Overlapping Grip (Vardon Grip)

The overlapping grip is named for Harry Vardon, the early-1900s champion who popularized it. The trail hand's little finger rests on top of the lead hand's index and middle fingers, or nestles into the groove between them. It does not interlock those two fingers or put all ten fingers on the handle independently. The remaining fingers of both hands wrap the club normally. Knuckle count at address still determines neutral, strong, or weak grip strength, no matter which connection style is used.

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

As with interlocking, the overlapping grip has no built-in performance ceiling or floor. Choosing it is a personal-fit decision. What matters mechanically is that both hands act as a single unit throughout the swing. That means 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, whatever the style.