What is a Strong Golf Grip?

Last updated on October 30th, 2023 at 01:47 pm

A strong grip is when a golfer’s hands rotate away from the intended target and toward the right shoulder. You have a strong grip if you can look down at your hands and see most of the knuckles on your left hand when you hold a golf club. A strong grip also means that the “V” shapes made with your thumbs and hands when holding the club point toward the right side of your body. (This is for right-handed golfers – the opposite is true for left-handed golfers.) Also, please note that the term “strong grip” has nothing to do with how tightly you hold the golf club or with grip pressure.

So, what is a strong grip vs. a weak grip? What is a strong grip vs. a neutral grip? When is a strong grip a good idea for golfers? What are the advantages of a strong golf grip? What are the disadvantages of a strong grip? Which professional golfers on the PGA Tour use a strong grip?

Here is the complete breakdown of what a strong golf grip is.

Table of Contents

What is a Strong vs. a Weak Golf Grip?

With regards to hand position, a strong golf grip is when a golfer’s hands are rotated away from the intended target and toward the right shoulder. This alignment means that your left hand is turned more to the right. This type of grip promotes a draw, with the golf ball moving from right to left.

A weak golf grip, on the other hand, is when the player’s hands are rotated toward the intended target and the left shoulder. This alignment means your left hand is turned more to the left. This type of grip tends to promote a fade, with the golf ball moving from left to right.

What is a Strong vs. Neutral Golf Grip?

As mentioned above, a strong golf grip is when a golfer’s hands are rotated away from the intended target and toward the right shoulder.

A neutral grip is when there is very little rotation of the hands, and the ‘V’ shapes are made with your thumbs and hands when holding the club point toward your chin. A neutral grip is weaker than a strong grip, but stronger than a weak grip. It does not necessarily promote any specific type of ball flight.

When is a Strong Golf Grip a Good Idea for Golfers?

A strong grip is a good idea for golfers who tend to slice the golf ball, which causes it to move dramatically from left to right. A stronger grip promotes an inside-out golf swing, which will naturally cause the golf shot to take a right-to-left path and help eliminate the slice.

A strong grip also tends to produce lower golf shots, which is especially helpful for golfers on longer holes where the extra distance gained on the roll from these shots can be very beneficial.

In addition, using a strong grip on right-to-left dogleg holes can be a good idea, as it will allow the golfer to utilize their natural swing path to draw the ball and follow the shape and contour of the hole.

What are the Advantages?

A strong grip helps players keep a closed club face at impact, which results in more accurate shots. It provides increased clubhead speed on the downswing, which, combined with the closed clubface, helps players draw the golf ball naturally. This draw is desirable off the tee as it usually results in longer drives and hitting more fairways, regardless of the golf course you are playing.

A strong grip also helps with swing mechanics, from backswing to follow-through, with the added benefit of increased swing speed. You may also discover that a stronger grip feels more natural at setup and during the takeaway. A stronger grip helps you to get the club in a powerful position at the top of the swing, which generates significant power on the downswing and follow-through.

The strong grip will also help reduce or eliminate a slice, one of the most common issues with amateur golfers, who often make contact with the ball with an open clubface. With a bit of time on the driving range, you will find that it becomes easy to repeat the natural in-to-out swing a strong grip promotes.

What are the Disadvantages?

A strong grip produces a lower ball flight. While desirable on drives, it could be more helpful on shorter shots or approach shots into the green. If the ball flying into the green is too low, it will be difficult to land it softly and keep it on the green.

Also, if a golfer’s swing naturally closes the clubface on impact, using a strong grip can cause the clubface to close too much, resulting in a hook shot. A hook is an exaggerated version of the draw, with an extreme right-to-left ball flight.

What Professional Golfers on the PGA Tour Use a Strong Golf Grip?

Many successful professional golfers on the PGA Tour use a strong grip. Most notable are Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Bubba Watson, and Zach Johnson.

Many professional golfers use a strong grip because it promotes greater ball speed and longer distance off the tee. While there is an ongoing debate about a strong vs. weak golf grip on the PGA Tour, there has been a definite shift among the number of pros who favor the strong grip over the past several decades.

Conclusion: What is a Strong Golf Grip?

In summary, a strong golf grip is when a golfer’s hands rotate away from the intended target and toward the right shoulder. You can tell you have a strong grip when you hold a club and look down at your hands, and you can see most of the knuckles on your right hand.