Where should your thumb be on a golf club?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 19, 2026
The right thumb should rest on the left side of the grip and be touching the tip of your right index finger, which is wrapped underneath the grip. When gripping the golf club, don't hold the club too tight. Hold it tight enough so the club doesn't slip through your hands.
Where should your thumb be when you grip the ball?
The right thumb should be across the grip, not straight down the shaft. If you place the right thumb on top of the grip and down the shaft, it becomes a pressure point.
Where should the thumb of your trail hand be placed on the club?
How do you place your hands on a golf club? In simplest terms, you should have your 'lead' hand on the top of the golf club and your trail hand just underneath it. The grip should run down your fingers and palm in your lead hand, and the palm of your trail hand should sit just on top of it.
What is the thumb trick in golf?
The secret is your right thumb (if you're a righty; left thumb if you're a lefty). “For a high shot with backspin, swing through impact and hold off the rotation of your hands so that your right thumb stays on the right side of the handle,” says Fisher.
What is the right grip in golf?
How to grip the golf club – Right Hand. Place the fleshy pad of your right thumb directly on top of your left thumb. The 'V' made between your right thumb and forefinger should point to your chin. If the 'V' points over your right shoulder, your right hand is in too strong a position.
38 related questions foundWhere should you place your golf club in your hand?
With a neutral hold on the golf club, the V of the left hand would be pointing towards the right ear. And the right thumb would be just on the right side of the grip.
How far down the club should you grip?
How far down the golf club should your hands be? There should be around an inch from the top of the grip to the end of the club. By holding the club right at the top of the grip, it will result in a loss of control and increases the likelihood of shots to come out of the heel of the club.
Should golf grip be in fingers or palm?
Grip in the fingers, not the palm
Make sure that the grip is in the fingers of your left hand, not running too much through the palm of your hand. If the grip gets into the palm too much it will make it nearly impossible to use your wrists properly in your swing.
What is the proper way to swing a golf club?
Your left arm should remain straight, but not rigid, and your right elbow should point to the ground. The hands should swing back to 11 o'clock, with the hands and arms under the club, supporting its weight. Your right hip and ankle and your left lat muscle should feel stretched and ready to spring toward the target.
Should I choke down on my driver?
When a shot comes up that requires the best of your accuracy, but you still want to hit your driver, consider choking down on the grip of the club. Even moving down the grip by just an inch or two can go a long way toward improving your accuracy.
How tight should you hold a golf club?
Hold the club vertically in front of you. Let it slide down through your fingers. That grip pressure is too light. Firm it up just enough so that the club doesn't fall through.
How far should my hands be from golf?
The hands-to-body distance varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is to have the hands a palm's width from the body for short and middle irons (4 to 6 inches) and a palm's length—from the bottom of the wrist to the tip of your middle finger—for long irons and woods.
Why does my thumb hurt after golfing?
Overview. DeQuervain's tendinitis, also known as DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, is an inflammation and injury to two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Forceful and repetitive thumb and wrist movements can irritate these tendons and cause the condition.
What does a strong grip look like in golf?
What is a 'strong' grip? A strong grip means that the 'V' shapes made with your thumbs and your hands are pointing somewhere to the right side of your head. This is generally how I direct my students to grip the club. A strong grip can cure someone who swings over the top and/or struggles with slicing the ball.
What is a 10 finger golf grip?
As its name implies, the 10 Finger golf grip means that all ten of the golfer's fingers grip the club at the same time and with the same amount of grip pressure. The 10 Finger golf grip has been around since the game was invented back in the 15th century.
Which hand goes on golf club first?
Perfect golf grip step 1: The left hand
The first thing to do is analyse how the left hand (right for left-handers) sits on the grip - you want it to be in the fingers. If it isn't, set the club on the ground with the face pointing towards the target and the toe raised slightly off the ground.
What grip do most golf pros use?
Golf pros use the overlap grip most commonly. The overlap grip helps golfers who have larger hands, and it helps to eliminate some grip pressure as well. If you are a player who struggles to get the grip pressure down, the overlap grip could be a good choice for you.
Does a strong grip fix a slice?
TIP FOR YOUR GRIP: Set your left thumb on the back side of the grip and your right one on top. If you hit a lot of slices, you should "strengthen" your left-hand position on the club. All you have to do is grip it more in the fingers, as opposed to the palm.
What does +4 mean on a golf grip?
The MCC Plus4™ is a tour-proven, hybrid golf grip featuring a larger lower hand and new softer rubber material. The MCC Plus4 simulates 4 additional wraps of tape on the lower hand to encourage lighter grip pressure, reduced tension, and increased power.
What happens if you grip a golf club too tightly?
"Gripping the club too tight can cause thin, weak shots that slice. A lighter grip pressure enhances wrist hinge — a vital power source in the swing. This light pressure also increases the amount of clubface rotation, thus improving your chance of squaring the club at impact.
Do you use same grip for driver and irons?
Yes, you should use the same grip for all of your shots with the exception of putting. It is important to have a solid grip and one that returns the clubface to square whether you are putting, chipping, pitching, hitting bunker shots or making full swings with your woods or irons.
Should you interlock fingers in golf?
Most golfers get told that they MUST interlock their fingers when they hold the golf club. This actually isn't necessary and tends to cause problems. Most golfers do this by getting their little finger and forefinger too deeply “locked” and often take their golf grip with their palms facing outward.
Is it OK to choke up on golf club?
As you can tell, choking up on the golf club is a secret weapon that a lot of golfers don't take advantage of enough. Sure, you will lose some distance by choking up but in general, it's almost always worth it. This is a great way to add new shots in your bag and save yourself when you're hitting it poorly.