The pencil grip is one of the more unique-looking but highly effective ways to hold a putter, and it might just be the key to unlocking your confidence on the greens. If you've ever felt your hands get too active, your wrists break down under pressure, or your distance control go haywire, this might be the solution you’re looking for. This guide will walk you through exactly what the pencil grip is, its pros and cons, how to use it step-by-step, and how to determine if it’s the right fit for your game.
The best AI golf app: Caddie is your personal AI golf coach. Get expert-level golf advice instantly, 24/7 to help you play like a pro. Try it free →
What Exactly Is the Pencil Grip?
First things first, let’s be clear: the pencil grip is exclusively for putting. You would never use this grip for a full swing with an iron or a driver. At its core, the pencil grip (often used interchangeably with terms like "the claw") is an alternative putting grip designed to do one primary thing: take the small, twitchy muscles of your trail hand (the right hand for a right-handed golfer) out of the putting stroke.
Think about how your hands behave when you’re nervous. They get tense, they shake, and they want to manipulate things. On short putts, this often results in a jerky, disconnected stroke where the right hand tries to “steer” the ball into the hole, causing pushed or pulled putts. The pencil grip changes the entire dynamic. Instead of wrapping your right hand around the club in a traditional manner, you hold it much like you would hold a pencil or a pen, using your thumb and index finger for delicate control. For more details on various putting grips, you can refer to our guide on how to grip a golf putter.
By positioning the hand this way, you effectively "de-activate" twitch muscles in your wrist and forearm. This forces your larger, more stable muscles - your shoulders, chest, and back - to control the putting stroke, promoting a smoother, more repeatable pendulum motion. We've seen it used with great success by many tour pros, including Justin Rose, who used it to win a U.S. Open and become number one in the world. It’s not just a fad, it’s a legitimate technique for building consistency.
The Benefits: Why Golfers Switch to the Pencil Grip
Switching your putting grip is a big decision, so there have to be some compelling reasons. For golfers who make the change to the pencil grip, the benefits are often immediate and significant, especially if they have been struggling on the greens.
1. It 'Quiets' Your Hands and Wrists
This is the number one reason to try it. The most common putting fault I see as a coach is excessive wrist action. Golfers try to 'help' the ball into the hole by flicking their wrists at impact. This completely destroys your consistency because the timing has to be perfect every single time, which is nearly impossible under pressure. The pencil grip’s structure makes it physically difficult to hinge or flick your wrists, effectively forcing them into a passive role.
2. It Promotes a True Pendulum Stroke
With your hands quieted, the power and control must come from somewhere else. The pencil grip encourages a stroke that is controlled by the rocking of your shoulders. Think of a grandfather clock’s pendulum swinging back and forth from a single pivot point. Your shoulders become that pivot point. This creates a much wider, more stable arc and keeps the putter face square to that arc for a longer period. The result is a more on-line roll and fewer pushes and pulls.
3. It Improves Distance Control
Consistent distance control comes from a consistent stroke speed and repeatable mechanics. The large muscles of your shoulders and torso are far more reliable for repeating a specific length of stroke than the small muscles in your hands. Once you get accustomed to the pencil grip, you'll find that your speed on lag putts becomes much more dependable, which can significantly improve your putting. You’ll be able to control distance simply by adjusting the length of your shoulder rock, not by hitting the ball harder or softer with your hands.
Get pro-level golf advice instantly, 24/7
Ask Caddie anything. From “what club should I use?” to “how do I play this shot?” and get instant answers.
Of course, no single technique in golf is perfect for everyone. While the pencil grip offers powerful solutions for some common problems, it does have a few potential downsides that are important to acknowledge.
First and foremost, it’s going to feel incredibly strange at first. Holding a putter is such a tactile experience, and changing your grip completely can feel like you’re learning to write with your opposite hand. It takes patience and dedicated practice to overcome the initial awkwardness.
Second, some players feel a loss of "touch" or "feel," especially on very fast, downhill putts where a delicate touch is paramount. Because you're taking your dexterous hands out of the equation, the connection can feel a bit muted. For golfers who are natural "feel" putters and rely on their hands to sense the stroke, this can be a difficult adjustment.
Ultimately, it’s a trade-off. You might give up a little of that handsy "feel" in exchange for a much higher degree of mechanical consistency and reliability under pressure. For many golfers battling the yips, it’s a trade they’re more than happy to make.
How to Use the Pencil Grip: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to give it a try on the practice green? Follow these steps carefully to ensure you’re setting up for success. Remember, there are slight variations, but this is the most common and effective method.
Step 1: Position Your Lead Hand (Left Hand for a Righty)
This part is simple because it’s no different from a conventional putting grip. Place your left hand at the top of the putter grip in a normal, neutral position. The back of your left hand should be facing your target, and your thumb should run straight down the flat front part of the grip. Maintain light but firm pressure. For a general overview of proper hand placement, see our guide on how to grip a golf club.
Step 2: Position Your Trail Hand (The "Pencil" Part)
This is where the magic happens. Take your right hand completely off the club and let it hang naturally at your side. Now, approach the putter grip with your right palm facing your body (or slightly towards the target).
Separate the index finger and thumb from your other three fingers, creating a "pincer" or "claw" shape.
Place the grip so it rests lightly between your thumb and your index finger. The side of your thumb nail will rest against one side of the grip and the pad of your index finger will rest on the other.
The other three fingers can either rest gently against the index finger for support or split apart slightly, whatever feels more stable and comfortable. They play a passive, supporting role.
Your right wrist should remain soft and slightly bent, never locked. The main points of contact and control in your right hand are just the thumb and forefinger, just like holding a pen.
Step 3: Finalize Your Setup
Take your normal putting stance. Your left hand is providing the main structure, while your right hand is just along for the ride, acting as a guide. When you make a stroke, initiate the movement by rocking your shoulders back and forth. You should feel your arms and the putter moving as a single, connected unit with your upper body. Your right hand does nothing but maintain its light, "pencil-holding" contact.
Plan every shot like a pro
Describe your situation and Caddie AI helps you pick your target, shot shape, and club with confidence.
The first few sessions with this grip will be a test of patience. The ball might not feel like it's coming off the face right, and your brain will be telling you it's wrong. These drills are designed to accelerate the learning curve and build confidence.
Drill 1: The Trail-Hand-Only Drill
This is the best way to get used to the new feel. Take your left hand off the putter completely. Using only your right hand in the pencil grip, make short, 1- to 3-foot putting strokes. Focus on keeping your wrist still and powering the stroke with a slight rotation of your right shoulder. You'll quickly get a feel for how the right hand stabilizes the putter instead of manipulating it.
Drill 2: The Gate Drill
Place two tees in the ground just wider than your putter head, about a foot in front of your ball on your target line. Your goal is to swing the putter head through the "gate" without touching either tee. This drill is fantastic for ingraining a square putter face at impact, which the pencil grip naturally helps with.
Drill 3: The Lag Ladder
Distance control is key. Place tees on the practice green at 10, 20, 30, and 40 feet. Starting with the closest tee, hit one putt, trying to get the ball to stop as close to the tee as possible. Then move to the 20-foot tee, and so on. This forces you to learn how a longer or shorter shoulder rock translates to more or less distance, removing the handsy "hit" from your lag putting.
Play Golf like a Pro with Caddie
Learn and improve your golf game as you play. Get pro-level tips, strategy and guidance anytime.
Ultimately, this is a question only you can answer through experimentation. However, you are an excellent candidate to try the pencil grip if you identify with any of the following:
You frequently struggle with the "yips" or twitchy nerves on short putts.
Video of your stroke shows your wrists breaking down or flicking at the ball.
Your distance control is very inconsistent, with putts often flying past the hole or stopping miserably short.
You feel like you have to "steer" every putt to get it started on a line.
If you're already a confident putter with a traditional grip, there might be no reason to change what's working. But if putting is a constant source of frustration and lost strokes, spending a few dedicated practice sessions with the pencil grip could completely transform your performance and enjoyment on the greens.
Final Thoughts
The pencil putting grip is a proven technique for quieting a golfer's hands, promoting a more reliable shoulder-driven stroke, and improving overall consistency under pressure. While it feels unorthodox at first, giving it an honest chance with focused practice can be a game-changer for players who struggle with excessive wrist action or the yips.
Feeling confident in your technique is a huge part of playing better golf. But sometimes it’s hard to know if you're making the right change or just switching one bad habit for another. That's why we built Caddie AI. If you're on the practice green trying the pencil grip and wonder if your setup is right, you can ask for immediate analysis. Or, if your putting session goes poorly, you can describe what happened and get smart, data-driven feedback on what might truly be the root cause, giving you a clear path for what to work on next.
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.
Other posts you might like
What Does Down Grain Mean in Golf?
Reading a putt that looks straight but somehow breaks is one of golf's biggest frustrations, and often, the invisible force of grain is the culprit. Understanding this single element of the course can dramatically improve your performance on and around the greens. This guide will simply explain what grain is, show you how to identify it, and give you practical adjustments for your putting and chipping so you can turn this subtle factor into a major advantage.
The 70-yard rule isn't a formal rule of golf you'll find in the USGA handbook, but it's a critical local guideline you’ll encounter at many courses designed to speed up play and improve your experience. Understanding this an unwritten rule is key to navigating the course efficiently and respectfully. This guide will break down exactly what the 70-yard rule is, why it exists, and the proper etiquette for using it so you can play with confidence and keep your group moving.
Ever heard someone on the range whisper, That player is a total bagger, and wondered what on earth they meant? The term sandbagger or bagger gets thrown around on the golf course, often with a hint of annoyance or frustration. It’s one of those bits of golf slang that points to a serious breach of the game’s etiquette. This article will break down exactly what a sandbagger is, why it nettles so many golfers, how to spot the signs, and most importantly, how to make sure your handicap is an honest reflection of your game.
When you're watching a Sunday afternoon golf broadcast and the commentators mention a staggering figure like a $20 million total purse, it's easy to wonder what that really means. A total purse is simply the total amount of prize money available for all eligible professional golfers competing in a tournament. This article will break down exactly how that money is funded, how it gets paid out to the players, and why it's about much more than just a big winner's check.
Looking to an add an extra layer of excitement and competition to your regular golf matches? If your group features players with a wide range of skill levels, the net skins format is a perfect way to level the playing field and give everyone a real shot at winning some cash or bragging rights. This guide will walk you through exactly what net skins is, how to set up a game, and the strategy you'll need to pocket those skins.
Mixed Greensomes is one of the most entertaining and sociable formats you can play, blending a little bit of individual skill with a whole lot of teamwork. This guide will walk you through exactly how to play it, the strategy involved, and how to make the most of your round. We'll cover everything from the basic rules and handicap calculations to practical tips that will help your team play smarter and have more fun.
