If you’ve watched professional golf in the last decade, you've likely seen some of the best players in the world adopt a putting grip that looks, to be frank, a little strange. It's a grip where the bottom hand seems to be just resting on the side of the putter, rather than holding it in a conventional way. This is the celebrated claw grip, a powerful tool that has saved careers and helped countless golfers conquer their demons on the greens. This article will show you exactly what the claw grip is, why so many players are turning to it, the different types you might see, and a complete step-by-step guide to help you try it for yourself.
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What Exactly Is the Claw Grip in Golf?
First and foremost, it’s critical to understand that the claw grip is almost exclusively a putting grip. You will not see golfers using this for hitting a drive or an iron shot. Its sole purpose is to improve your performance on the greens, specifically by changing the role of your hands in the putting stroke.
At its core, the claw grip is an alternative method of holding the putter that fundamentally deactivates the smaller muscles in your trailing hand (the right hand for a right-handed golfer). In a traditional putting grip, both hands work together, palms parallel to each other, wrapping around the grip. This position can, especially under pressure, encourage the small muscles in the fingers and wrists to become overly active, leading to a “jerky” or “twitchy” stroke commonly known as the yips.
The claw counteracts this by separating the hands and placing the trailing hand in a passive, stabilizing position. Instead of wrapping underneath the grip, the right hand is placed on the side. The palm typically faces the target, and the grip rests in the soft gap created between the thumb and forefinger. This seemingly small change has a massive effect on the motor patterns of the putting stroke, forcing a different set of muscles to take control.
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Why Golfers Switch to the Claw: The Powerful Benefits
Golfers don’t switch to a non-traditional grip just for looks. The decision to adopt the claw is almost always rooted in a search for consistency and a solution to common putting problems. Here are the main reasons it's so effective.
Benefit 1: Taming the Yips and a "Handsy" Stroke
This is the number one reason players switch to the claw. The "yips" are involuntary wrist and hand movements that ruin a smooth putting stroke. They happen when the small, fine-motor muscles in the hands try to take over, causing jerks, pushes, or pulls. Because the claw positions the right hand in such a passive way, it becomes incredibly difficult for those tiny muscles to fire and manipulate the clubface. It essentially mutes the right hand, preventing it from making those last-second, stroke-derailing movements.
Benefit 2: Promoting a Shoulder-Driven Pendulum Stroke
Great putting is built on a pendulum motion. The ideal stroke is controlled not by the hands and wrists, but by the rocking of the major shoulder and torso muscles. These large muscle groups are far more reliable and less prone to twitching under pressure. By neutralizing the right hand, the claw grip naturally forces you to engage your shoulders to move the putter. The arms, hands, and putter begin to move as a single, connected unit, a "triangle" that simply rocks back and forth. This is the foundation of a profoundly consistent and repeatable putting stroke.
Benefit 3: Improving Distance Control
This may seem counterintuitive. How can taking your "feel" hand off the club improve your touch? The answer is consistency of strike and smoothness of stroke. When a stroke is jerky or "hitty," the ball comes off the clubface at inconsistent speeds. A smooth, shoulder-driven pendulum stroke delivers the putter head to the ball at the intended speed, every time. Many golfers find that once they adapt to the claw, their distance control on long lag putts dramatically improves because the stroke is an easily regulated rocking motion, rather than a hard-to-control "hit."
Benefit 4: Perfect for the "Left-Hand Lead" Putter
For a right-handed golfer, the left hand and arm are primarily responsible for guiding the putter path and keeping the face square. Many golfers naturally feel more dominant with their lead hand controlling the stroke. The claw grip is a perfect match for this feel. It allows the left hand/arm to be the undisputed captain of the ship, controlling the entire motion, while the right hand simply offers light support to prevent the club from wobbling. The left hand guides, the right hand abides.
Different Kinds of Claw Grips
The "claw" is more of a family of grips than one single technique. While they share the same core principle of neutralizing the trailing hand, you'll see a few common variations out on the course. You can experiment to see which one feels most natural to you.
Standard or "Pistol" Claw
This is perhaps the most common version, famously used by players like Justin Rose. The left hand holds the putter with a conventional grip at the top. The right hand then comes to the side of the grip, with the palm facing the target. The grip nestles into the crevice between the thumb and forefinger. Often, the index finger will point down the shaft or rest alongside the other fingers for stability. It's a very intuitive way to quiet the right hand.
Pencil or "Saw" Grip
Popularized by players like Mark Calcavecchia and in a modified version by Tommy Fleetwood, this variation is slightly different. The right hand holds the grip much like you would hold a pencil or a small saw. The fingers are typically more split, with the grip running through the lifeline of the palm and held steady by the thumb and index finger. This version creates a bit more vertical separation between the hands and can feel especially stable for some players.
Cross-Handed Claw (The "Kuchar" Variation)
This hybrid grip combines the principles of both cross-handed (left-hand low) putting and the claw. Initially popularized by Matt Kuchar, here the right forearm is "locked" against the putter handle to create an incredibly stable anchor point. The right hand then sits in a claw-like position, often further down the grip. While highly effective, this method is often paired with specific arm-lock putters and is a more significant departure from traditional styles.
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Ready to give it a try? The most important thing is to be patient. It *will* feel strange at first. That's the point, you are reprogramming your putting motion. Head to the practice green and follow these steps.
Step 1: Get the Left Hand Right
Start by placing your left hand (for righties) on the top of the grip in your normal, comfortable putting grip. There is no need to change anything here. Your left hand is the guide for the entire stroke, so it should feel solid and secure, holding the club with light-to-medium pressure.
Step 2: Take Your Normal Stance
Set up to the imaginary ball just as you always would. Your posture, ball position, and alignment should all remain the same. The claw grip is a modification of your hands, not your entire setup routine.
Step 3: Introduce the Claw
Now, bring your right hand towards the grip. Instead of wrapping it around in a traditional fashion, approach it from the side. Let your right palm face towards your target. Gently nestle the putter grip into the fleshy gap between your right thumb and forefinger, effectively “pinching” the grip. Your thumb can rest on top of the grip or on the side, and your index finger can either point down the shaft or bunch up with the other three fingers. Let your remaining fingers rest softly against the side of the handle.
The Most Important Tip: The pressure from your right hand should be exceptionally light. Think a 2 out of 10 on the pressure scale. It is only there to stabilize the putter, not power it. Any tension defeats the purpose.
Step 4: Start Small and Feel the Motion
Do not start by smashing 40-foot putts. Begin with short, straight putts from three feet. The goal here is not to make putts, but to feel the sensation of the stroke. Your initial focus should be entirely on getting used to the new feel and rocking your shoulders to move the putter. Don’t even worry about where the ball goes for the first ten minutes.
Step 5: Focus on the Pendulum
As you get more comfortable, start focusing on the actual mechanism. Feel your shoulders, arms, and the putter rocking back and through as one unit. Visualize a perfect triangle from your shoulders down to your hands that doesn't break down or change shape throughout the stroke. The only thing that should happen is the rocking motion of your torso. Resist the old temptation to give the ball a little "hit" with your right hand.
Step 6: Gradually Work Your Way Back
Once the 3-footers feel comfortable and the motion feels less foreign, move back to 6 feet, then 10 feet. On these longer putts, you'll start to learn how the length of your shoulder rock - not the force of your hands - governs distance. A slightly longer rock sends the ball farther, and a shorter rock keeps it closer to the hole. This is how you'll build excellent, repeatable distance control.
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The claw grip is a fantastic putting method for any golfer who feels their trailing hand is getting too active, causing pushes, pulls, or a major case of the yips. By forcing a more shoulder-driven, pendulum-style stroke, it can bring newfound consistency and confidence to your performance on the greens.
While the feel of a new grip can be hard to groove in alone, you don't have to guess if you're doing it right. If you want objective feedback on your stroke mechanics or are curious if the claw is the right fix for your specific putting woes, Caddie AI is here to help. Our AI coaching tools are designed to give you instant, personalized advice on any part of your game, so you can build trust in your changes and head to the first tee knowing you have a solid plan to sink more putts.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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