7 Common Problems Caused by an Interlocking Golf Grip

Amateur golfers use the most common set-up, the overlapping grip (also called the Vardon grip).

There are many ways to hold a golf clubs. Other options include the interlock or baseball grip. In this article I will discuss the 7 most common problems that can be caused by an interlocking grasp.

This will help you understand why the Vardon grip is preferred over the interlocking grip. While the former was successful for Jack Nicklaus as well as Bobby Jones, it is difficult to master for beginners.

 

7 Common Problems with Interlocking Golf Grips

1. Grip Pressure

Applying sufficient pressure to your golf club’s grip enables you to produce adequate clubhead speed and power on the downswing. You can also keep your club on a plane so that you can execute accurate shots.

You lose control of your club if you do it wrong. This can impact power and your swing path. This results in inaccurate shots and less yardage.

Your grip pressure can be strengthened, which will allow you to close your clubface during impact, which can lead to a hook. Your wrist hinge is also restricted by a solid grip, which prevents you from maximizing power through the back or downswing.

You can identify your address by having both of your palms facing outwards when you strengthen an interlocking grasp. If this happens, you should get away from the ball and start over with your pre-shot routine.

Insufficient pressure can cause your right index and middle fingers to loosen. This can reduce your clubhead speed and make it difficult to square the clubface up at impact. You leave your face open, which causes you to spin left-to right from a left-handed golfer. This motion causes your ball’s to cut into the right fairway.

2. Controllability

The poor grip pressure at the golf club causes a lack in control. For this reason, I often see amateur golfers struggling to control their golf clubs when using an interlock grip. Now, this is not the grip’s fault; it means that the golfer did not set up correctly.

Golfers who grip the clubs too tight tend to lose their control and end up with consistent hooks. A weaker trailing hand, on the other hand, will not be able to generate enough swing speed and will often leave the face open at impact. This can lead to a loss in distance and consistent slices.

3. Limited Wrist Hinge

A firm grip hampers your wrist’s ability to hinge on your backswing and downswing. This can reduce your power and clubhead speed, leading to a decrease in distance. Additionally, it is difficult to get your clubface in contact because you cannot hinge your wrists.

4. Impact – Open Clubface

A weak interlock grip can cause an open clubface during impact. The golf club’s reduced control prevents you closing it on the downswing, so it is difficult to bring it in line at impact.

Your clubface should remain open to contact. Right-handed golfers will find that the clubface angle at impact encourages left to correct ball flight. If executed correctly, you can produce a fade. The worst-case scenario would be a slice.

5. Loss of Clubhead speed

Amateurs weaken the trail hand to prevent interlocking fingers. To do this, rotate your right hand so that you can see the back. This creates an arc-shaped shape that aligns with the left shoulder.

This hold reduces your control over the golf club and the number of fingers touching it. This will reduce your stability on the downswing and give you the energy to play a long shot.

6. Discomfort

The interlocking grip can cause a loss in club speed and control. It is also uncomfortable for larger hands. Golfers with smaller hands feel the interlock offers the best seal.

The problem I have with the interlock is its inability to feel natural. It does not feel natural no matter how many times you try to use it. The club feels too loose in my hands or as though my left hand is being strangled by the right one.

7. Blisters on The Webbing of Your Finger

A firm grip can cause blisters or cuts to the webbing between your right pinky finger and ring finger. Brittles can be caused by the friction and pressure from your glove on delicate skin.

The synthetic leather in your golf gloves can also scratch or cut your skin. A cut in your finger’s webbing can be unbearable, no matter how brave you may be. I learned that lesson at six when a leather cricket ball snuck into my webbing, causing it to become incontinence between my right thumb & index finger.

 

How to Solve These Problems

Shallow Lock

It is easy to eliminate the deep interlock problem. It is as simple as adjusting the point at which your right pinkie locks to your left index and ring finger. Deep locks require that you push your pinky all the way into the webbing between your left index and middle fingers.

This is painful and can quickly cause wrist hinge to become obstructed, increase discomfort, and worsen blisters and cuts. To overcome this, simply place your right pinkie closer to the joint in your left index finger.

Interlocking at this point will bring your hands closer together, allowing them to work in unison to produce the best shot.

The Golf Doctor will show you where it is best to overlap or interlock these. This will allow you to achieve the right pressure and hand positioning.

The solution is simple: lock your right pinkie to the point of the left index finger joint. This will allow you to loosen your grip, increasing your comfort, and allowing your wrists more freedom.

Neutral Trail Hand

A weak trailhand is the opposite to deep interlock. Golfers often weaken the trailhand to counter the strong grip that deep interlocking can cause. You can identify a light trailhand when your right hand is turned around so that you can see the back.

This can cause you to lose your grip and weaken your grip. A weaker grip can lead to golfers leaving the clubface open during impact, which can result in a slice.

To overcome a weaker hand on the trail, you must rotate your right arm anti-clockwise. This means that you turn your right hand so that your thumb is running down the grip. This creates a neutral grip position that allows you to control the golf club with your left hand.

A neutral position allows you to generate maximum clubhead speeds and square your face at impact. You have the best chance of making straight, long shots.

The Webbing should be rubbed in the right pinky finger’s tip.

The tip of your pinky fingers is the final solution to interlocking grip. Amateurs tend to guide their pinky finger tip to the knuckle on their left index finger.

This is what amateurs do to create an interlocking and overlapping grip. This setup can cause your right index and middle finger to slip off the grip. This arrangement means you have two fewer fingers that control the club, which affects your power and stability.

The solution is simple: guide your right pinky’s tip into the webbing between the left index and middle fingers. You can keep your pinkie in that spot to ensure the right index is always on the grip.

This means you can now produce maximum clubhead velocity and keep your clubface on track. This means that you are more likely to deliver a longer, straighter shot.