Jack Nicklaus's Grip, Alignment, and Mental Game
On Golf Channel Academy, at the Jack Nicklaus Academy in Jupiter, Jack Nicklaus speaks with David Marr III. He discusses his grip and his alignment method, as described in *Golf My Way*, and then reflects on the 1986 Masters and a piece of advice from Arnold Palmer that changed his game around the greens.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Jack Nicklaus, The grip is the foundation of the swing. His hands hang down at his sides, and that's where he picks up the club. Whether it's the interlock, overlap, or baseball grip doesn't matter. He holds the club in the palm of the left hand, the strongest for hitting, and in the fingers of the right hand, the feel of the shot, as if throwing a ball. The V's point toward the right shoulder. For much of his career, he used a weak grip and a slightly open clubface to eliminate the left side and the hook, his most dangerous move.
To line up, he stands behind the ball, chooses a reference point on the line—an old tee mark or a blade of grass—and then takes a parallel stance on the line, without converging lines. Mentally, he is concerned only with himself, and when he’s on a roll, he plays solid shots without taking risks. He also cites Jack Grout, who taught him how to correct his own mistakes during a round, and Arnold Palmer’s advice from 1962: putter from the edge of the green rather than stealing.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Let your hands hang down at your sides and hold the club in this position.
- Place the grip in the palm of your left hand.
- Place your right hand on your fingers, with your thumb pointing toward your right shoulder.
- Behind the ball, draw an imaginary line toward the target and choose a reference point.
- Step forward and take a stance parallel to this line.
- Look at the target to get comfortable, then play.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Sticking with a poor grip just because it seems more comfortable.
- Hold the club in the fingers of your left hand.
- Align your feet toward the target instead of placing them parallel to the line.
- Taking unnecessary risks when you're playing well.
- Pay attention to how your opponents play.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Repeated grip exercises starting with the hands at your sides
- Align with a reference point before each shot
- Puts from the edge of the green instead of chips
Your Questions
How does Jack Nicklaus hold the club?
In the palm of the left hand for a firm strike, and in the fingers of the right hand for a light touch. He believes that the way the hands are interlaced doesn't matter.
Why was he using a weak grip?
To eliminate the left side. The hook seemed to him to be the most dangerous shot; with a weak grip and a slightly open clubface, his shot would veer to the right.
How does it align?
Behind the ball, he picks a reference point on the line of play, then takes a stance parallel to that line, without pointing his feet toward the target.
What advice did Arnold Palmer give him?
In 1962, Arnold Palmer advised him to use the putter from the edge of the green: a bad putt is just as good as a good chip. Jack Nicklaus followed this advice throughout his career.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jack Nicklaus). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.