A good putter grip is the foundation of every single putt you'll ever hit, turning a tense, 'hope for the best' stroke into a confident, predictable roll. A proper hold quiets your twitchy hand muscles and lets you control the clubface, which is everything in putting. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of building a solid putting grip, explore the most effective grip styles, and help you find the one that feels most natural for your stroke.
Unlike the full swing, where your body generates power through rotation, putting is all about finesse and control. The goal is to create a simple, pendulum-like motion with your arms and shoulders, and the grip is the connection that links this motion to the putter face. A poor grip introduces unwanted wrist or hand action, causing the putter face to open or close at impact. Even a one-degree error is the difference between a made putt and one that lips out.
Think of your putter grip as the steering wheel for your putting stroke. When your hands work together as a single, neutral unit, you can guide the putter squarely down the line. When they fight each other, one hand overpowering the other, it’s like trying to drive a car with one hand wanting to go left and the other wanting to go right. The result is inconsistency and a lot of frustration on the greens. A consistent grip gives you the best chance to start the ball on your intended line, every time.
Before we look at specific styles like the claw or cross-handed, we need to establish a solid 'base' grip. This fundamental position is the starting point for most methods, so take your time and get this feeling right.
For this example, we’ll assume you are a right-handed golfer. If you are left-handed, simply reverse the hand instructions.
Start by placing the putter in your left hand. Unlike a full-swing grip that sits more in the fingers, the putter grip should rest primarily in your palm. You want the grip to run diagonally across your palm, starting at the base of your index finger and running up through the lifeline towards your wrist.
Now, bring your right hand to the grip. The main job of the right hand is to provide stability and support, not to take over the stroke. Its placement is all about creating a unified connection with your left hand.
This neutral, palm-oriented grip is the building block for all successful putting methods. It minimizes the influence of your small finger and wrist muscles, which are the main culprits behind yipped or pushed putts.
Once you understand the basic hand placement, you can explore different grip styles. There is no single "best" grip, the best one is the style that gives you the most confidence and consistency. Jordan Spieth, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have all used different grips at different times. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you.
This is the most common grip in golf for a reason. It offers a wonderful blend of feel and stability. It's essentially the same grip you might use for your full swing, but with one key difference.
If you find that your dominant right hand is too active in your stroke, causing you to pull putts, the cross-handed grip might be a game-changer. By placing your left hand *below* your right, you effectively quiet the dominant hand.
Popularized by players like Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood, the claw is a fantastic option for completely taking your twitchy right-hand muscles out of the equation.
No matter which style you choose, your grip pressure is just as important as your hand placement. Most amateurs grip the putter way too tightly, strangling it with a death grip. This creates tension that runs all the way up your arms and into your shoulders, destroying any hope of a smooth, pendulum stroke.
Imagine your grip pressure on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is barely holding on and 10 is squeezing as hard as you can. For putting, you want your pressure to be around a 3 or 4. It should be just firm enough to control the club without introducing tension.
A great mental image is to pretend you are holding a small bird. You want to hold it securely so it can't fly away, but not so tightly that you would harm it. Find that happy medium. Lighter pressure will improve your feel for distance and allow the putter to swing itself, powered by your effortless rocking motion.
Finding the right putter grip is a personal process of combining solid fundamentals with a style that breeds confidence and consistency for you. By starting with a neutral hand position, understanding the purpose of styles like reverse overlap or the claw, and maintaining light pressure, you're building a foundation that will calm your nerves and help you make more putts.
Sometimes, seeing your own stroke or having an expert look at your grip can make all the difference. That's why we built Caddie AI. If you're ever on the putting green and wondering if your left-hand low grip is causing you to leave putts short, you can just ask it. You can even send a quick video of your stroke and get instant feedback on what might be going wrong, getting the kind of personalized advice that helps you find answers right when you need them.
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