The Speed Killer: If you want to hit the ball farther and straighter, you must stop holding the club so tightly. Squeezing the grip causes you to “push” the club through the impact zone, which destroys your clubhead speed.

Face Direction: A tight grip often leads to the clubface being aimed in the wrong direction at impact. Loosening your grip allows the club to square up naturally, leading to much straighter shots.

Where to Hold Firm: Many golfers fear the club will fly out of their hands if they loosen up. To stay in control, maintain a firm hold only with the pinky and ring finger of your lead hand.

Let it Fly:

Aside from those two fingers, everything else should be loose. Relaxing your hands and arms allows the club to swing at maximum velocity and square up perfectly at impact.

Questions and Answers

Q: How do I know if I’m squeezing too hard?

A: If you feel like you are “pushing” the club through the ball rather than letting it swing, your grip is likely too tight.

Q: Won’t the club slip if I loosen my grip?

A: Not if you maintain pressure in the pinky and ring finger of your lead hand. Those specific muscles keep the club secure while letting the rest of your hand stay relaxed.

Q: Does grip pressure really affect ball flight?

A: Yes. A relaxed grip is what allows the clubhead to square up at impact. A tight grip often keeps the face open or misaligned, leading to crooked shots.