Ben Hogan used a glove?

[pat8]

All three grips can work. Look at three examples: Ben Hogan-vardon grip. Jack Nicklaus - interlocking grip. Bob Rosburg, PGA champion, 10-finger. It just goes to show that all three grips can work, although for an individual, there is probably one grip that will work best; however, I don't believe that for golfers overall, there is one superior grip. Experiment a little. Try some alternate ones too, like Jim Furyk's double overlap grip. Trying all three grips will help you to find the one that works best for you.

Lolzzlolzz - Hogan never wore a glove

[polodinks]

i was 10 finger grip since i first started and just made the change over to the interlocking and its like my hand just automatically goes to the interlock grip..... the only other grip i have is my putter grip, i grip it normally just put my left and right index finger on the side of the grip and my right finger tip is just touching the shaft...... i like to feel up and over the ball when im putting

[trjohnson2]

Go with what is natural. Being a baseball player and a big guy, I tried the overlap and the interlock but neither felt right, the baseball grip just fits me better. Its a confidence thing for me. Also, I use grip more than swing path to work the ball and have found the baseball grip is better for me with that.

[lolzzlolzz]

  pat8 said:

All three grips can work. Look at three examples: Ben Hogan-vardon grip. Jack Nicklaus - interlocking grip. Bob Rosburg, PGA champion, 10-finger. It just goes to show that all three grips can work, although for an individual, there is probably one grip that will work best; however, I don't believe that for golfers overall, there is one superior grip. Experiment a little. Try some alternate ones too, like Jim Furyk's double overlap grip. Trying all three grips will help you to find the one that works best for you.

I noticed in all the pictures of him I never saw a glove. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Razorhog]

I think I'll experiment with the interlock for a while and see what happens. I have tried it a few times and it seems as though I have a tendency to swing steeper with it - no idea why.

[DavidFehertysBike]

  Avid Golfer said:

Another grip options you could try is Greg Norman's Intermesh grip (shown in the picture below).

Very similar to the grip I use. Except i slide my right pinky I little more in between the knuckles. Not so much fitted between the fingers like what Norman has there. It works well for me.

[Lyfsabuz]

I've been using the Intermeshing grip now for about 20 years. It's slightly different to Greg Norman's grip. Take an Overlapping grip(Vardon) then insert the Pinkie on your right hand between your pointer and middle finger. It's a very solid grip, excellent for controlled Iron shot. The downfalls are you can't use it for bunker plays as the left hand takes over and closes the club face(in bunker play I use and overlapping grip), it also restrict a more fuller swing arc and you lose some distance. But I have been playing between 6-9 for many years and I put it down to this grip as it keeps me in play more often. Try it and let us know.