□
Overlap vs Interlock Grip in Golf: Pros, Cons, and Which to Use — LAZRUS Golf
Skip to content
Aug 20, 2025   Written By: Connor Stweart

Table of Contents:

  1. What Are Overlap and Interlock Golf Grips?
  2. Pros and Cons of Each Grip
  3. Key Differences Between Overlap and Interlock Grips
  4. How to Choose the Right Grip for You
  5. Practical Tips for Grip Success
  6. Conclusion

Choosing the right grip is one of the most important decisions you'll make in golf. Your grip directly affects your swing, ball control, and overall performance on the course. There are two grips that dominate the golf world, and these are the overlap grip and the interlock grip.

This guide will help you to learn both grip styles, their pros and cons, and how to identify the right one for your game. Whether you are browsing for new clubs from a golf online shop like Lazrus Golf or working on your swing, the correct grip can make all the difference.

What Are Overlap and Interlock Golf Grips?

Golf grips are how you hold your club, and the connection between your hands determines your swing's power and accuracy. The overlap and interlock grip are two of the most commonly used methods by golfers. Both grips require you to arrange your hands on the club in the correct position so that you can gain unity and control. The main distinction is in which your fingers interface to bring your hands together.

Overlap Grip (Vardon Grip)

The overlap grip, or the Vardon grip, is named after the great Harry Vardon himself, who first promoted it in the early 1900s.

How It's Done

To form an overlap grip:

  • Place your left hand on the club first
  • Position your right hand below your left hand
  • Let your right pinky finger rest on top of your left index finger
  • The pinky overlaps the index finger, creating the connection

Origin and Popularity

It was Harry Vardon who invented this grip in the late 1800s and it soon became the norm. Now, a large number of professional golfers are playing with the overlap grip.

Who Commonly Uses It

The overlap grip works best for golfers with:

  • Larger hands
  • Stronger grip strength
  • More experienced players
  • Those who prefer maximum clubface control

H3: Interlock Grip

The interlock grip is an alternative way to pair your hands, leading to a more connected feel between the grip and your hands.

How It's Done

To form an interlock grip:

  • Place your left hand on the club first
  • Position your right hand on the club
  • Interweave your right pinky finger with your left index finger
  • The fingers literally lock together, creating a strong connection

Benefits for Smaller Hands

The interlock grip is particularly beneficial for golfers with smaller hands or shorter fingers. It adds a level of security when your hands may not naturally wrap around the club as comfortably.

Left Image

Pros and Cons of Each Grip

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each grip helps you make a decision for your game.

Overlap Grip

Pros:

  • Holding the club: The overlap grip is favored by countless professionals because you're in control of the golf club face right from address through impact
  • For larger hands: This one fits larger hands better
  • More freedom: Your wrist gets to bend just a bit more, helping with shot shaping
  • Power generation: Can help produce more clubhead speed

Cons:

  • May feel disconnected: Some golfers feel their hands are working independently, not as a connected unit
  • Not great for people with smaller hands: Golfers with smaller hands might struggle with gripping these
  • Needs further practice: Requires a bit more time to start playing with confidence than with the interlock grip

Interlock Grip

Pros:

  • Coordinated hands: Your hands function together in the swing
  • Uniform pressure in both hands: Allows for accurate grip on the club throughout the entire swing
  • Less slippage: Your grip naturally tends to twist around in swing, but with crowsport the fingers are locked so no slipping can occur
  • Quick learning: Beginners often have an easy time learning this grip early in the game

Cons:

  • Restricted wrist action: The locked fingers can prevent the wrist action from occurring freely
  • Pressure and discomfort: Holding the interlocked fingers can lead to pressure points and discomfort
  • Reduced control of clubface: Some golfers have difficulty rotating the clubface to shape shots

Key Differences Between Overlap and Interlock Grips

Knowing these main differences can help you decide which grip is right for your playing style.

Grip Connection Style: For the overlap grip, one finger overlaps the other whereas for the interlock grip, your fingers interlock. This in turn has the effect of how your hands communicate during the swing.

Impact on Wrist Mobility: You have a more natural wrist hinge and release with the overlap grip, especially during shot shaping. The interlock grip shortens wrist action, creating more consistency but less opportunity for mastery of shot making.

Clubface Control and Shot Shaping: Overlap grips usually provide better control of the clubface, which simplifies hitting draws and fades. Interlock grips tend to give straighter ball flights but may not work well when needing to turn the ball over either way.

Real Golfer Insights

Golf forums and communities provide valuable real-world perspectives on grip choice. Here's what actual golfers say:

"I switched from interlock to overlap after 10 years of playing. The overlap gave me a much better feel for the clubface, and my ball striking improved dramatically." - GolfWRX community member

How to Choose the Right Grip for You

Choosing the proper grip involves taking into account a number of factors unique to your own body type and how you wish to play.

Consider Hand Size and Strength: If you can fit your hands around the grip with the tips of your fingers just barely wrapping around it, you’re probably in for an overlap grip. Big hands will appreciate the control and tactile feel of this grip.

If you can't wrap your fingers all the way around the grip, or if you feel less stable through the swing, the interlock grip will create a tighter fit. This grip will allow smaller hands to behave as one.

Comfort and Control

Consider how much wrist action you want in your swing. If you like to shape shots and use your wrists actively, the overlap grip offers more freedom. If you prefer consistency and less hand action, interlock might be better. When practicing for long periods, keep in mind your comfort and energy levels. Some golfers don’t like the interlock grip because it creates pain in the fingers, and some don’t like the overlap feel because of the pressure it puts on the index finger.

Practice and Testing

Work with both grips during several range sessions. Take swings with your full golf set using both grips for a true comparison. Monitor ball flight tendencies, accuracy and distance control with every grip. Take notes about which grip works well for different types of shots.

Practical Tips for Grip Success

Regardless of which grip you choose, these tips will help you maximize your success and comfort.

Avoid Excess Pressure

Many golfers grip the club too tightly, leading to tension and poor swing mechanics. Hold the club with just enough pressure to maintain control, try to imagine holding a small bird that you don't want to hurt but also don't want to escape.

Test with Short Irons First

Begin your grip experimentation with some short irons, 8-irons or 9-irons. These clubs are also easier to control, and they will help teach you much more about how your grip influences your ball striking and feel.

Consistency Across Clubs

Whatever grip style you choose, stick with it on all the clubs in your bag. Taking different grip styles with different clubs causes confusion and inconsistency.

Consider Using a Glove

A golf glove can assist grip security and alleviate pressure points, in particular when experimenting with a new grip type. For many golfers, gloves simply make grip changes more tolerable as you learn.

Right Content Image

Conclusion

Ultimately, the selection of overlap and interlock grip style will depend on personal preference, hand size, and style of play. With the overlap grip, the player has more control over the club face and is great for golfers with bigger hands, while the interlock grip offers unity and strength to the hands, which is great for golfers with smaller hands.

It should be noted that even players on the professional golf circuit have used both grip styles effectively. Jack Nicklaus became one of the greatest ever with the interlock grip and many other legends have played with the overlap grip all of their lives.

Most important is to find a grip that is comfortable and gives you confidence over the ball. Whether you’re buying new clubs from a golf club online store or purchasing a full set of golf clubs for the first time, focusing on the grip will give you more than a handle on your overall game improvement.

Practice the grip extensively on both during testing, and be willing to test and experiment with the grip. Grip is the cornerstone of your golf swing and well worth the time investment in finding yours. Select the grip that feels right, gives you control, and inspires confidence in your game.

And keep in mind there's no such thing as the “right way” to grip a club, only the right way for you. Try each grip and let comfort and performance be your guide.