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Grip All clubs Beginner ⏱ 6 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Tom Watson's grip: two knuckles, thumbs opposite each other

Tom Watson was six years old when his father first put his hands on the club. He explains this grip step by step: two visible knuckles, thumbs on either side of the shaft, the right index finger slightly spread apart, and a simple test to find the right amount of pressure.

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Tom Watson
Tom Watson · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

26 minSame problemThe Golf Swing, Step by Step: From the Grip to the FinishPaige Spiranac · Beginner8 minSame problemThe club's sole is flat at address: should you force it?Simon Camirand · Beginner22 minSame problemHow to Hold a Golf Club: Tips for BeginnersFlorent Alès · Beginner

What the lesson shows

The left hand comes first. His father's advice: turn it until you see two joints, with the V formed by the thumb and index finger pointing toward the right shoulder, and the left thumb on the center-right part of the grip. His longtime instructor draws two lines on his students’ gloves to position the club between them, rather than in the palm. A club held in the palm doesn’t sit right: you grip it too tightly and your arms tense up. The right hand He places the pad of his left thumb over the club, holds the club between his two middle fingers, and places his right thumb on the left side of the shaft. Watson points his V straight toward his chin, or just to the right of it.

He moves it aside a little the right index finger to cradle the club without gripping it too tightly. The pressure points: the last three fingers of the left hand and the middle two fingers of the right hand. Test it this way: Hold the club vertically, let it slide, adjust your grip, relax your grip until it’s about to fall, then bring it to a horizontal position—the pressure that develops is just right. Two common mistakes: the two inches at the top, which prevent the wrists from cocking and cause the clubface to open (slice); a left hand that is too tight, which closes the clubface at impact.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Place your left hand down first, with the club between your fingers, not in the palm of your hand.
  2. Turn it until you see two knuckles, with the V facing your right shoulder and your thumb on the right-center of the handle.
  3. Position your right hand so that the pad of your thumb covers your left thumb, with the club held between your two middle fingers.
  4. Place your right thumb on the left side of the neck, with the V pointing toward your chin or right shoulder.
  5. Hold your right index finger slightly apart from your middle finger.
  6. Hold the club upright, let it slide, regain your grip, and release it until it would fall.
  7. Hold it horizontally: the pressure you feel in your fingers is just right.

Key Takeaways

Left hand first: two visible knuckles, pointing V-shaped toward the right shoulder.
The club is held between the fingers, not in the palm.
Left thumb to the right of the neck, right thumb to the left.
Keep your index finger slightly away from your middle finger to swing the club.
Press down on the last three fingers of your left hand and the middle two fingers of your right hand.
Thumbs on top: wrists secured, palm facing up.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Hold the club in the palm of your hand, then grip it too tightly to compensate.
  • Place both thumbs on top of the neck.
  • A left hand that's turned too far, with too many knuckles showing.
  • Place your right index finger against your middle finger and grip the club.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Practice your left-hand grip, then your right-hand grip, in front of a mirror
  2. Count the knuckles on your left hand: two
  3. Pressure test: vertical, slide, release, horizontal
  4. Compare wrist guards with and without thumbs on top

Your Questions

How many knuckles should be visible on the left hand?

Two, according to the advice Tom Watson received from his father. Plus, it’s the “power” position that closes the clubface at impact.

Where should you place your thumbs?

Place your left thumb on the center-right part of the shaft and your right thumb on the left side. Having both thumbs on top prevents your wrists from cocking and opens the clubface.

Why spread your right index finger?

A small gap between your right index and middle fingers makes it easier to swing the club without gripping it too tightly.

How do you find the right grip pressure?

Hold the club vertically, let it slide, regain your grip, and relax until it’s about to fall. As you bring it to a horizontal position, the pressure increases in the right fingers: that’s enough.

Learn More

All “Grip” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you The Golf Swing, Step by Step: From the Grip to the FinishA comprehensive lesson for beginners, covering everything from the grip to a solid finish, with simple, step-by-step guidelines and a detailed breakdown of weight distribution from the address to the finish. The club's sole is flat at address: should you force it?It's normal for the club to rest on the heel: forcing the sole to lie flat raises the wrist, stiffens the arm, and shifts the grip to the palm. How to Hold a Golf Club: Tips for BeginnersGrip lesson with specific anatomical landmarks: mid-grip, club in the fingers, V toward the chin, right index finger on the trigger, overlap or interlock. Tom WatsonAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tom Watson). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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