Article #67
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Dear Jitterbug:
For years now I've used the interlocking grip, but have read recently that most players on tour use the overlap grip. Which do you think is the best grip?
Kenny Busser
Jitterbug Gang Fan
Jitterbug:
Your prospective sponsors are well within their rights, Wayne. They need to know things like, How much money will you need? Are we talking one year? Two? Three?
I'm supposed to tell you that it all has to do with the size of your hands. The popular belief is that the smaller your hands the better suited you are for the interlock grip, and the bigger your hands the more you should lean toward the overlap. And, in general, that's true.
More important to the grip, however, is that you unite your hands in a way that compliments how strong or weak you prefer holding the club.
For instance, golfers who use the interlock grip are more likely to play with a neutral to weaker grip (with one or two knuckles of the glove hand in view to the player looking down at address). Conversely, stronger grips (three to four knuckles exposed) work best with an overlap grip.
So, in answer to your question, I wouldn't worry too much about how you unite your hands unless you are simply in search of an accompaniment to a stronger or weaker grip.
Mr. Vaughn:
Like Jitterbug said, good interlock players tend to edge toward a weaker grip. As a result of the weaker grip they tend to have a flatter left wrist at the top of the backswing, which squares up the otherwise potentially open club face. Stronger grips require more of a cupped left wrist at the top, which squares up the otherwise potentially closed club face. This, of course, is what it means to find a grip and wrist cock that are compatible. Your ability to achieve compatibility is far more significant to good results than is the particulars of how your two hands come together.
Lord Berry:
It's easy to observe the nuances of great players and desire to adopt each one as your own. My favorite player uses this or that type grip, so perhaps I should.
I believe, however, that rather than taking on the small particulars of any one player, we'd all be better served to copy what every great player does, which is find something that works well and stay with it.