Vardon Golf Grip Explained: Is it for Me?

It won’t have escaped your attention that there are several ways to grip your golf club. And the Vardon grip has been around for a long time and is super popular with professionals and amateur players alike.

But what exactly is the Vardon grip? Is it comfortable? And what are its benefits?

Here, we explain in detail why the Vardon grip is the most popular grip in golf and help you decide if it’s a good option for you this season.

1. What is the Vardon Golf Grip?

The Vardon golf grip, also known as the overlapping grip and was popularised by legendary golfer Harry Vardon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Alongside the interlocking grip, the Vardon grip is one of the most popular in golf and is used by recreational and professional players alike.

The reason why the Vardon* grip is so popular is that it’s easy and comfortable and helps players of varying degrees of competence hit consistently good golf shots.

It’s a good option for left and right-handers and ensures that your gripping of the golf club feels natural and unforced. You can also use the Vardon grip whether you’re a neutral or heavy gripper of the club, and you can adjust your approach accordingly.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Vardon golf grip and whether it’s a viable option for your golf game this season.

2. What are the Benefits of the Vardon Grip?

The main benefit of the Vardon grip is that it’s easy to learn and doesn’t require a great deal of practice. Players swear by the Vardon grip because it combines freedom and control and ensures you strike the ideal balance between the two. **

What we mean by this is that you retain sufficient control over both of your wrists with the Vardon grip without giving them too much leeway.

This is helpful when it comes to reducing slices and hooks, which are common shot types that recreational golfers struggle with.

Another advantage of the Vardon grip is that it’s a great option for players with bigger hands.

The interlocking grip can be problematic for players with longer fingers, so switching to an overlapping grip is advantageous in this respect.

Finally, the Vardon grip is nice and comfortable, and you don’t need to worry about any vibrations or unnatural feelings when you’re connecting with the ball. This is why it’s trusted by so many recreational and professional players alike.

3. Vardon Golf Grip Setup

As well as being really comfortable, the Vardon grip is one of the easiest to perfect. Assuming you are right-handed, you can set up with the Vardon grip in the following way:

• Put your little finger (right hand) between your index and middle fingers on your left hand, overlapping them in the process.
• You should make sure that the thumb of your left-hand fits in the lifeline of your right hand.

Once the grip is in place, decide how tightly to grip your club.

Remember, gripping too tight can result in hook shots while gripping without enough pressure can cause you to slice the ball.

Otherwise, the Vardon grip is really easy to try out and is a great option for beginners and other recreational golfers.

4. Vardon Grip vs. Interlock

The interlocking grip is perhaps the second most common grip behind the Vardon. In the interlocking grip, you fit the pinky of your right hand between the index and middle finger of your left hand (again, assuming that you’re right-handed).

The interlocking grip is preferred by players with smaller hands, as it feels more comfortable and natural than the Vardon. Many golfers believe the interlocking grip provides more control over shots and that it’s easy to adjust the shape of your shots as a result.

Ultimately, both the Vardon and the interlocking grip are viable options for golfers at all levels of the game, and your choice should come down to personal preference above all else.

Those just starting out tend to use a ten-finger grip or the Vardon as they’re more common. But if you’ve established your game with an interlocking grip, there’s no reason to switch things up if you’re playing well.

5. Is the Vardon Golf Grip the Best?

It’s always challenging to say which golf grip is the best, as every player is slightly different and has different expectations and preferences.

But given the popularity of the Vardon grip, it’s fair to say that it’s certainly one of the best.

The reason for this is that the Vardon grip is easy to master and comfortable, which is particularly appealing to beginner golfers.

Also, it’s fair to say that the Vardon grip is one of the best options for players with larger hands, as the interlocking grip can be a little uncomfortable in this regard.

What’s more, the fact that so many professional players use the Vardon grip helps to establish it as one of the best grips in golf, as lots of recreational players hope to emulate those that play on their respective professional tours.

So, if you’re planning to try the Vardon grip for the first time this season, you can rest assured that the overlapping grip is trusted by some of the best players in the game.

6. Vardon Grip for Small Hands Tips

The Vardon grip isn’t ideal for players with smaller hands because it is difficult for them to reach all the way around the grip.

As a result, they sacrifice some power and distance, which is why players with smaller hands are better suited to the interlocking or ten-finger grip.

That being said, if you want to try the Vardon and you have smaller hands, you need to think about the types of grips that are attached to your golf clubs.

You can thicken your grips, which can give you more control over your ball striking and is helpful for players with smaller hands.

But generally speaking, the Vardon grip isn’t ideal for players with smaller hands, and the interlocking or ten-finger grip would be a better option.

As is the case with everything in golf, you can spend some time out on the range practicing gripping the golf club in different ways before settling on the ideal grip for your setup.

7. Do Any Pros Use the Vardon Golf Grip?

It’s estimated that 90% of players on the PGA Tour favor the Vardon grip, highlighting just how popular it is. Since the early 20th century, players have recognized the value of overlapping their hands, and the grip hasn’t changed a great deal over the years.

As well as being popular with professionals ***, the overlapping grip is one of the most popular grips with recreational players, as it’s comfortable and easy to master.

The incredible popularity of the Vardon grip on Tour is due to the fact that players believe that it gives them the most power and control, two aspects of the golf swing that contribute the most to scoring.

The interlocking grip isn’t as powerful as the Vardon, while the ten-finger grip offers less control. Therefore, the Vardon grip is seen as the best of both worlds, hence its remarkable popularity with professional players.

8. Is the Vardon Golf Grip Good for Beginners?

It’s fair to say that the Vardon grip is ideal for beginner golfers. Primarily, this is because it helps you grip the golf club naturally, which is really important when you’re just starting out in golf. Unnatural grips can make it really difficult to get into the swing of things.

 Another reason why the Vardon grip is suitable for beginners is that it’s not particularly complex.

It’s just a case of wrapping one hand around the other, and it gives you excellent control over your shots.

While lots of beginners start with the ten-finger golf grip, it’s helpful to transition to the Vardon grip when you become more experienced, as it provides more control over your shots.

So, if you’re just getting started with your golf swing, the Vardon grip is a great one to try, and it can help you as you look to keep your ball in play.

Conclusion

While there are several ways to grip your golf club, the Vardon grip is one of the most popular. It’s easy and comfortable and is good for accuracy and distance.

So, the bottom line is that the Vardon grip has been a popular golf grip for more than 100 years, and it’s showing no signs of letting up!

Sources and references

1. https://www.liveabout.com/vardon-and-overlapping-grip-1561029 *
2. https://www.foresightsports.com/blog/the-3-common-grips-in-golf-with-pros-and-cons-for-each **
3. https://golfworkoutprogram.com/overlap-golf-grip/ ***