Driver Grip vs Iron Grip: Should It Change Based on Club?

Ask any professional golf coach and they will tell yo that your grip, posture, or ball position is the root cause of your problem. This post will explain the differences between the various grip types and why you should use the duplicate driver grip instead of an iron grip.

I will help you understand the differences between grip strengths and swing path. After reading this article, you’ll notice that consistency is gold and that leaving your grip unchanged ensures a smooth transition between woods and irons.

I recommend saving our guide to proper grips for better control, accuracy, power, and power during your next golf swing.

 

A quick overview of the Different Types of Grips

Before I dive into the best grips for driver and iron shots let me briefly introduce you to the main setups and strengths. I will explain how each hold works and highlight the pros and cons of each.

Grip Setups

Overlap grip

The Vardon grip, also known as the overlap grip, is what I see most players using. It gives you a controlled grip of the golf clubs. Let me show you how to prepare for a shot using this grip if your right-handed.

Steps:

1. Grab the base with your left hand and hold it there.
2. Your left index finger should be wrapped around the grip
3. Place your right-hand underneath the left
4. Place your right pinky finger on the left index knuckle

Interlocking

Although interlocking grips aren’t the most common among amateurs, Jack Nicklaus has used them for years. This setup is said to work best for golfers with smaller hands, who struggle to gain a solid handle on the club using Vardon’s approach.

Steps:

1. Grab the grip base with your left hand and use the firearm approach I recommended with the overlap.
2. Wrap your left index finger around the club’s grip
3. Use your pinky finger to guide the webbing between your left and middle fingers.

Baseball

The ten-finger or baseball grip allows for comfortable hand placement for those just starting out. Or in my case, 28. This grip is often ignored by coaches because it can cause your hands and arms to operate independently, which can lead to clubface problems during swings.

Steps:

1. Grab the base with your left arm and make sure all five fingers touch the rubber.
2. Grab the handle’s lower portion with your right hand
3. Check that your knuckles are aligned on both hands

 

Grip Strength

Neutral

The golden standard of strength and a golf coach’s best friend is the neutral grip, designed to help golfers deliver improved accuracy. When your hands are positioned neutrally, you’ll notice that the V-shape created from the webbing between your thumb and index finger align on both hands.

Weak

If your right hand is visible at an address, you have a weak or closed grip. It removes most or all of your left hand from the direct line of sight. A weak grip should not be confused with a high level of tension in your hands. A lighter grip pressure should be preferred.

You’ll see that a weak grip means that your right-hand covers your left hand. This means that your right hand rotates clockwise from the neutral position.

Your wrist hinge is reduced when your right hand is closed. This makes it difficult to turn your hands during impact. You’ll find it causes you to clubface open at impact and slice or push your golf ball into trouble.

An open clubface combined with an outside in swing path allows you to cut across your ball at impact and send it flying right to the target.

Your ball will travel straight to the target if you cut across it with an open clubface. Additionally, it is possible to have a difficult time squaring your face and leaving it closed, resulting in a nasty hook.

Strong

To create a strong grip, rotate your right hand clockwise from the neutral position to face you until your palm faces away. Coaches also refer to this as an open grip, because your palm is open and faces your chest.

Many golfers believe this grip improves their power for maximum clubhead speed and ball speed. It is also a common reason why amateur golfers slice their golf ball all over the course.

Dustin Johnson has a strong grip that works well. I had to play with a fade my entire junior year because of it. Instead of trying to fix it I compensated by moving my eyes further to the right and allowing for the ball to fade back toward me.

 

Do You Need a Different Grip Between Your Irons and Driver?

To ensure consistency and smooth transitions between your stronger and lower-loft clubs, it is best to use the same grips for your driver as your irons. You may have a different driver grip than a driver grip. This can cause swing path variations and ball flight which can make consistency difficult.

A putter is the only way I would allow you to change your grip setup at golf clubs. You should feel, feel, and have a bullseye of accuracy. This is done by restricting wrist movement during putts.

On the dancefloor, in addition to the standard left-hand high or right-hand low, there are also the claw, saw and left-hand low grips.

 

Which grip is best for a driver’s hand?

A neutral setup is the best grip for a golf driver. It allows you to create a controlled swing path and straighter shots. It doesn’t really matter if you have an interlocking, overlapping, or baseball grip. As long as your strength stays neutral, it is irrelevant.

Your neutral approach may make you feel slower, more prone to injury, and less efficient at hitting the ball. I recommend you get a stronger grip in this situation. While it may increase your swing speed, it can also cause your clubface to open at impact, which can lead you to slice or push your shots.

Experienced players who have had success with alternative methods are proof that there is no one-size fits all approach. This article is meant to help beginners get ahead, and reduce the bad habits that others have picked up over time.

 

Which grip is best to use for irons?

A neutral grip is recommended for irons. It will encourage ball flight and reduce the chance of a slice or hook. To make it easier to close the clubface quicker, tighten your grip when you are preparing for a draw.

To play a fade with your irons you can weaken the grip by moving it clockwise so that your left hand is slightly hidden. It is a game that involves inches. Too much rotation can lead to a vicious slice.

 

Which grip is best for putting?

Traditionalists should support the use of the conventional reverse overlap setup. It requires the opposite placement from a full-swing Vardon grasp. Your left index finger should be positioned on the knuckle your lower right-hand hand. This will allow you to switch roles. You’ll find that this setup restricts wrist movement for straighter putts.

You can also use the low left-hand approach, or the right-hand low option for lefties. Instead of setting up for full shots, place your left hand at bottom of grip and your right hand at the base. You’ll find that this grip promotes less tension and wrist action to keep your putter face square at contact.

Finally, golfers also use the saw or claw variants, which Mark O’Meara popularized in the nineties. The putter is held as if it were a saw or claw. This restricts your wrist movement and allows you to keep your club online during strokes.

 

Which grip is best to hit a draw?

Our guide has pointed out that a stronger grip is the best way to hit a draw. It helps you close your clubface quicker at impact.

Be careful to not over-strengthen you grip as this can quickly turn your draw into an instant hook and lead you down the road of trouble. To compensate for the proposed right curve, make sure you aim to the right of your target.

 

Which grip is best to hit a fade?

Contrary to a draw fade requires a slightly weaker grip setup. This will help you propel your club on an outward-to-in swing path. You’ll notice that this leads to your clubface slicing across the ball while remaining open to the line and sending your ball on a left-to-right trajectory.

To prepare for the fade, make sure you are left of your target to ensure you are properly set up.