Overlapping grip advantages

[tongzilla]

Today I was doing some chipping and some short swings ( about thigh-high to follow-through ), and I discovered that I was able to maintain my alignments better with an overlapping grip than the interlocking one I'd switched to. I also got rid of the fat and thin contact. With interlocking, it took a great deal of effort to prevent throwaway; with the overlap, it's the exact opposite. I also went back to extending my right index finger down the shaft, something I was told not to do. It's something that I got away from, because the better players I know all have their index fingers close to the middle one and wrapped around the grip, and they use the interlock.

The overlapping grip is definitely more natural compared with the interlocking grip. Many people have experienced strain in their fingers that suddenly disappeared when they changed from interlocking to overlap grip. It is also easier to maintain Right Forearm Flying Wedge alignments with the overlapping grip.

The first joint of your right index finger should definitely be on the aft side of the shaft, not the top, not the bottom. This, and the fact that your right forefinger should remain highly sensitive to any pressure, means that your right forefinger should be extended more down the shaft, away from the other fingers of your right hand. However, it does not need to be straight.