Chi Chi's Golf Tips
The Grip
Be Comfortable
The most important factor in a grip is that it should be completely comfortable for the individual. I can't stress that enough. Too many people use the wrong grip - for all too many of the wrong reasons.
I use the overlapping grip because it happens to suit me best and helps me control my club better. But I'm not telling everybody who reads this book that the overlapping grip is a must for a powerful golf swing. The best grip is one that leads to a smooth swing. It is that simple.
I have very small, narrow hands and short fingers. I use the overlapping grip because I feel my hands work better as a unit. This helps me in overcoming a lack of natural power. When I tell people I have little strength in my hands, fingers, and wrists, they usually give me an unbelieving stare. But it is true.
 Overlapping Grip
In the overlapping (also called the Vardon) grip, the little finger of the right hand overlaps the the left index finger.
Generally speaking, the overlapping is a good grip for most golfers. It is especially good for beginners because it is easy to learn. It also feels natural to most beginners, and comfort, as I have emphasized, is of the utmost importance.
This grip, when used correctly, holds the hands together in such a manner that there is no way the club can move in the palm of the hand. If the club moves in the palm of the hand, the result is usually a bad shot.
In my grip, the left thumb and hand are well on top of the shaft and the hands are securely joined for fine control. The V (between the thumb and index finger) on my left hand points between my right shoulder and my head. The V on my right hand points towards my chin. If both V's are pointing at the right shoulder it will cause a hook. The grip is firm, but not tight.
Sam Snead always says the golf swing is like hitting a baseball. "If you squeeze the bat to death," he says, "and use all your power throughout the swing, you put less power into the ball at contact. You want to let the power go when you hit the ball. You not only hit it farther, you swing smoother because you're relaxed."
In my left hand, the cub runs diagonally across the palm with the fingers wrapping around. In my right hand I hold the club handle across the middle joint of fingers. My right thumb is slightly on the left side of the club handle and my left thumb fits into the pocket formed between the right side of the club handle and the palm of my right hand. I grip the club more firmly with the left hand than the right, and I concentrate on making this left-hand grip firm.
 Interlocking and Baseball Grips
If the overlapping grip isn't comfortable, then try the interlocking, which is a combination palm and finger grip. The pressure of the right hand is in the first two fingers and the thumb. The right hand's little finger interlocks with the forefinger of the left. Keep the hands close together for power and control.
Another grip is the Baseball Grip. Its name is self-explanatory. You just grip the club as you would grip a baseball bat. It is called the ten-finger grip because you put all the fingers on the club. The thumb of the left hand rests in the palm of the right hand. This increases holding power on the club because it places all the fingers on the shaft. But it does not unify the two hands.
It took me years - thirteen, to be exact - before I came up with the right grip. Previously I had used and interlocking grip; when I changed I kept saying to myself, "I can't play golf like this." But with practice and more practice I was able to overcome my fears and develop a good grip. It can be the same with you.
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