Baseball grip vs interlocking

[4LEX]

I changed from an interlock grip to a basegrip due to a thumb injury and played some of my best golf. I felt as time went on I got loose and turned into a bit of a slogger with it through. Ball striker and distance was good but accuracy from 100 yards down.

Have since changed back after the injury cleared up but still occasionally switch mid round if I'm having a bad day. I think playing around with strong/weak grips and other variations improves you as a golfer. You can see the difference a strong grip makes vs a weak one on the range with exactly the same swing.

 

[garyinderry]

I've been baseball most of my golfing life. This last few months I've been overlap.
Another one with thin fingers who cant do interlock.

My grip is usually on the strong side. It did go weak in the left hand sometime last year. Hit alot of weak wipey fades. Decided to go back strong and now can hit the odd hook.

 

[Doh]

Golf accelerated some fingers to look very old and knobbly!!

Amanda that does not sound like golf is the problem to me.

 

[sjw]

About 10 years ago I used to do the overlap grip as interlocking felt so uncomfortable. Now I've picked up golf again at the ripe old age of 27, I went straight to interlocking grip and it felt absolutely fine. Overlapping feels like I've got way less control of the club.

 

[r0wly86]

just wondering if a baseball grip would allow for easier manipulation of a shot, having more separation in the hands?

 

[Imurg]

just wondering if a baseball grip would allow for easier manipulation of a shot, having more separation in the hands?

For most people that would be a disaster waiting to happen

 

[r0wly86]

For most people that would be a disaster waiting to happen

oh yeah absolutely, hands working separately would be a world of hurt for a lot of golfer

 

[Mandofred]

And yet for Happy Gilmore...it....just.....might.....work.

 

[Orikoru]

And yet for Happy Gilmore...it....just.....might.....work.

Surely he was using the hockey grip, not baseball?

 

[Edheadz]

I have always just used a interlocking grip, any pro thats had a look at my grip just always said this is how you grip the club. I have noticed two problems I have with this grip, first is for the past few months my right pinky is getting sore. I am guessing I must be pressing down too hard with my grip and second is my right hand really struggles to stay nuteral and turns round into a strong grip.
So yesterday on my sim I had a mess around with the baseball grip, it did feel a bit different but noticed with my PW and 9 iron I wasn’t losing any distance.
I went out of the course today and decided to play baseball grip only just to see what I would score and I broke 80 for the first time, couldn’t believe it I was 7 over going into the 18th lost a ball but still got 79. Plus I feel as if i didn’t play amazing but my drivers were almost laxer straight , I usually struggle with a slice.
Has anyone else switched to a baseball grip, how did you find it ? And why is the interlocking grip stuggested as the go to grip ?View attachment 39321

Great question, and I have some great data I’ve been sitting on for awhile.

There is a reason people prefer interlock and their grip size has everything to do with it. If you are a conventional golfer and adhere to conventional methods… interlock is a staple… because conventional methods of golf grip indicates the standard size 99% of golfers pick is standard or midsized. When you have such a small grip in your hands and you swing fast, it’s almost certain the club will want to slip while in action. Because of this, fast swingers with small traditional grips need that extra grip locking to prevent slippage. However, there are clubs that are oversized or jumbomax sized that completely solve the slippage and lets you grip lighter due to the greater surface area. But since these types of grips fall out of the conventionally accepted category of standard grips… you don’t see pros swinging with baseball grip… because on a smaller grip it could cause slippage from swing speeds over 90mph.

It has been proven though, baseball grip delivers more power than any other grip type. Most don’t understand what an actual baseball grip looks like. 10 fingers on the club and both hand close to each other. Most think there is space between the hands and argue it can cause loss of distance. If you leave a gap between hands you will lose distance, but that’s not a baseball grip.

What if I was to say, you could hit baseball grip farther than you could with interlock, but the extra power could only shine through if you addressed slippage by thickening your grip? While simultaneously tightening your dispersion…

I tried interlock with bigger grips and I too suffered pinky pain and surprisingly lead thumb joint pain… which cost me massive distance since I was afraid everytime I swung, so I swung slower.

Baseball grip, with a bigger grip that isn’t heavier than standard grips is the answer to future golf. Some might try and argue that baseball grip makes the hands act separately, and they are not wrong… but with intention it’s the most powerful setup to have. I personally like far straight shots. So my lead hand is very strong, and my right hand is neutral. Even if I tried I could not interlock in that position. Baseball grip gives me the option to dial in my accuracy independent of the other hand, giving me lazer straight static wrists throughout the entire swing. I’m driving the ball 370 yards with a 5° driver head… nothing close to what would result with an interlock.

The future of golf distance and accuracy is a bigger grip, baseball grip, stronger lead hand neutral trail hand. I’ve speed up my setup time before my shots, by marking where my lead thumb point down the right side of the grip with a permanent marker. I just line up my grip in the finger and see my lead thumb matches the mark so I know how strong I need to hold the club for it to square up at impact… then I wrap both thumbs around the grip and make sure my hands are touching each other nice and snug. Then just smack the devil out of it.

 

[DeanoMK]

Not sure if the above is spam or not, but only yesterday I was listening to this episode of the Karl Morris podcast, and the guest was saying how the single biggest change he's made, that's vastly improved his golf swing, was switching to baseball grip. Well worth a listen.

 

[SteveJay]

Likewise I'm not sure Edheadz, with "his" first post, is genuine, but was wondering if baseball grips achieve greater distance, what do all the long drive competitors use?

As a lot play regular golf too, I am assuming they use the same conventional grip but as someone who is striving for more driver distance I would be interested to learn, and maybe then will try baseball at the range.

 

[bobmac]

It has been proven though, baseball grip delivers more power than any other grip type.

The future of golf distance and accuracy is a bigger grip, baseball grip, stronger lead hand neutral trail hand

The following golfers may have a different opinion on the interlock
Jack Nicklaus
Tiger Woods
Number 1-5 golfers in the world rankings today
Kyle Berkshire current holder of the worlds longest drive 569 yds

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

I have always just used a interlocking grip, any pro thats had a look at my grip just always said this is how you grip the club. I have noticed two problems I have with this grip, first is for the past few months my right pinky is getting sore. I am guessing I must be pressing down too hard with my grip and second is my right hand really struggles to stay nuteral and turns round into a strong grip.
So yesterday on my sim I had a mess around with the baseball grip, it did feel a bit different but noticed with my PW and 9 iron I wasn’t losing any distance.
I went out of the course today and decided to play baseball grip only just to see what I would score and I broke 80 for the first time, couldn’t believe it I was 7 over going into the 18th lost a ball but still got 79. Plus I feel as if i didn’t play amazing but my drivers were almost laxer straight , I usually struggle with a slice.
Has anyone else switched to a baseball grip, how did you find it ? And why is the interlocking grip stuggested as the go to grip ?View attachment 39321

The overlapping grip, perhaps the most common grip of all,
came absolutely natural to me as a boy
and other than making it stronger or weaker,
I've never changed it.

I even use it with putter in the extra strong position to accommodate my open putting stance.

How would the "baseball grip" be even known in the UK?

I will admit to having no idea how to grip a cricket bat,
even though I briefly had an Indian girlfriend at university.

 

[D-S]

How would the "baseball grip" be even known in the UK?

It’s know as ‘the baseball grip’!
After all baseball was invented in Britain (first illustration and mention in 1744).

 

[bobmac]

It’s know as ‘the baseball grip’!
After all baseball was invented in Britain (first illustration and mention in 1744).

Not forgetting apple pie which originated in England in 1390

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

It’s know as ‘the baseball grip’!
After all baseball was invented in Britain (first illustration and mention in 1744).

If you invented it, you obviously didn't like it very much.

Many young people have abandoned baseball in the US a bit because it's too hard.
Natural athletic ability, even if one is a genetic freak, doesn't by itself carry one very far in baseball.
The game is all learned and practiced skills, and it's best to start by age eight at the latest.

Thus, Latino and Asian players are really making their mark in the game, while the American players still interested are mostly white.
Our black kids would rather play basketball or American football. One likes what one likes.

As for baseball as sports entertainment, the current commissioner has seriously ruined baseball.
In trying to make the game more attractive for new fans,
he's failed miserably,
but he's done a great job of chasing long time "purist" fans like myself away.

At least half of my infant clothes when I was brand new had Boston Red Sox logos on them.
Now, I can't be arsed to watch the games unless I have absolutely nothing else to do,
and I never actually go out to the ballpark anymore.

I used to average at least ten or so live games a year.

Now back to grips and the actually theme of the thread. I'm sorry. I got carried away in my frustration.

 

[Junior]

Always fancied giving a baseball grip a go. I’ve always had a Varden grip since I picked up a club.

My only worry is getting handsy and flippy with a baseballl grip. Just feels like it would be too disconnected ?

 

[Ye Olde Boomer]

Always fancied giving a baseball grip a go. I’ve always had a Varden grip since I picked up a club.

My only worry is getting handsy and flippy with a baseballl grip. Just feels like it would be too disconnected ?

I honestly can't see how it wouldn't be too disconnected.

A baseball grip allows one to make mid-swing adjustments to hit a 90+mph MOVING ball.
The golf ball, thank God for small favors, isn't moving.
The flip side is that we can't hit it foul pole to foul pole.
We have to hit it somewhat straight, find it, and hit it again.

One wouldn't want one's hands to be too disconnected in golf, I wouldn't think.

 

[Junior]

I honestly can't see how it wouldn't be too disconnected.

A baseball grip allows one to make mid-swing adjustments to hit a 90+mph MOVING ball.
The golf ball, thank God for small favors, isn't moving.
The flip side is that we can't hit it foul pole to foul pole.
We have to hit it somewhat straight, find it, and hit it again.

One wouldn't want one's hands to be too disconnected in golf, I wouldn't think.

It’s just a ‘feel’ thing for me really. If I overlap I feel like my hands are connected to my arms and I can take away and turn as one.

With a baseball grip I could do the same move but it feels like it’s the hands (and not the arms and shoulders) doing it.