How hand position on the grip determines ball flight

Subtle changes in hand position on the grip can dramatically alter ball flight, so having a sound grip is incredibly important. It is absolutely imperative that the hands are placed on the same spot on the grip every time (unless the golfer is attempting to manipulate a ball flight so that it curves a particular direction in the air - in which case the hands may be moved ever so slightly in order to encourage a draw, fade, slice, or hook).

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about what is a 'weak' grip and what is a 'strong' grip. Simply put, the more the hands are rotated clockwise on the grip, the stronger the grip. The more the hands are rotated counter-clockwise, the weaker the grip.

A stronger grip will encourage a draw or hook because when the hands are rotated clockwise (with the 'V's' pointing to the right shoulder or to the right of the right shoulder for a right handed golfer) the hands and clubhead will easily rotate through the contact area with the toe leading the heel and the clubface closing. When the clubface contacts the ball in this fashion it will put hook spin (right to left in the air) on the ball.

A weaker grip will encourage a fade or slice because when the hands are rotated counter-clockwise (with the 'V's' pointing to the chin or left of the chin), it will be more difficult to rotate the hands and clubhead through the contact area. Since the face of the club is not rotating through contact, there is less release of the clubhead and more 'holding on' or not allowing the clubhead to turn over. If the clubhead is travelling on a plane that is inside the target line to outside the target line, or straight down the target line, this can result in straight shots. However, if there is any deviation and the clubhead approaches the ball from outside the target line to inside the target line, the face of the club will swipe across the ball and cause a fade or slice.

It all starts with the left hand. The placement of the right hand will always depend on where the left hand is, because the left hand is always the first hand to put on the club. If the thumb of the left hand is (mistakenly) placed right down the center of the grip (pointing directly at the clubface) then the 'V' formed by the thumb and forefinger will be pointing at the chin. No knuckles (aside from the thumb) will be visible.

Since the thumb of the left hand should fit right in the lifeline of the right hand as it is placed on the grip, the right hand is subject to the position of the left (so when the right hand is placed on the grip the 'V' will also point to the chin). Generally speaking, this is too weak of a grip. The placement of the left hand should be rotated a bit more clockwise on the grip so that the thumb is just right of center and the knuckle of the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand are visible. This will get the left hand 'V' pointing towards the right shoulder and the right hand will be placed on top of the left, so that the 'V' is pointing the same direction.

The danger in this strong left hand grip is holding the grip too much in the fingers with the left hand and not enough in the palm. If the golfer holds the grip in their fingers with the left hand, as the clubhead travels through the contact area the palm of the left hand will close the clubface and rotate excessively. If the left hand grip is more in the palm (or along the lifeline), it will be more difficult to excessively rotate the clubface and the golfer will be able to swing freely without the likelihood of hitting a hook.