What does “Vardon” mean in golf?
The name of Harry Vardon keeps coming back to golf for three reasons: he is one of the greatest players in history, he gave his name to the most common way of holding the club, the Vardon grip, and two trophies are named after him.
Who was Harry Vardon?
Harry Vardon was born on May 9, 1870, in Grouville, on the island of Jersey, and died on March 20, 1937, in London. Along with his compatriots J. H. Taylor and James Braid, he formed the “Great Triumvirate,” three players who dominated golf from the mid-1890s to the mid-1910s.
- Six Wins at the Open (the British Open): 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914. This remains the record for the most wins in this tournament, which he holds alone: James Braid and J. H. Taylor each won it five times.
- 1900 U.S. Open Champion, during a major tour of the United States that played a major role in popularizing golf across the Atlantic.
- Unlucky runner-up at the 1913 U.S. Open, defeated in the playoffs by the young American amateur Francis Ouimet—an episode that has gone down in history.
Vardon was known for the precision of his iron play and for a swing that was more upright and fluid than that of most players of his era.
What is the Vardon grip?
The Vardon grip, also known as overlapping (“overlap”) is a way of holding the club in which both hands are connected at the little finger. For a right-hander:
- The left hand is placed at the top of the grip, with the club held mainly by the fingers. The left thumb rests on the shaft, slightly to the right of center.
- The right hand is placed just below it, and its The little finger rests in the space between the index finger and the middle finger of the left hand, or in the hollow they form.
- The right palm covers the left thumb. The “V” shapes formed by the thumb and index finger of each hand point roughly between the chin and the right shoulder.
For a left-hander, everything is reversed. The idea is to make both hands work as a single unit, while limiting the dominance of the lower hand.
Vardon didn't invent this grip: it had already been used a few years earlier by the Scottish amateur golfer Johnny Laidlay. But it was Vardon who made it famous, which is why it bears his name.
Vardon grip, cross-handed grip, or ten-finger grip: What's the difference?
| Grip | Position of the little finger on the lower hand | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vardon (overlapping) | Placed on the index and middle fingers of the top hand | The most common, among both amateurs and professionals |
| Interlocking | Slipped between the index and middle fingers of the top hand, which are interlaced | Popular among players with small hands or short fingers |
| Ten Fingers (baseball) | On the neck, just like the other nine fingers | Beginners, juniors, and players who lack hand strength |
None is better in absolute terms: the right grip is the one that allows you to keep the clubface under control without tension.
What are the Vardon Trophies?
- The Vardon Trophy was awarded by the PGA of America beginning in 1937 to the player on the U.S. tour with the lowest scoring average—adjusted for course difficulty—over a minimum of 60 rounds since 1988. The PGA of America stopped presenting the award after the 2022 edition; since then, the PGA Tour has presented an equivalent award, the Byron Nelson Award.
- The Harry Vardon Trophy, created by the British PGA, is now awarded to the winner of the DP World Tour's annual standings (the “Race to Dubai”).
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Frequently Asked Questions: “Vardon” in Golf
What is the Vardon grip?
This is the club grip in which the little finger of the lower hand rests in the space between the index finger and middle finger of the upper hand. It is also called the overlapping grip; it is the most commonly used grip in golf.
How many times did Harry Vardon win the Open?
Six times: in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914. That remains the record for the most wins in this tournament.
Did Harry Vardon invent the grip that bears his name?
No. Scottish amateur Johnny Laidlay had already been using it a few years earlier, but it was Vardon who made it popular.
What is the difference between the Vardon grip and the interlaced grip?
In the Vardon grip, the little finger of the lower hand rests on the upper hand. In the interlaced grip, it interlaces with the index finger of the upper hand, which is often better suited for smaller hands.