What is the correct way for a left-handed person to grip a golf club? The correct way for a left-handed person to grip a golf club is similar to a right-handed golfer, but mirrored. The right hand sits lower on the club than the left hand. Getting the proper golf grip for lefties is the most important first step for good golf.
A good grip is the foundation of your left-handed golf swing grip. It links your body to the club. If your grip is weak or wrong, your shots will suffer. This guide offers essential tips for left-handed golfers to build a strong hold. We will cover the basics and show you different grip styles. This golf grip guide left hand focus is for you, the left-side player.
The Core Basics of a Left-Handed Grip
Before looking at specific styles, all good grips share basic ideas. These ideas help you control the clubface through impact. Focus on these simple points first.
Hand Placement and Dominance
For a left-handed golfer, the right hand is the “lower” hand, closer to the clubhead. The left hand is the “upper” hand, closer to the top of the grip. This might feel backward if you try to copy a right-handed player’s instruction directly.
- The left hand controls the clubface at the top.
- The right hand provides power and stability underneath.
Think about how you hold a hammer or shake hands. Your dominant hand often guides the action. In golf, your lead hand (the left hand for a leftie) leads the swing path.
Setting the Lead Hand (Left Hand)
Your left hand placement sets up the whole swing. This hand needs to cover the right thumb well.
- Positioning: Hold the club in your lead hand (left hand) across the palm. The grip should run diagonally from your index finger knuckle across to the fleshy pad below your pinky finger.
- Knuckle View: When you look down at your left hand at address, you should see about two to three of your left-hand knuckles. This is often called a neutral position.
- Pressure: Hold the club firmly but not too tight. Imagine you are holding a small bird—you want to keep it safe, not crush it. Light pressure allows for better wrist action.
Setting the Trail Hand (Right Hand)
The right hand supports the left hand and adds power. Its role is crucial for connection throughout the swing.
- Placement: The right hand sits below the left hand on the grip. The lifeline of your right palm should cover your left thumb.
- Alignment: The ‘V’ formed by the thumb and forefinger of your right hand should point toward your left shoulder or slightly outside it.
- Connection: The hands must feel connected. There should be no significant gap between the hands.
Choosing Your Grip Style: A Comparison for Lefties
Many golf instructors agree that the grip is personal. However, three main styles dominate. Deciding on the best golf grip for left-handed beginners often involves trying all three.
Interlocking Grip Left-Handed
The interlocking grip involves wrapping the pinky finger of the lower hand (right hand) around the index finger of the upper hand (left hand).
- How it Works: The pinky and index finger link together. This creates a very connected feel between the two hands.
- Pros: It keeps the hands tightly bound. This can lead to more synchronous arm movement. Many players feel this grip promotes a smooth release.
- Cons: It can feel restrictive to some golfers, especially those with large hands or stiff joints. For some lefties, this grip can feel too strong initially.
| Feature | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Very strong hand coupling. | Can feel restrictive. |
| Release | Promotes smooth squaring of the face. | May weaken control for some. |
Overlapping Grip Left-Handed (Vardon Grip)
The overlapping grip left-handed (also called the Vardon grip) is the most popular grip among professionals. The pinky finger of the right hand rests on the gap between the index finger and middle finger of the left hand.
- How it Works: The right pinky overlaps the space on the left hand.
- Pros: It offers a great balance of connection and flexibility. It is excellent for promoting good wrist hinge. Many find it feels very natural.
- Cons: If the overlap is too deep, it can lead to a slightly weaker left-hand position or make releasing the club difficult.
Ten-Finger Grip Left-Handed (Baseball Grip)
The ten-finger grip left-handed is exactly what it sounds like: all ten fingers are placed on the club grip as if holding a baseball bat. The right hand sits directly below the left hand with no overlap or interlock.
- How it Works: All fingers grip the club simultaneously.
- Pros: This grip is often recommended for players with very small hands or those needing maximum leverage. It is the best golf grip for left-handed beginners if they struggle to feel connected with the other two grips. It feels very intuitive.
- Cons: Because the hands are less connected, it can lead to the hands working independently, causing inconsistent impact. It offers less precise face control at impact compared to the other two styles.
Achieving a Neutral Grip Left-Handed Golfer
A neutral grip is the goal for most players seeking consistency. A neutral grip left-handed golfer position sets the clubface square to the target line without forcing it.
Assessing Your Left Hand Position
The key to neutrality lies heavily in the lead hand (left hand).
- Grip Pressure: Start light. Use a pressure scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is gripping as hard as possible. Aim for a 4 or 5 out of 10. Too much pressure kills clubhead speed and dampens feel.
- Knuckle Visibility: As mentioned, aim to see two to three knuckles on your left hand when you look down at address.
- If you see four or more knuckles, your grip is likely too weak. A weak grip tends to cause slices (for lefties, this means the ball curves right).
- If you see zero or only one knuckle, your grip might be too strong. A strong grip can cause hooks (the ball curves sharply left).
Assessing Your Right Hand Position
The right hand must complement the left hand’s position.
- The V Point: Recheck the ‘V’ created by the thumb and forefinger of your right hand. For a neutral grip, this ‘V’ should point between your right ear and your right shoulder. If it points too far left (toward your left shoulder), the grip is too strong. If it points too far right (off your shoulder), it might be too weak.
- Thumb Placement: The right thumb should sit slightly down the shaft, not wrapped completely around the grip like the left thumb. It should sit beside the left thumb, providing support.
Practice Drills for Grip Refinement
Perfecting your grip requires repetition without hitting balls initially. Focus solely on the feel and look of the hold.
The Mirror Drill
This is essential for left-handed golf grip fundamentals. Stand in front of a large mirror or use your phone camera.
- Take your normal stance without a ball.
- Check your left-hand knuckle count. Adjust until you see two or three.
- Check the ‘V’ alignment on your right hand. Adjust until it points correctly.
- Hold the position. Wiggle your fingers slightly to ensure they feel relaxed yet connected.
- Repeat this setup 20 times, focusing only on the look of the grip before moving to the next drill.
The Walk and Feel Drill
This drill helps embed the feel of the correct pressure.
- Take your grip firmly (4/10 pressure).
- Walk five paces away from where you plan to hit the ball.
- Stop. Re-check your grip pressure. Did you squeeze harder while walking? If so, ease up.
- Return to the starting position and repeat. This trains you to maintain consistent pressure from setup through the takeaway.
The Glove Test (For Stronger Grips)
Sometimes, a strong grip feels natural because the hands are weak on the club. To test if your grip is too strong (which can cause hooks):
- Try taking your normal grip.
- If you are using an interlocking grip left-handed or overlapping grip left-handed, slide your right hand down about an inch below your left hand.
- Hit a few half swings. If the ball flies straighter or fades slightly right (a good miss for a lefty), your original grip was likely too strong, causing you to turn the face over too quickly.
Grip Maintenance: Keeping It Consistent
The grip is dynamic; it changes based on the club and the weather.
Club Length and Grip Size
Grip size is a major, often overlooked factor in left-handed golf grip fundamentals. If your grips are too small, you grip too tightly to control the club. If they are too large, you may struggle to activate your fingers fully.
- Small Grips: Cause players to squeeze harder, leading to tension and loss of feel.
- Large Grips: Make it hard to square the face, often leading to pushes or slices.
Most standard grips work for the average hand size. However, for larger hands, mid-size or jumbo grips might be necessary to prevent over-gripping.
Environmental Factors
Weather affects how you hold the club.
- Wet Conditions: You need a slightly firmer hold to prevent slippage, but be careful not to overcompensate and stiffen your wrists. Using a high-quality, non-slip grip material is key here.
- Cold Conditions: If wearing thick gloves, you might need a slightly looser initial set, knowing the gloves add volume.
Fathoming Grip Changes for Different Shots
The grip should adjust slightly based on the shot you intend to hit. This is where feel comes in, but the basics remain the same.
The Tee Shot Grip (Driver)
With the driver, you want maximum distance and a slight draw (a slight curve from right to left for a lefty).
- A slightly stronger grip (seeing perhaps one more knuckle on the left hand) can help ensure the clubface stays square or slightly closed through impact, promoting that draw shape.
- Ensure the right hand is relaxed. The driver requires the longest swing arc, demanding less squeezing pressure overall.
The Iron Play Grip
Irons demand precision and control over distance.
- Focus intensely on a neutral grip left-handed golfer position.
- Maintain consistent pressure (the 4/10 rule). The consistency of the grip leads to consistent trajectory angles.
Wedge Play and Chipping
For short shots, the feel is paramount.
- Many instructors advise a slightly weaker grip for wedges and putters. This means seeing fewer knuckles on the left hand.
- Why? A slightly weaker grip makes it harder to accidentally roll the face open or closed during the short, controlled motion. It promotes a more direct path.
Common Mistakes Left-Handed Golfers Make
Many lefties try to mirror right-handed instruction too closely, leading to errors.
The “Flipped” Right Hand
A frequent error is having the right hand positioned too far “under” the club. This means the ‘V’ of the right hand points too far toward the left shoulder, making the grip extremely strong.
- Result: The player struggles to stop turning the clubface over, leading to hooks or pulls.
- Fix: Focus on keeping the right thumb running slightly down the shaft, aiming the ‘V’ toward the right shoulder area.
The “Frozen” Left Wrist
Because the left hand leads, some lefties consciously try to keep the left wrist perfectly flat. This causes a loss of lag and power.
- Result: Shots lack distance, and the clubhead cannot square up naturally.
- Fix: Allow the left wrist to flex slightly back (dorsiflexion) at the top of the backswing. This stored energy is what powers the release. Remember the 2-3 knuckle view promotes flexibility, not rigidity.
Gripping Too Hard with the Fingers Only
If you grip too hard only with your fingers and not enough with the pads of your palms, you lose stability.
- Result: The grip twists easily during the swing, leading to inconsistent face angles.
- Fix: Ensure the grip pressure is distributed across the fingers and the palm pads of both hands. The connection between the hands should feel solid throughout the entire swing motion.
Integrating the Grip into the Swing Motion
A perfect grip means nothing if you lose it halfway through the swing.
The Takeaway Check
The first few feet of the backswing confirm your grip integrity.
- As you start the swing back, the club should move away in one piece.
- The clubface, guided by your connected hands, should remain relatively square to the swing plane.
- If the clubface rotates wildly open immediately (exposing the sole to the sky), your grip pressure is too light, or the connection between your hands is poor. This often happens when relying too much on one hand.
Impact Confirmation
The moment of truth is impact. At this point, the grip should feel secure enough to transfer maximum energy without twisting in your hands.
- The lower hand (right hand) should feel like it is applying pressure through the shot, driving the club toward the target line.
- If the club feels like it’s slipping or turning in your hands at impact, revisit the connection between your two hands.
This focus on connection is key whether you prefer the interlocking grip left-handed, the overlap, or the ten-finger grip left-handed. The hands must act as one unit hitting the ball.
Summary: Building Your Left-Handed Grip
Building a great grip takes time. It is the single most repeatable part of your swing once dialed in. For any left-handed golfer, mastering these left-handed golf grip fundamentals sets you up for success.
- Start Neutral: Aim for 2-3 left-hand knuckles visible.
- Connect the Hands: Choose the overlap, interlock, or ten-finger style that feels most comfortable for connection.
- Control Pressure: Keep it light—around 4 out of 10.
- Check the V’s: Ensure both ‘V’ shapes point generally toward your right shoulder.
- Practice Setup: Use drills to ingrain the look and feel of the correct hold.
By paying close attention to these details, every left-handed golfer can establish a stable, powerful, and repeatable left-handed golf swing grip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Should a left-handed golfer use the same grip as a right-handed golfer, just reversed?
A: Yes, the mirror image is generally correct. For a right-handed golfer, the left hand is on top. For a left-handed golfer, the left hand is still on top, but because the entire body motion is mirrored, the feel and look of hand placement relative to the ball are reversed. The grip sequence (lead hand then trail hand) remains the same relative to the target.
Q: Is the interlocking grip suitable for left-handed seniors?
A: The interlocking grip can be excellent for seniors because it creates very strong hand unity, reducing the chance of the hands separating during the swing. However, if arthritis or stiffness is an issue, the overlapping grip left-handed might allow for easier wrist action and less strain on the smaller joints. Test both to see which offers better mobility.
Q: How often should I check my grip during a round?
A: You should check your grip briefly before every single shot. Grip pressure and placement tend to creep toward being too tight or slightly off-plane during the walk between shots or while waiting. Quick visual checks before addressing the ball save strokes.
Q: Can I switch my grip style if I have been using one for years?
A: Yes, but be patient. Changing your grip fundamentally alters the feel of the clubface. If you switch from a ten-finger grip left-handed to an interlocking style, expect significant inconsistency for several weeks. Commit to the new style during practice sessions before taking it onto the course.