Overlapping Grip (Vardon Grip)

The overlapping grip, named for early-1900s champion Harry Vardon who popularized it, places the trail hand's little finger on top of, or nestled into the groove between, the lead hand's index and middle fingers, rather than interlocking the two fingers or gripping with all ten fingers on the handle independently. The remaining fingers of both hands wrap the club normally, and knuckle count at address still determines neutral, strong, or weak grip strength independent of which connection style is used.

The overlapping grip is the most widely taught grip style for adult golfers and tends to suit players with average to larger hands, because it keeps the trail hand's fingers from crowding the lead hand on the handle while still linking the two hands into one connected unit. It became the standard recommendation through most of the twentieth century and remains the default many instructors teach first, adjusting to interlocking only if a student's hands are notably small or the connection feels loose.

As with interlocking, the overlapping grip carries no inherent performance ceiling or floor — it is a personal-fit decision. What matters mechanically is that both hands act as a single unit throughout the swing, with even pressure and no independent movement between them; a loose overlap that lets the hands separate at the top of the backswing undermines the grip's purpose regardless of style.