Question:
The ten finger (or baseball) grip allows the club head to be released through the ball more readily than any other grip. It is good for those with smaller or weaker hands and helps combat the slice. I have always used it and sport a four handicap. Dave Barr of Canada is one of many PGA pros utilizing the ten finger.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been experiencing some real problems with hitting the ball fat lately. Tried EVERYTHING to fix it to no avail. Finally got my husband to videotape me in the backyard and I saw that one of my problems was due to bringing my club past parallel on my backswing. Working on that has helped, but I also tried something new – changing my grip1 And that, more than anything seems to really make the difference. I had previously used a baseball grip, and now I’m using an overlap grip. It feels like my hands are forced to work together as a unit, rather than as two separate entities trying to synchronize things. I’d be curious to hear other people’s experiences with grip changes or people’s preferences for a particular grip and the reasons why. I can’t say that I fully understand why this seems to be helping the hitting it fat problem, but I’m willing to forego the reasons if it means that I’ll start playing real golf again instead of spending all my time teed off (pun intended) at the range. Heather
I learned to play with the Vardon grip (overlapping). Then, about 7 years ago, and partially because I have tiny hands, I switched to interlocking. But with recent swing changes I’ve made in the past year, I found that I’m able to better "crack the whip" at the bottom with the Vardon grip. Because of my short fingers, though, rather than the pinkie of my right hand overlapping the big (second) knuckle on the left index finger, it only gets past the smaller first knuckle of the left index finger. Works fine. Randy
Response:
I would caution you on changing more than one aspect of your swing at a time. If you have changed the degree to which you bring the club back(by opening your stance I presume) then that’s all you need to do until you have a feel for whether this is a help or hinderance to your game. To do this and change your grip at the same time can be a big mistake. As for what grip to use, it’s like everything else in sports; use what is comfortable to you and over time you’ll improve. In the words of Ty Webb, "See your future may make, make your future."
Response:
I’d be curious to hear other people’s experiences with grip changes or people’s preferences for a particular grip and the reasons why.
I began my golf playing with the Vardon (overlapping) grip, Heather, and experimented some with an interlocking grip, which I believe Jack Nicklaus uses. But I went back to the Vardon and have stuck with it. It gives me a goog feeling of my two hands working as one unit, without the constricted feeling I got when trying the interlocking grip.
Response:
People with small hands could be helped using the interlocking or Varden grip. Jack Nicklaus uses it so how bad can it be?
Response:
Of course I meant Jack Nicklaus uses the interlocking grip not the Varden which is overlapping. Both are used by small fingered people – IMHO the interlocking is the better of the 2.
Response:
I’d be curious to hear other people’s experiences with grip changes or people’s preferences for a particular grip and the reasons why.
I use a baseball grip mostly because I also play softball/slopitch and I don’t like the feel of interlocking and/or Vardon style grips… unless I can learn to hit a softball that way too *grin*! Jen 
Response:
Of course I meant Jack Nicklaus uses the interlocking grip not the Varden which is overlapping. Both are used by small fingered people –
What? The vardon is used by small fingered people? Are most tour pros small fingered? Damn no wonder I can’t golf – I have medium sized fingers! Argghh Sean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -IMHO the interlocking is the better of the 2.
Response:
I’ve been experiencing some real problems with hitting the ball fat lately. Tried EVERYTHING to fix it to no avail. Finally got my husband to videotape me in the backyard and I saw that one of my problems was due to bringing my club past parallel on my backswing. Working on that has helped, but I also tried something new – changing my grip1 And that, more than anything seems to really make the difference. I had previously used a baseball grip, and now I’m using an overlap grip. It feels like my hands are forced to work together as a unit, rather than as two separate entities trying to synchronize things. I’d be curious to hear other people’s experiences with grip changes or people’s preferences for a particular grip and the reasons why. I can’t say that I fully understand why this seems to be helping the hitting it fat problem, but I’m willing to forego the reasons if it means that I’ll start playing real golf again instead of spending all my time teed off (pun intended) at the range. Heather
Response:
Anytime you change the small things in a golf swing major changes will happen . Or at least it will seem that way till you get used to whatever it is you changed . The overlap grip is the most common amongst the pros for a good reason . It allows you to work your hands and thus work the ball with more awareness . Usually fat shots are caused by excess movement in the right leg , dropping your right shoulder trying to lift the ball or swinging from too far inside . There are so many things to discuss about a golf swing so just this one thing I’ll say for now. Try to maintain your height when you swing . This will allow a simple focus to fix several things . As you swing , have your husband hold a club ,grip end on top of the bill of your hat . some side to side movement is ok but if your moving up or down you’ll make poor contact almost every time . — "May all your drives land in the closely mown area through the green , and your chip shots require no subsequent putting" Robert Allen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been experiencing some real problems with hitting the ball fat lately. Tried EVERYTHING to fix it to no avail. Finally got my husband to videotape me in the backyard and I saw that one of my problems was due to bringing my club past parallel on my backswing. Working on that has helped, but I also tried something new – changing my grip1 And that, more than anything seems to really make the difference. I had previously used a baseball grip, and now I’m using an overlap grip. It feels like my hands are forced to work together as a unit, rather than as two separate entities trying to synchronize things. I’d be curious to hear other people’s experiences with grip changes or people’s preferences for a particular grip and the reasons why. I can’t say that I fully understand why this seems to be helping the hitting it fat problem, but I’m willing to forego the reasons if it means that I’ll start playing real golf again instead of spending all my time teed off (pun intended) at the range. Heather