Are you a golf enthusiast who has always wondered about the best way to grip your club?
Do you know the difference between gripping a driver and gripping an iron? Many people think that the grips should be different, but does it actually make a difference?
According to a study, the type of grip you use and wrist movement play a significant role in producing a successful golf swing. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between driver grip and iron grip, and how each can help you improve your game.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the driver grip vs iron grip debate. We will also discuss the different types of grips and how they can impact your game, so keep reading till the end.
Excited?
Let’s get started.
Driver grip vs Iron grip – Are they the same or different
The driver grips and iron grips are almost similar, but they are different in terms of how they are held. Drivers can be held in different ways, like with a stronger or weaker grip to adjust the ball direction and swing, while the iron grip is held the same way no matter which iron you are playing with.
There are some key differences between a driver’s grip and an iron grip. A driver grip, for example, can be rotated to correct slices or hooks, whereas an iron grip is always held the same way every time you play.
Additionally, most professional golfers prefer to use a stronger grip when hitting a driver, while their grip on an iron will be neutral.
Driver Grip details
In contrast to irons, the driver grip can be held in a variety of ways
When gripping a driver, you can adjust the grip so that you can hit the ball in your desired direction (left or right). You can grip a driver with a neutral, weak, or strong grip.
The main reason you need to adjust the grip of a driver is because of its length. A driver is the longest club in your golf club set, which is why slices or hooks mostly happen with drivers as compared to irons.
If your golf shots are drifting left or right, you can change your grip by holding the club in a weak or strong grip.
With drivers, a weak grip is used to avoid hooking the ball, while a strong grip is used to avoid slicing the ball.
Ultimately, with driver grip, you can hit the ball in your desired direction just by changing the way you grip the driver (weak or strong).
You should experiment with different grips until you find one that helps you hit the ball more accurately, have more control over your shots, and achieve your desired shot shape.
If you can find the perfect grip and have fitted clubs, then trust me it can be a deadly combination.
Iron grip details
When playing with an iron, the grip must be held in a certain way to ensure accuracy and power.
Unlike drivers, which can be gripped in different ways to achieve desired results, irons must be gripped the same way every time for the best performance.
The most common way to grip an iron is the neutral grip.
A neutral grip is when your hands are positioned directly in front of your shoulders, with your palms facing each other and forming a”V” shape facing upwards.
This grip is considered to be the natural and comfortable way to hold an iron.
It gives you more control over the club and provides a balanced distribution of pressure that helps create consistent shots.
In addition to the grip, your wrist position is also very important when playing with irons.
When you swing the iron, allow your arms and shoulders to move freely. This will help you generate more power and control with your shots.
Ultimately, most golfers slice or hook the ball with their driver, but not with irons. That’s why, regardless of which iron you’re using, try to hold it the same way.
So if you’re looking to improve your game with irons, then you need to focus on getting the right grip and wrist position.
Also Read:- How Much To Reshaft Irons And Is It Worth It?
Different types of golf grips and grip strengths
Types of golf grip
There are mainly 3 types of golf grip:-
- Interlocking grip.
- Overlapping grip.
- 10 finger grips.
Interlocking grip
To get an interlocking grip, hold the club with your left hand (If you are right-handed, you need to do the opposite), then bring your right hand and fix the pinky finger between the index and middle fingers of your left hand.
Make sure your right pinky finger and left index finger are properly wrapped around each other.
This creates an extremely secure hold that reduces tension, while also allowing for more powerful slices or impacts when compared with other grips, depending on how you strike the ball.
The interlocking grip also allows shorter players or those with small hands to control their clubs perfectly because it locks both hands into place.
Overlapping grip
The overlapping grip is one of the most popular grips used by professional golfers.
Just like the interlocking grip, you need to bring the pinky finger of your right hand, and this time it will just sit on top of the gap between your left index and middle fingers.
This grip gives great comfort and flexibility to the wrists.
The overlapping grip is good for players with bigger hands, as it provides more surface area for the hands to grip the club.
Those who have good forearm strength will also find this grip beneficial, as they will be able to generate more clubhead speed.
10-finger grip / Baseball grip
The ten-finger grip is the most basic club grip in golf, with all ten fingers touching the club.
Many people refer to this grip as the neutral grip or baseball grip because it is almost identical to holding a baseball bat.
(It’s also known by some as the “neutral” or “baseball” grip because it’s more or less the same way you would hold a baseball bat.)
The only thing to watch out for is the thumb of your left hand. Make sure to keep your left thumb pointing straight down the shaft rather than wrapping it all around.
This grip feels very natural to use and is best for beginners. It has greater impact power and provides direct control over the clubface than any other grip.
This grip makes it a good choice for players who want more power in their swings.
Ultimately, with the ten-finger grip, you get a high level of comfort, stability, and power when swinging your clubs.
Also Read:- Are PXG golf clubs good for seniors? Is it worth it?
Golf Grip Strengths
Along with selecting the correct grip for your style of play, it is important to consider grip strength as well. Grip strength plays an important role in improving your golf swing.
Grip strength should not be confused with how tightly you hold onto the golf club. Rather, it is about the way you place your hands on the grip.
Basically, there are 3 types of golf grip strengths:-
- Weak Grip
- Strong Grip
- Neutral Grip
Weak grip
A weak grip is very useful for any golfer to fix hook shots.
In a weak grip, the ‘V’ formed by your thumb and index finger will point slightly to the left side of your body.
This grip is usually used with an interlocking or overlapping of the fingers.
This type of grip helps to promote a more open club face as well as an out-to-in swing, which can help to fix hooks.
If you are really struggling with extreme or unpredictable hooks, then you must try this grip.
Strong Grip
A strong grip is essential for any golfer looking to fix slices.
The “V” formed by your thumb and index finger in a strong grip will point slightly to the right side of your body, promoting a closed club face at impact and an in-to-out swing.
This type of grip has been most popular among professional golfers since it helps increase ball speed while keeping slices under control.
With this grip, you can add power while ensuring accuracy at all times, so if you’re looking for an improvement in both accuracy and power, the strong grip is a good option for you.
Neutral grip
The neutral grip is the most popular choice for many golfers looking to hit their shots straight.
A key part of achieving this grip is ensuring the ‘V’ formed by your thumb and index finger points straight upwards towards your nose.
Your hands should be positioned around the center and directly on top of the club’s grip.
This specific hand position offers comfort and allows players to have full control over their club, which helps to create a straight shot with less effort.
This type of grip is very common with irons and would be ideal for someone seeking more control over their shots without sacrificing power.
In terms of strength and power, a stronger grip may be preferable, as it can give you more distance off the tee.
All in all, the neutral grip is an excellent way to go if you want a combination of accuracy, control, and comfort.
Also Read:- Are PXG Golf clubs good for Beginners? Is it worth it?
Which Grip is Best for a Driver?
The best grip for a driver will depend on the individual golfer’s swing and shot shape preferences.
Unlike irons, the driver can be gripped in multiple ways to adjust your shots.
Adjusting your grip on a driver is essential since it is the longest club in your golf set. Due to the length of the driver, it tends to create an imbalance, with more slices and hooks than irons.
A weak grip is typically used to reduce the risk of a hook, while a strong grip is used to reduce the risk of a slice.
It’s important to experiment with both to find out which one helps you hit more accurate and consistent shots. But most amateur golfers prefer to use a strong grip while playing with drivers.
Also Read:- What Golf Clubs Do The Pros Use?
Which Grip is Best for Irons?
The neutral grip is by far the most popular and best way to hold your irons.
It’s the natural and comfortable way to grip the club, giving you control over the club and providing consistent shots.
Having your palms facing each other and forming a “V” shape creates a balanced distribution of pressure in a neutral grip. This helps you achieve consistent shots as well as generate more power and control.
Overall, having a consistent grip every time you swing an iron is the key to achieving better results with your shots.
Also Read:- What Golf Clubs Does Tiger Woods Use?
Do driver and iron grip the same?
Driver and iron grips are almost similar, but they are different in terms of how they are held.
Driver grip can be adjusted to a weaker or stronger grip to fix the hooks and slices or to adjust the ball’s direction and swing.
But in the case of irons, regardless of which iron you are playing with, the iron is held in the same manner (mostly on a neutral grip) for perfect and accurate shots.
Hooks and slices mostly occur while playing with a driver, not with irons. That’s why you need to do some variations in grip while playing with a driver, but it’s not as necessary with irons.
Should driver Grip be stronger than iron grip?
Yes, the driver grip should be stronger than the iron grip because the chances of hitting a slice with the driver are higher than with the irons.
A driver is longer than an iron or any other golf club. Due to the length of the driver, it is difficult to square the clubface at impact and swing in to out, which can result in slicing the ball.
A strong grip can help to get the club faces closed at impact, and an in-to-out swing can help hit the ball straight and accurately.
That’s why many professional golfers also prefer to use a strong grip while playing with drivers.
Should you use the same grip type on all the golf clubs?
Yes, you can use the same grip type on all golf clubs except for the putters. For putters, you may need to modify your grip a bit to get an accurate shot.
In putting, you just need to stroke the ball, not swing. You need to experiment with different grip types and grip strengths until you find one that provides the most controlled and accurate shots.
Is A Putting Grip The Same As A Driver Or Iron Grip?
No, the putting grip will be a little bit different from the normal full-swing grip. This is because when it comes to putting, the goal isn’t to swing the club, but rather to softly stroke it.
The most popular grip used in putting is the conventional, reverse overlap grip. This grip allows for secure hand placement with little wrist action during the stroke.
Having the reverse overlap grip offers a degree of stability that you don’t get with your full swing grip, given that you are literally stroking rather than swinging through your putts.
With practice, utilizing this grip can help you become more accurate on your short-game shots and make those three-putts fewer and farther between.
What will be the position of the driver’s grip?
Wrap up on the Driver grip vs iron grip
Many golfers use the same grip for both their driver and their irons, as it allows them to remain consistent in how they hold their club.
However, when playing with a driver, you may choose to switch up the grip a bit to help with accuracy and avoid hooking or slicing the ball.
That said, for your irons, you should probably stick with one particular grip (especially on the neutral grip) and stick with it until you feel completely comfortable with it – otherwise, you might end up causing more harm than good in terms of consistency in your shots.
Ultimately, developing the right grip is essential to becoming a better golfer, no matter which clubs they use.
I hope you now understand the driver grip vs. iron grip debate after reading this article.
If you have any confusion or doubts left, feel free to comment down below.
That’s all for today.
Hope to see you at the next one.
Thank You!
FAQs
Q1) Can I use the same grip for the driver and irons?
Q2) Why do I hit my irons well but not my driver?
Q3) How to grip a driver to fix a slice?
Q4) How to grip a driver to fix a hook?
Q5) Why do I need a stronger grip with the driver?
Q6) Should you use a strong grip with irons?
Q7) What will be the perfect size of the driver’s grip?
If your hand’s size is 7 to 8 inches from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist crease, then the standard or mid-size grip will fit you.
If your hand size is less than 7 inches, then undersized or junior grips may fit you.
And if your hands are large—more than 9 inches or above, then you may need a jumbo grip size.
