Proper Grip

What is a proper grip? Where should my thumbs be? I've noticed lately my thumbs seem to be aiming straight down the shaft. Is this correct or not?

Better more down then wrapped around (like baseball) if you're gunning for a more traditional grip.

I'm really just gunning for something that will help me keep my swing in the proper plane so I can get proper ball contact with my driver.

Take club in left hand and lay it diagonally from under the fat pad of hand below pinkie finger, then wrap your hand around with thumb on right side of club rather than down club.
Place right hand on club so middle crease covers the left thumb and so palm faces target. If you want more draw, move right hand over to right so knuckles face the ground.

I've just tried that grip. It also gives my right wrist that cupped position like in the right hand drill. I can hardly wait to hit the driving range and try it out. Thank you.

On second thought, this grip didn't help on the driving range at all. I've gone to the interlocking grip and I find that besides keeping my right wrist in the cupped position, it also helps me make solid ball contact and seems to have cured my slice with even a slight draw added on and about 25 extra yards.

thumbs do not point straight down the shaft or you will release angle too quickly and this can lead to flipping and fat shots, It would be a long answer to fully explain that. left thumb is around the 7 oclock postion and right thumb around five. of course there is some room for playing around but straight down is a swing killer

Could this lead to slicing?

There's a good lesson on grip under golf lessons.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

If you slice I dont believe this would be the main cause, probably other issues but maybe somehow it may aide it. However, whether or not it leads to slicing, it should be changed anyway

In the last 2 months changed my grip from interlock 2 resting my little finger over the left hand index finger this helps not to move my left hand when i have placed in on the grip, when hitting the ball it seems to let me flow through the ball with more turn over of hand, a little change but a lot of difference.

I've found it makes a BIG difference having a FIRM grip. This partly due to the actual way you hold the club in your hands, partly due to the condition of the actual grip on the shaft (if they're worn you have to hold the club too tight), and the condition of your gloves.

If your grip is flopping around there's no way you'll be able to keep the clubface square. And that will make the ball slice.

I've just hit a bucket of balls and a round of 9 holes using the interlocking grip(never tried that before). It kind of felt a little uncomfortable at first, but after a few holes it was coming more natural. The interlocking grip combined with a few pointers on backswing and body position from my brother who is a golf nut as well as a scratch handicap, and it took about two minutes to straighten out my drive. I hit most of my bucket straight with even a slight draw on some shots, and during the round, all shots were on the fairway with most of them up the middle. I've got to get out to the driving range and work on ball placement during setup a little since I had been placing it forward too much to try to compensate for the slice. Thanks for all the advice.

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Golf is a game of inches. 36 inches = 1 yard
I think you put that one about 2160 inches too far right. LOL

Classic Tour Highly High Bore (Cleveland HiBore clone) 10.5 degree, Gramman TP440 stiff 3.5 torque shaft
KZG Maraging Power 9.5 degree steel shaft #1 "fairway wood"
Knight Virage woods, irons and wedges
Knight putter
Cheapest double titanium balls I can find. lol

absolute rubbish.

i wish you would stop giving advice based on your own poor grip and set up.
this is a serious site and not one for the delusional, self professed single handicapper.
i seriously suggest that you either go and get some golf lessons or visit a shrink.
You are making a mockery of peolple who have worked for years to try and improve peoples swing issues.And you are mis-leading people who have joined this site looking for genuine help with their swing issues.
i appologise to greg, gandalf, lowpost , robert o'keefe, VP and slater for my outburst but i am sick of having to read his delusional, unhelpful bullsh*t.
He makes a mockery of what we all hold dear.

golfonenemisis:i hope i never have to reply to one of your comments again.

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the dog wags the tail....the tail dosn't wag the dog

I put the thumb of the top hand slightly to the side of center of the top of shaft, so that I can see about 2 1/2 knuckles. The line between the thumb and hand aimed at my back shoulder. Put your bottom hand on the shaft so that the line between that thumb and hand is parallel to the other and and also pointing toward your back shoulder. I also interlock this grip. Also works well by just laying the baby finger off the bottom hand on top of your index finger of the top hand instead of interlocking. Whatever feels the most comfortable. Works great for me.