Interlocking Grip
The interlocking grip is a way of holding the golf club in which the pinky finger of the trail hand laces between the index and middle fingers of the lead hand, joining the two hands together. It is one of three main golf grips, alongside the overlap (Vardon) grip and the ten-finger (baseball) grip.
What is an interlocking grip?
This grip joins the two hands into a single, locked unit rather than letting them sit next to each other as two separate hands. The link happens at one spot: the pinky of the trail hand (the right hand for a right-handed golfer, the left hand for a left-handed golfer) is woven between the index and middle fingers of the lead hand, and the lead-hand index finger settles into the space between the pinky and ring finger of the trail hand.
That single, physical lock is what defines the grip. It exists because a golfer’s hands need to work together during the swing, and any independent motion between them tends to show up at impact as a misaligned clubface. By joining hands, the interlocking grip removes a degree of freedom that some players struggle to control. Among the three main grip styles, it sits in the middle on the connection scale: more unified than the ten-finger grip (where the hands simply touch) and more locked-in than the overlap grip (where the trail-hand pinky rests on top of the lead-hand fingers rather than threading through them).
How the interlocking grip works
Once the two fingers are interlaced, the hands can no longer rotate or slide independently of each other. They move together as one piece. Through the swing, that connection helps the clubface stay in a more predictable position because there are fewer competing forces between the two hands at the top of the backswing and through impact.
The grip is used for full-swing shots from the tee box to the green: drivers and fairway woods, hybrids, long and short irons, and wedges. It is rarely used on the putting green, where most golfers prefer a reverse-overlap grip or one of several alternative putting holds. So when someone refers to a golfer’s interlocking grip, they almost always mean the grip used on full swings, not on the putting surface.
Interlocking grip vs. overlap grip
Most golfers searching for the interlocking grip are trying to tell it apart from the overlap grip. The difference comes down to a single finger.
| Grip | Pinky position (trail hand) | Hand connection | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlocking | Threaded between the lead hand’s index and middle fingers | Hands physically locked | Smaller hands, shorter fingers |
| Overlap (Vardon) | Resting on top of the channel between the lead hand’s index and middle fingers | Hands pressed together, not locked | Larger hands, longer fingers |
| Ten-finger (baseball) | Placed alongside the lead hand’s index finger, no overlap | Hands touching, no link | Beginners, juniors, players with hand pain |
Golf Digest Top 50 teacher Tony Ruggiero, quoted in a 2024 Golf Digest piece, framed the hand-size pattern as a general tendency rather than a rule: longer fingers tend to gravitate toward overlap because the pinky can wrap awkwardly when interlocking, while shorter fingers often suit the interlock because the pinky’s tip does not reach far enough to anchor on top of the lead hand.
Famous golfers who use the interlocking grip
Several of the most successful players in golf history have used the interlocking grip. Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 professional majors, used it throughout his career. In Golf Digest, Nicklaus said his teacher, Jack Grout, taught both him and his father the grip, adding, “I interlock because it helps unify my hands.”
Tiger Woods has used the interlocking grip his entire career. According to Golf Digest, Woods has hit so many golf balls with the grip that the shape of his right pinky finger has changed: it is slightly crooked and skinnier toward the bottom compared with his left pinky.
Rory McIlroy is the highest-profile current player to use the interlocking grip, and younger tour players, including Ludvig Aberg and Tom Kim, have adopted it as well.
Despite the older claim that around 90% of professional golfers use the overlap grip, Golf Digest’s 2024 PGA Championship grip audit told a different story for the field at Valhalla: interlocking was the most common grip among the more than 150 players, with over 60% of the American golfers in the field using it.
Who typically uses an interlocking grip?
Players with shorter fingers and smaller hands are the most common adopters. Junior golfers, many female golfers, and adult players with smaller-than-average hands find that the pinky settles more securely between the lead hand’s fingers than it does on top of them, which is the overlap grip’s anchor point.
It is also commonly recommended to beginners who have already moved past the ten-finger grip but find the overlap awkward. The connection feels firmer, which can give a new player early confidence in the club. None of this is absolute. Tony Ruggiero noted in Golf Digest that there is no firm science on who should use which grip, and players with longer fingers can interlock effectively if it feels natural to them.
Related Golf Terms
- Hybrid — A club that combines features of woods and irons for versatility.
- Inside-out swing — A swing path that travels from inside the target line to outside at impact.
- Hosel — The socket on the clubhead where the shaft is attached.
- Hosel rocket — A shank—when the ball strikes the hosel and shoots sideways.
- Impact — The moment the clubface strikes the ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the interlocking grip?
The grip has no single inventor on record. It was in use among professional golfers by the early 20th century and became widely associated with Jack Nicklaus, who learned it from his teacher, Jack Grout, as a junior golfer.
Does Tiger Woods use the interlocking grip?
Yes. Tiger Woods has used the interlocking grip since childhood and uses it for all full-swing shots, according to Golf Digest.
Is the interlocking grip better than the overlap?
Neither is universally better. Golf Digest’s 2024 PGA Championship audit found interlocking was more common in that field, while the overlap grip is also used by many top professionals, including Phil Mickelson and Francesco Molinari. The choice usually comes down to hand size and what feels secure to the golfer.
Is the interlocking grip good for beginners?
It can be, particularly for beginners with smaller hands or shorter fingers. Teaching professionals more often start beginners with the ten-finger grip and move them toward either the interlocking or overlap grip as their swing develops.
Does the interlocking grip work for left-handed golfers?
Yes. The mechanics simply mirror: the left-handed golfer’s left pinky weaves between the right hand’s index and middle fingers.
Do golfers use the interlocking grip for putting?
Rarely. Most golfers, including those who interlock for full swings, use a different grip on the putter, most commonly the reverse-overlap grip.
Sources
- Kerr-Dineen, Luke. “Interlock? Overlap? We Ran a Golf Grip Audit on the Entire 2024 PGA Championship Field.” Golf Digest. Accessed May 2026.
- Nicklaus, Jack. Interview quoted in Golf Digest, cited via The Left Rough, “Overlapping or Interlocking Grip: The Pros and Cons of Each.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Distillery. “Benefits of the Vardon, Interlock and Baseball Grip in Golf.” Accessed May 2026.
- HackMotion. “Overlap vs. Interlock Golf Grip: Pros, Cons and Best Choice.” Accessed May 2026.
- United States Golf Teachers Federation. “A Closer Look at the Three Main Grips.” Accessed May 2026.
- Caddie HQ. “What Is the Interlocking Grip in Golf?” Accessed May 2026.
