Strong vs Weak Golf Grip


It all starts with how you hold the golf club.

For decades, golfers have argued about the best grip for amateur golfers.

Since most golfers suffer from a slice, teachers have suggested a strong grip can stop that ugly left-to-right shot shape, while other instructors believe a weaker grip can help these lost souls play golf well on the links.

strong vs weak golf grip

So, which grip is better for your golf game?

In our article, we’ll decide the age-old debate of strong vs weak golf grip and provide greater insight into why each golf grip works, no matter your handicap.

The 3 Grips in Golf


When it comes to the three golf grips, you can easily identify them by looking at how the arms create a v-shape with the hand position.

Strong, weak, and neutral grips are the three golf grips that golfers can choose from when holding the golf club.

Each provides unique benefits to influence the swing path golfers take to the ball.

Strong Grip

The most popular grip for amateurs is the strong grip. If you look at the grip when facing the golfer, you’ll notice the v-shape connects to the right side of the head.

Amateur golfers typically use a strong grip to combat the outside-to-in swing path that causes a slice.

In the address position, a strong grip relies on a dominant top hand displaying the top two knuckles of that hand.

The bottom hand takes a weaker position in the grip, helping promote an in-to-out swing that keeps the face square at impact.

The stronger grip pressure also forces the right shoulder for a right-handed golfer to stay more passive instead of triggering the downswing and causing an out-to-in swing that creates more power for those dreaded slices.

Amateurs who use a very strong grip will find that their shot shape begins to move to the left far more often due to the side spin placed up on the ball by this club path.

A strong grip promotes a natural draw ball flight that provides more distance and reliability for the golfers who need it the most.

Weak Grip

The weak grip provides the opposite look of the strong grip as the “v” created by the hands points to the left side of the head.

With the weak grip, the bottom hand provides a stronger influence, covering the top hand and restricting the number of knuckles the golfer can see of the top hand at address.

The weak golf grip promotes a more out-to-in swing, producing an open clubface angle at impact.

Golfers who prefer a fade love using weak grips with their woods and irons because it gets the club into the out-to-in path, creating that high ball flight that moves lazily from left to right.

A fade ball flight works well for experienced golfers because it produces a very reliable golf swing on the links.

Golfers struggling with an over-the-top snap hook shot should use the weak grip to get a more open clubface at impact.

Neutral Grip

You can recognize a neutral grip quickly at first glance because the “v” of the hands points directly at the nose. A neutral grip style works best for golfers who hit the ball straight with a consistent, reliable dispersion.

The neutral position also provides the best comfort when holding the golf club because the left side and right side are balanced with neither half being favored by the golfer.

The neutral golf grip remains popular among mid and low handicappers who have experience hitting the golf ball, and while they might not be mistaken for Tiger Woods, they can control their ball striking around the course.

Is it better to have a strong or weak golf grip?


When it comes to deciding if a strong or weak grip in golf works better for your game, you first need to choose what type of ball flight you prefer.

If you like a strong left hand position on the golf grip with a draw shot shape, then you will prefer a strong golf grip.

If you are thinking about a weak grip, you should know that you’ll produce a fade golf shot shape that moves from left to right.

Most golfers need to use a strong grip because it will alleviate the problems created by their slice.

Commonly, we find that low handicappers who deliver consistent dispersion with a fade shot shape love playing with a weak position grip.

While higher handicappers who want to hit the ball straighter find a strong golf grip that works best for hitting the ball straighter and with more speed.

What are the disadvantages of a strong golf grip?


Golfers can anticipate several disadvantages with a strong golf grip.

Perhaps the biggest is ball flight issues. When looking at the strong vs. weak golf grip, you must understand that the strong grip can cause the snap hook to create a low, ugly right-to-left line drive from a closed face at impact.

If you experience too many hooks with that grip, you can also find even a slightly stronger grip determines your ultimate ball flight causing major issues with confidence.

The mental pressure and confidence of hitting the ball square on the face with a strong grip can create turmoil on the driving range and, eventually, on the course.

Finally, the strong grip can create serious fundamental swing issues that force the golfer to break down and start their swing from scratch.

While it may not be a prevalent issue for golfers, the strong grip position on the club can force the golfer to slow down their progress and search for the answer to hitting more consistent, flush shots on the club face.

Do any pros use a weak grip?


When it comes to tour pros who use a weak grip, you have a roster that holds some of the most legendary golfers of all time.

Major winners such as Jack Nicklaus, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Fred Couples, Collin Morikawa, and even Tiger Woods all prefer the weak grip in the battle of strong vs weak golf grip.

Many golfers of this caliber use the weak grip position because it delivers a softer left-to-right shot shape that helps them attack the hole on the toughest golf courses on the PGA Tour.

Professional right-handed golfers, such as Rahm, Spieth, and Woods, use the fade to their advantage by strengthening their left hand to take control of their interlocking grip.

This grip change provides more benefits over the neutral grip for this talented group of golfers because they can easily control the golf ball.

While amateurs may struggle to find their sweet spot with the weak golf grip, a pro right handed golfer can easily create a natural fade that helps them avoid bunkers and water hazards on tough courses with tucked pin placements.

Why does Jon Rahm use a weak grip?


John Rahm uses a weak golf grip because it provides the left-to-right ball flight he wants with his golf swing.

Since Rahm’s swing is so incredibly unique to begin with, the Spaniard loves to weaken the left hand to prevent pull hooks and a nasty over-the-top golf swing.

Rahm’s swing speed continues to be at the top of professional golfers, so to combat shutting the club face at impact, he utilizes a weak grip that helps produce a lower ball flight that remains very controllable and offers more options when it comes to shaping shots.

The two-time major winner resists using a slight stronger grip because a closed clubface would significantly reduce his ability to control distance, shot shape, and stability at impact.