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Decoding the Different Putter Grip Styles

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One of the great things about golf is how many different methods are available to get the job done.

Unlike some other sports, where there is really only one technique which will work, golf presents players with an endless variety of options. As long as you stay within the limits of the rules, there are many different techniques you can use to get the ball into the hole.  

Nowhere is this concept more obvious than on the greens.

If you take a look around the putting green at your local golf course, or even watch professional golf on TV, you will see players using all sorts of different methods to roll the ball across the green. It isn’t a matter of which technique is the ‘best,’ as they can all work nicely in the right circumstances, but rather it’s a matter of finding the right technique for you.  

Our goal with this article is to help you understand some of the most-popular putting grip styles in the game today. We aren’t going to tell you which one to use, of course, as that is a decision you will have to make for yourself. Once you understand some of the commonly-used option, you can head out to your local putting green to try them for yourself.  

The Traditional Putting Grip 

Why not start here? This is likely the most-commonly used grip in the game, and it is a great place to start if you are new to golf.

This grip has stood the test of time because it is solid, reliable, and comfortable for more golfers. While you are going to see a number of different grips used if you watch a professional golf tournament, it is likely that this one will pop up more than the rest.  

Jon Rahm of Spain reacts to his putt to win on the fourth hole of a…

Jon Rahm of Spain reacts to his putt to win on the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21,… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The traditional putting grip is often called a ‘reverse overlap’, which describes the way your fingers interact on the club. Your left hand is going to be higher than your right, just as it is when you are making a swing (for a right-handed golfer). To connect your hands, you will set the pointer finger of your left hand on top of the last two fingers of your right hand. This type of grip is going to encourage your left wrist to remain stable through the hit, a great thing when it comes to holding the club face steady.  

Most golfers find that this grip performs beautifully in terms of distance control. Since you are holding the club in a similar manner to how you hold it on full swings, you should have nice feel right from the start. On the downside, you may be prone to the yips with this grip, since the right hand is going to be able to influence the putter quite easily 

The Cross-Handed Grip

Moving on, the next grip we are going to examine is the cross-handed grip. This is also a popular option with both amateurs and professionals.

As the name would indicate, you are going to reverse the order of your hands in this grip, with the left hand being lower than the right (again for a right-handed golfer). It is up to you how you choose to connect your hands when using this grip – some golfers use an overlap, while others just press the hands together and move on.  

Jordan Spieth putts on the ninth green at Round 1 of the 102nd…

Jordan Spieth putts on the ninth green at Round 1 of the 102nd Australian Open Golf Championship on November 23, 2017 at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, Australia. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The cross-handed grip is popular for its ability to hit the target line time after time.

The orientation of your hands on the grip will help you hold the putter face steady throughout the stroke, meaning you should be able to send the ball in the intended direction on most occasions. Of course, there is a trade off, and that trade comes in the way of lost feel.

Many golfers report that they have trouble getting the speed of their putts right when using a cross-handed technique. This stands to reason, as changing the orientation of your hands on the grip will cause things to feel different while the club is in motion.

Rory McIlory of Northern Ireland uses the ‘left hand below’ putting…

Rory McIlory of Northern Ireland uses the ‘left hand below’ putting grip on a 5 foot putt on the 10th green for birdie during the second round of the 2016 World Golf Championship Cadillac… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

If you are going to use this grip, it will be necessary to put in plenty of practice time to master your touch.  

The Claw Grip

This last grip on our list goes by many different names, but a large number of golfers recognize it as “the claw.”

Your left-hand grip is going to be the same as it is when using a traditional putting grip, but you are going to turn your right hand over so that your palm is facing in toward your body.

Phil Mickelson of the United States uses a new putting grip on the…

Phil Mickelson of the United States uses a new putting grip on the tenth green during the third round of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club on September 8, 2012 in Carmel, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

You can attach your right hand to the club in any number of ways, from wrapping all of your fingers around it, to holding it like a pencil. Experiment with different styles of claw grip until you land on one that serves you well.  

Adam Scott of Australia hits a 15 foot putt with a standard length…

Adam Scott of Australia hits a 15 foot putt with a standard length putter and ‘claw’ grip at Old Palm Golf Club on March 7, 2016 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

The claw is often thought of as a grip for golfers who have failed with the other two options we have listed, but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are notable benefits to this grip, including the stability it offers and the low likelihood of the yips.

Give this a try on the practice green to see if it might suit you better than the other two choices.  

Picking the right putting grip all comes down to personal preference. Since you aren’t making a full swing, you don’t have to worry about the dynamics of the golf swing and how your grip is going to affect those factors. As long as you are comfortable, and the ball rolls nicely off the putter face, you are good to go. Once you experience some success with a grip, do your best to stick with it over the long run. Constantly switching grips is going to make it difficult to develop a trust in any one style. Here’s to many made putts in your future! 


 

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