Wrestling with a twitchy putter can lead a golfer to try just about anything, including the surprisingly effective technique of putting with one hand. It is not only completely legal under the Rules of Golf, but it can also be a powerful tool to fix a shaky stroke or even become your go-to method on the greens. This article will show you exactly why and when you might consider it, how to do it properly, and give you some simple drills to start building real confidence with a one-handed stroke.
Let's clear this up right away: Yes, you can absolutely putt one-handed in golf. There is nothing in the official Rules of Golf that says you must keep both hands on the club at any point during your stroke.
The relevant rule is 10.1a, "Fairly Striking the Ball," which states you must strike the ball with the head of the club in a way that the club is not pushed, scraped, or scooped. A one-handed stroke easily fulfills this requirement. The only major restriction to be aware of is the rule against anchoring (Rule 10.1b). This means you cannot intentionally hold your putting arm, or the hand holding the club, against your body to create a fixed pivot point. For example, you couldn’t brace the elbow of your putting arm against your ribs while you make the stroke. As long as your one arm is swinging freely, you are completely within the rules.
So, with legality confirmed, the real question is not can you, but should you? And for some players, the answer is a resounding yes.
For most proficient golfers, a one-handed stroke is primarily a practice drill. However, for those battling specific issues on the green, it can be a permanent solution. Here’s a look at why this unconventional method can be so beneficial.
The single biggest reason players experiment with a lead-hand-only putting stroke (left hand for righties) is to control a dominant trail hand (right hand for righties). A trail hand that gets too active can lead to a "flippy" or "jabby" stroke, where the wrist breaks down close to impact. This causes inconsistent contact and makes distance control a nightmare. By removing that hand, you are forced to power the stroke with the rocking of your shoulders, creating a pure, repeatable pendulum motion. It connects your arm, shoulder, and the putter into a single, stable unit, which is the foundation of a great putting stroke.
The "yips" - those involuntary twitches and jerks in the hands and wrists - can devastate a golfer's confidence. They're often a neurological issue where the brain scrambles the signals going to the small muscles in the hands. One-handed putting can be a powerful circuit breaker for the yips. By removing one of the hands (often the one causing the twitch), you simplify the entire motor program. The brain only has to control one limb, powered by the large, stable muscles of the torso and shoulders, which are far less prone to yipping. For players like Vijay Singh, who battled the yips, practicing and sometimes even playing with one hand helped reset that faulty wiring.
When you putt one-handed, you have no choice but to generate pace from the length and rhythm of your stroke, not from a muscular "hit." This dependence on a smooth pendulum is the secret to elite distance control. It trains you to feel the weight of the putter head and how it relates to how far the ball rolls. Many an hour spent on the practice green just rolling 8-footers with one hand has taught players more about pace than any complex mechanical theory.
Ready to give it a try? The a good one-handed stroke is built on the same foundations as a two-handed one: good setup, proper alignment, and a motion powered by your body, not your hands. Here’s how to do it.
You have two choices, and it's worth experimenting to see what feels most stable for you.
Your setup controls the stability of the entire stroke. Don't rush it.
With an excellent setup, the stroke itself becomes simple an intuitive.
To really ingrain the feel and build confidence, dedicate some practice time to these three simple drills.
This is the classic drill for training a square putter face at impact. Place two tees on the ground, creating a "gate" just wide enough for your putter head to pass through. Place your ball in the middle of the gate. From about 3-4 feet away, your only goal is to make a smooth one-handed stroke without touching either tee. This instantly tells you if you are pushing or pulling putts.
Distance control is all about stroke size, and this drill is perfect for learning it with one hand. Find a straight, flat part of the practice green. Place a tee at 5 feet, 10 feet, 15 feet, and 20 feet away from you. Starting with the closest tee, try to roll a ball so it just trickles past it. Then move to the 10-foot tee, and so on. Your only variable should be the length of your backstroke. You'll quickly get a real sense of how a slightly longer stroke translates into more distance, a crucial feel for good putting.
This is a great drill if you're using your trail hand (right hand for righties). From only 2-3 feet away, choke way down on the putter grip so you're holding it with just your fingertips. The goal is to feel like you are rolling the ball into the hole with your palm, similar to how you'd roll a ball in a game of bocce. It builds a very a strong connection between your hand-eye coordination and the putter face for those delicate short putts.
To wrap things up, one-handed putting is not just a quirky trick - it's a legitimate, rules-compliant technique that can solve real problems in your putting stroke. Whether used as a practice drill to develop a better pendulum motion or as a full-time method to conquer the yips, it’s a valuable tool to have in your golf improvement arsenal.
Working on your game, whether it's with two hands or one, often comes down to getting clear answers to your specific questions. We actually developed Caddie AI to be that instant, on-demand coach you can always turn to. If you are ever on the practice green wondering about a rule, looking for the right drill to fix a fault like a push or a pull, or even need coaching on the course with a tough lie, you can get a simple answer in seconds. It allows you to skip the guesswork and focus on what's going to help you play better golf with more confidence.
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