The overlap grip rests your trail pinky atop your lead hand, giving you more wrist freedom and shot-shaping ability. The interlock weaves that pinky between your fingers, locking your hands into one unit for a more stable, square clubface at impact. Your hand size matters here; under 7 inches generally favors interlock, over 8 inches favors overlap. Picking wrong creates problems no swing tip can fix, so understanding the details below is worth your time.
How Overlap and Interlock Grips Actually Differ
While most golf instruction makes this sound complicated, the difference between overlap and interlock grips comes down to one thing: what your right pinky does.
With the overlap (Vardon) grip, your right pinky rests in the gap between your left index and middle fingers. It sits on top. Never touches the club. With the interlock, that same pinky weaves between those two fingers, creating a mechanical lock that fuses your hands together.
That's it. That's the whole difference.
But don't underestimate what that small change does. The overlap gives you five fingers from your lead hand on the club, three from your trail hand. The interlock puts eight fingers on the grip through the interlacing. Different contact, different feel, different results. Both grips require correct hand arrangement so your hands work as a unified source of control throughout the swing. The interlock grip also reduces hand slippage, making it especially useful when playing in humid conditions.
Which Grip Fits Your Hand Size Best?
Because your hands are the only thing connecting you to the club, their size matters more than most golfers realize when picking a grip.
This is easy to remember if you are not sure. Hands under 7 inches (wrist to middle fingertip): go interlock. It locks your hands into a single unit, giving you the strength and stability you'd otherwise lack. Hands over 8 inches: overlap. You'll get natural wrist action, better feel, and less death-grip tension. The overlap also tends to produce better whip and increased clubhead speed, which bigger hands can take full advantage of.
Fall between 7 and 8 inches? You've got options. Try both during range sessions, hit full bags with each. Pay attention to ball flight with your 8 or 9-iron, where control shows up most clearly. Keep in mind that hand strength and pressure control may actually matter more than the measurements themselves. Don't overthink it. Measure your hand, test both grips, and commit. The wrong grip for your hand size creates problems no swing tip can fix.
How Each Grip Affects Wrist Action and Shot Shape
Once you understand how each grip channels wrist movement, shot shape stops being a mystery and starts being a choice.
The overlap grip gives your wrists freedom. More hinge, more rotation, more ability to manipulate the clubface mid-swing. If you're working draws and fades on purpose, this is your grip. That wrist independence lets you adjust ball flight on the fly.
The interlock? It locks your hands into one unit. Less wrist flip, less independent hand action, straighter shots. If you're fighting a slice or hook caused by overactive wrists, interlock basically puts guardrails on your swing. The interlock grip also helps square the face at impact, giving you more consistent clubface control through the hitting zone.
Here's the real test: hit twenty balls with each grip and watch your dispersion pattern. Tight grouping with one grip means your wrists have found their match.
Overlap vs. Interlock for Control and Consistency
Control isn't some magical quality; you're born with it, it's built into how your hands sit on the club. The interlock grip locks both hands into a single unit, giving you a more stable clubface angle at impact. That means more repeatable shots, period. The overlap grip? It lets your hands rotate more freely, which helps with natural clubface release but demands more discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Grip Pressure Should I Maintain During Different Phases of My Swing?
At setup, you're aiming for a 4-5 on a 1-10 pressure scale, light but secure. Through the backswing, don't change a thing. On the downswing, bump it slightly to 5-6 for control. Then ease back to light pressure through your follow-through. That's it. If you're white-knuckling the club at any point, you're killing your wrist action and messing up your mechanics. Think "holding a bird" firm enough it won't fly away.
Can I Switch Between Overlap and Interlock Grips for Different Clubs?
Don't do it. Switching between overlap and interlock for different clubs is a recipe for inconsistency. Each grip creates different pressure points, wrist action, and clubface control, so alternating mid-round basically destroys your muscle memory. You're forcing your brain to run two different motor patterns simultaneously. Pick one grip, commit to it across all 14 clubs, and let repetition do its job. Experiment on the range, not the course.
Does the Interlock Grip Help Fix a Persistent Hook in My Game?
Yes, it genuinely can. The interlock grip naturally limits excessive hand rotation through impact, which is what's causing your hook. One Reddit golfer switched mid-session and went from hooking 3 out of 5 shots with overlap to hitting straight or slight fades with interlock. No swing changes, just the grip. You'll also want to weaken your grip slightly, rotate both hands left until the V's point between your back ear and shoulder.
How Long Should I Practice a New Grip Before Committing to It?
Give it a solid 3 weeks before you decide anything. That's the sweet spot. You'll feel awkward for the initial 5-10 sessions, that's normal, not a sign it's wrong. Start with putting and chipping, then work up to full swings after a week. If your ball striking stabilizes around session 10, you're on track. Don't bail early. Reduced hand fatigue at the 2-week mark means it's clicking.
Should I Start Testing Grips With My Driver or Shorter Irons First?
Start with your short irons, 8-iron or 9-iron. Don't touch the leader yet. Shorter clubs give you way better feedback on what the grip's actually doing to your ball flight. A driver's too long and too fast to feel subtle differences, so you'll just mask problems instead of spotting them. Build confidence with short irons first, then work your way up through the bag. The driver comes last.
Conclusion
There's no universally "correct" grip; anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. Try both for at least a full range session, not three swings. Overlap generally suits bigger hands and players who want wrist freedom. Interlock locks things down for smaller hands and those fighting inconsistency. Your comfort and shot results are the only metrics that matter. Stop overthinking it and start testing for yourself.
