Overlapping vs Interlocking vs Baseball Grip: Which Should You Use?

The way your hands connect on the club has a big influence on control, comfort, and how easily the clubface can square through impact.

Yet many golfers choose a grip style simply because it is what they were first taught or what they see tour players using, without considering whether it actually fits their hand size, strength, or release pattern.

The overlapping, interlocking, and baseball (10-finger) grips all connect the hands in different ways. Those differences affect how stable the club feels, how freely the wrists can hinge, and how well the hands work together during the release.

A grip that feels secure for one golfer may feel weak or restrictive for another, even if both are using the same grip strength and hand positions.

Hand size, finger length, grip strength, and even joint mobility all play a role in which grip style works best.

A player with smaller hands may struggle to control the club with an overlap.

A player with larger hands may feel cramped with an interlock. Some golfers gain speed and freedom with a baseball grip, while others lose face stability.

In this article, you’ll learn the differences between the overlapping, interlocking, and baseball grips, who each one tends to suit best, and how to determine which style allows your hands to work together most naturally.

The goal is not to copy a tour grip, but to choose the style that gives you the best combination of control, comfort, and consistent clubface delivery.

The Overlapping Grip (Vardon Grip)

The overlapping grip places the little finger of the trail hand on top of the index finger of the lead hand. This creates a unified connection between the hands while still allowing each hand to maintain its own structure and pressure.

This grip is most commonly used by players with medium to large hands and good hand strength. The overlap allows the lead hand to control the clubface while the trail hand supports the release without dominating it.

One of the main benefits of the overlapping grip is stability. Because the hands are connected but not locked together, the wrists can hinge freely and the forearms can rotate naturally. This often produces a smooth release and consistent face control.

The downside is that golfers with smaller hands or weaker grip strength may feel the club is not secure enough. If the hands cannot fully wrap around the handle, the overlap can feel loose and lead to tension as the player tries to squeeze for control.

Want a 12 week program with drills, worksheets, and practices pre-made for your handicap (10-20) to help you Break 80 finally? Learn more about the Break 80 Program here.

The Interlocking Grip

The interlocking grip connects the hands by hooking the little finger of the trail hand with the index finger of the lead hand. Instead of resting on top, the fingers are physically locked together, which creates a very unified feel between the hands.

This grip is often ideal for golfers with smaller hands, shorter fingers, or less grip strength. Because the hands are interlocked, the club feels more secure without needing to squeeze, and the hands tend to move together as a unit through the swing.

A major benefit of the interlock is connection. It reduces the chance of the trail hand overpowering the lead hand and helps the wrists hinge and release in sync. This can improve face stability and timing for players who struggle with hand separation or inconsistent release.

The potential drawback is tension. Some golfers interlock too tightly and end up restricting wrist hinge or forearm rotation. When done correctly, the fingers are connected but the pressure is still light enough to allow the club to move freely.

The Baseball (10-Finger) Grip

The baseball grip places all ten fingers directly on the handle with no overlap or interlock. Each hand sits independently, similar to how you would hold a baseball bat.

This grip is common with beginners, juniors, and golfers with limited hand strength or mobility because it feels natural and secure right away. With all fingers on the club, it is easier to apply pressure without squeezing, and many players feel they can create speed more easily.

The advantage of the baseball grip is freedom. The wrists can hinge and unhinge quickly, which can increase clubhead speed and help players who struggle to release the club. It can also be more comfortable for golfers with arthritis or joint stiffness.

The drawback is that the hands can act more independently, which may lead to timing issues and less face stability if the trail hand becomes too dominant.

For many players, this grip works best when paired with good hand alignment and balanced pressure so the lead hand still controls the clubface.

Grip Style and Wrist Hinge

Each grip style changes how easily your wrists can hinge and unhinge.

With the overlapping grip, the wrists tend to hinge smoothly because the hands are connected but not locked. This often produces a balanced release where the lead hand controls the face and the trail hand supports speed.

With the interlocking grip, the wrists usually hinge as a unit. The locked fingers help the hands move together, which can improve timing and prevent one hand from overpowering the other. For players with smaller hands, this often makes hinge and release feel more coordinated.

With the baseball grip, the wrists can hinge very freely. This can create speed, but it can also allow too much independent hand action if the trail hand becomes dominant. When structured well, it can still produce excellent hinge and release.

Grip Style and Shot Shape

Grip style can subtly influence how the face rotates.

The overlapping grip often promotes neutral curvature because the hands work together without excessive roll.

The interlocking grip can help stabilize face rotation, which may reduce hooks or blocks for players who struggle with hand timing.

The baseball grip can increase the rate of face closure for some golfers, which may promote draws or hooks if the trail hand becomes too active. With proper alignment, it can still produce straight, powerful shots.

Choosing Based on Hand Size and Strength

Hand size and finger length play a big role in which grip style feels secure and controllable.

Golfers with smaller hands or shorter fingers often do well with the interlocking grip because it physically connects the hands and prevents the club from feeling loose.

Golfers with larger hands and longer fingers usually prefer the overlapping grip, which provides connection without crowding the hands or locking the fingers together.

Players with limited hand strength, arthritis, or reduced mobility may find the baseball grip more comfortable because all ten fingers share the load and less squeezing is required.

The best grip style is the one that lets you hold the club securely without tension and allows your wrists to hinge and release naturally.

Common Grip Style Mistakes

With the overlapping grip, a common mistake is letting the trail hand become too separated from the lead hand, which can reduce face control and encourage flipping.

With the interlocking grip, many golfers interlock too tightly, creating tension in the fingers and forearms that restricts wrist hinge and slows the swing.

With the baseball grip, the most common issue is poor hand alignment. If the trail hand becomes too dominant, the face can close too fast and lead to hooks. The lead hand must still control the clubface structure.

Simple Tests to Find Your Best Grip Style

Try the one-hand stability test. Hold the club with your lead hand only and make slow swings. Then add your trail hand using each grip style and notice which one feels most secure without squeezing.

Use the hinge freedom test. Make slow backswings and see which grip allows your wrists to hinge easily without tension.

Finally, use the start-line test. Hit short shots and watch where the ball starts. The grip style that produces the straightest, most consistent start lines with the least effort is usually the best fit.

Drills to Train Your Chosen Grip

Connection Drill

Grip the club with your chosen style and make slow swings while focusing on keeping both hands working together as one unit.

Pressure Balance Drill

Hit half shots while keeping grip pressure at a 4–5 and feeling equal support from both hands.

Face Control Half-Swings

Hit waist-high shots and focus on starting the ball on your target line. Stable start lines indicate your grip style is supporting face control.

Building Grip Style into Your Routine

Set your lead hand first, then connect your trail hand using your chosen style.

Check that the hands feel secure but not tense.

Confirm that your wrists can hinge freely and the clubface looks square with a flat lead wrist.

Consistency in grip style builds consistency in release and ball flight.

Conclusion

Overlapping, interlocking, and baseball grips are not right or wrong. They are simply different ways to connect your hands to the club.

• The overlapping grip suits players with larger hands and promotes a balanced release.
• The interlocking grip helps smaller-handed players create unity and face stability.
• The baseball grip offers comfort and speed, especially for beginners or golfers with limited hand strength.

The best grip style is the one that gives you security without tension, freedom without instability, and a release that squares the clubface naturally. Choose the style that fits your hands, and the swing becomes simpler and more repeatable.

Golf Practice Plan – What to Do & Not To Do

Wonder why you’re not getting better as fast as you want to be? Here’s your proven system to follow step by step that hundreds of golfers like you are following each month. Our students send us emails frequently praising these practice plans and how much they’ve improved at golf.

Get access to our Practice Plans built for all 3 skill levels (Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Golfers).

You’ll learn what to do at the golf course to improve your score and skills and what not to do. Just follow these plans step by step. It’s made easy for you. Plus see our videos, worksheets, and training aid recommendations.

Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor