The golf swing, in general, is a pretty complicated athletic movement. The sport, on the surface, should be simple. The ball does not move, the target does not move, and there is nobody playing defense against you as you swing the club.
Golf, however, is actually very difficult. There are a lot of things that have to go right to make a good golf shot while only one small thing can go wrong to mess it all up.
With all of that said, it is important to get as much right as possible before making your first move towards hitting the ball and getting the grip right is one of those things.
In this article we describe and discuss the 10 finger golf grip. We will focus on its merits and the pros and cons of using what is also known as the baseball grip in your golf game.
What is The 10 Finger Grip?
The 10 finger grip, also known as the baseball grip, is basically just a grip where all 10 fingers grip the club simultaneously and with equal pressure. It is known as the baseball grip because it is the same grip with which baseball players swing a bat.
There are 3 primary golf grips that people use including the overlapping grip (by far the most popular), the interlocking grip, and the baseball grip. For the majority of beginning golfers, this may feel like the most natural grip and especially if you played another sport.
Here is a picture of each of the 3 grips:
Baseball Grip / 10 Finger Golf Grip
Interlocking Grip
Overlapping Grip
What Is The Proper Way to Do It?
To use this golf grip, simply hold the club with both hands like you were holding a baseball or softball bat. Let the golf grip rest in your hands, where your palms and the base of your fingers meet. The easiest way to explain how you should grip a golf club is imagine you’re picking up a suitcase by the handle.
Make sure you have adequate pressure in your grip, but fight against the tendency of gripping the club too tightly. To produce your swinging motion, rotate your forearms very similar to the motion of hitting a baseball or softball.
Remember that your golf swing does not change with a different grip, you still keep your lead arm straight, find a parallel line with the ground at the top of your backswing, and swing from the inside-out. The difference is the more natural grip but less control of the golf club.
Pros Of The 10 Finger Golf Grip
- The most natural feeling grip for most players who have ever played baseball or softball. If you were to pick up a golf club with no coaching, it would probably be the way that you gripped it.
- It gives golfers maximum leverage on their swing and can produce the highest swing speeds.
- It is the simplest grip.
- The 10 finger grip is usually the easiest for beginners and especially for kids.
Cons Of The 10 Finger Golf Grip
- The biggest disadvantage is that the 10 finger grip leads to increased grip pressure which causes tension and an inability to release through impact.
- The hands can, and oftentimes do, act independently which means your stronger hand can dominate your swing.
- Your wrists have too much freedom to negatively affect your control.
Tips For Using The 10 Finger Golf Grip
Who Should Use a 10 Finger Grip?
The 10 finger grip is great for people with small hands and slower swings. The grip allows you to get all of the power out of your wrists and hands which leads to extra distance. Players with smaller hands, generally younger players and women golfers, may find this grip even more suitable. Smaller hands allow additional control over the club and the added power that this grip provides may be a great match.
The 10 finger golf grip is also a great option for beginners and for kids/teens. It is easily the most natural grip for most people and there is really no explanation needed about how to use it. When you are just starting out, there is so much to think of, and if your grip does not have to be one of them, it frees you up to worry about other things. In addition, kids and teens may prefer this grip because of the additional power it provides, and again because of its similarity to the baseball swing.
Why Should They Use It?
Golfers should use this grip because it is natural, it is powerful, and if it can be controlled well there is not that much downside to it. The problem is that in pressure situations, bringing those smaller muscles into the mix more can definitely cause an increase in errors. However, if a golfer is just starting out, has smaller hands, or is lacking power, then the 10 finger grip could be highly effective for your game.
How Do I Make This Grip More Effective?
Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to make the baseball grip more effective if you decide that this is the grip for you:
- Decrease your grip pressure. This grip leads many golfers to gripping the club too tightly which can greatly affect the rest of your swing.
- Make sure your left thumb fits well into your right hand.
- Keep the golf club in your fingers, not your palms.
- Find drills that help your hands work together.
- Do not wrap the thumb of your right hand around the club, keep it pointed out.
- Keep your hands in a neutral position around the club.
- Do not “Grip it and rip it” as the saying goes. Take your time and do not change your swing just because your grip is different.
- Find a different grip for chipping.
Check out this video from Swing Surgeon Golf to see some of the pros and cons of the 10 finger grip and to see a visual of what this grip looks like:
Final Thoughts On The 10 Finger Golf Grip
The 10 finger grip is not for everyone, but it is for some people, and if your game is struggling it is definitely worth a shot. It is the most natural feeling grip and it is a great way to get some extra power and distance into your game. At the same time, do not lose accuracy and control at the expense of distance. Make sure that you take your time and do everything else right to maintain control.
We hope that you learned something about the 10 finger golf grip and that some of the stigma of this grip has been taken away. Let us know how this grip works for you in the comment section of below. Tell us the good, the bad, and the ugly of trying out this type of grip and take some video and pictures while you are at it. If you have any questions for us, leave those as well and we will do our best to answer them.
