How to Grip the Golf Club – Stronger Or Weaker?
by Brian Hughes Program Director, Keiser University College of Golf PGA Master Professional
Watch the number one player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, on the practice tee, and at first, he looks like he is just learning the game. As he stands there, making sure that his grip is just perfect, he may make you appreciate the importance of gripping the club properly. However, is there a perfect grip, and should you hold the club just like Scottie? Let’s find out.
What Is a Strong vs. Weak Grip?
In reality, your grip directly controls the clubface—arguably the most important factor in determining where the ball starts and curves in flight. Small adjustments in grip can produce significant changes in ball flight, often without requiring a complete swing overhaul.
When golfers struggle with consistent direction—whether it’s slices, hooks, or weak fades—the root cause is frequently tied to how the hands are placed on the club. Understanding when to strengthen or weaken the grip gives you a powerful tool to self-correct and fine-tune your game.
The two terms most commonly used when describing the grip are strong and weak. A strong grip means rotating your hands on the club so that more of the top hand (left hand for right-handed golfers) is visible from your perspective at address. Typically, you’ll see two to three knuckles on this hand as you rotate it more toward your trailing (right) shoulder.
With a weak grip, on the other hand (pun intended!), it rotates the hands in the opposite direction more toward your lead shoulder, resulting in one to two knuckles on your top hand being visible. One important point: “strong” and “weak” don’t refer to grip pressure—they describe hand position and its effect on clubface control.
Cause and Effect: How Grip Influences Ball Flight
Your grip has a direct impact on how the clubface is oriented at impact. A stronger grip tends to close the clubface more easily, promoting a draw or reducing a slice. A weaker grip tends to keep the face more open, encouraging a fade or helping prevent a hook.
If you frequently hit shots that curve dramatically to the right (for a right-handed golfer), your clubface is likely open at impact. A stronger grip can help square—or even slightly close—the face without requiring major swing changes. Conversely, if your shots curve too far left, a weaker grip can help stabilize the clubface and reduce over-rotation through impact.
As there is no universally correct position, it is important to understand the effect that adjusting your hands clockwise or counter-clockwise on the handle of the club can have on the ease of opening or closing the face. For golfers who struggle with a slice or weak, high ball flight, adjusting the hands more toward the trail shoulder (strengthening) can make it easier to close the clubface. Conversely, the proper adjustment for a golfer who tends to hook the ball too much, rotating the hands more toward the lead shoulder on the handle (weakening), would make closing the club too early more difficult.
Matching Grip to Your Swing Style
While Scottie is trying to find his “perfect” grip, his ideal will likely differ from yours. Players with a strong body rotation and a naturally late release may find that a slightly stronger grip helps them square the face more easily. If you have active hands and tend to flip the club through impact, a weaker grip can help quiet that motion.
Your grip should also align with your desired shot shape. Players who prefer a draw often lean toward a stronger grip, while those who favor a fade may adopt a weaker one. This is where it is important to work with a trained PGA Professional, as understanding how your swing functions can lead to finding the proper grip position-swing style match.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
As you practice, be aware that even a small adjustment—rotating your hands a few degrees—can significantly alter ball flight. When experimenting, make incremental changes rather than drastic ones. Hit a series of shots and observe the results. Pay attention not only to direction, but also to trajectory and contact quality. Remember that any change will feel uncomfortable at first, but give yourself time to adapt. Don’t confuse “comfortable” (which is what you are currently doing) with “correct!”
Final Thoughts
Choosing between a stronger or weaker grip is not about following a rigid rule—it’s about understanding cause and effect. Your grip is a powerful lever that influences ball flight, and learning how to adjust it gives you greater control over your game.
By recognizing your tendencies, making thoughtful adjustments, and practicing with intention, you can use your grip as a reliable tool rather than a source of confusion. Whether you favor a stronger or weaker grip, the goal remains the same: a square clubface, solid contact, and a ball flight you can trust.
