If you're tired of watching putts slide by the hole because of a twitchy right hand, the saw grip might be the answer you’ve been looking for. This unconventional putting method can calm overactive wrists and promote a more stable, shoulder-driven stroke. This article will break down exactly what the saw grip is, its biggest advantages, a step-by-step guide to doing it yourself, and how to tell if it’s the right change for your game.
The saw grip, sometimes called the "pencil" or "claw" grip (though with slight variations), is a putting style that changes the traditional role of your right hand (for a right-handed golfer). Instead of placing your right hand on the putter in a conventional manner below the left, you place it on the side with your palm facing either your body or the target. The name "saw" comes from the visual of your right arm making a motion similar to someone sawing a piece of wood back and forth in a straight line.
Players like major champion Justin Rose have popularized this grip, using it to become some of the best putters on tour. The entire point is to fundamentally alter the relationship your dominant hand has with the putter. By taking the palm off the club, you make it much more difficult to get "wristy" or "flippy" at impact - one of the single biggest causes of pushed and pulled putts. The saw grip transforms the right hand from an active "hitter" into a passive a "guide," forcing your larger, more stable muscles to control the stroke.
Changing your putting grip is a big deal, so there have to be compelling reasons to make the switch. The saw grip offers several powerful benefits, especially for golfers who struggle with consistency on the greens.
The number one reason to adopt the saw grip is to stop your wrists from meddling in your putting stroke. So many amateur golfers suffer from a last-second flip of the wrists right before impact. This tiny, often subconscious, movement dramatically changes the putter face angle. If you flip it closed, you pull the putt. If you hold it open, you push it right. It’s a frustrating and inconsistent way to putt.
The saw grip virtually cements your right wrist in place. By orienting your hand on the side of the putter, you remove the leverage your palm has to manipulate the face. Your right hand and forearm are forced to move as a single, solid unit with the putter itself. This connection effectively deactivates the twitchy little muscles in your hands and wrists that cause so much trouble.
Great putting is all about creating a repeatable motion. Think of a grandfather clock’s pendulum swinging back and forth - smooth, rhythmic, and perfectly consistent every time. This is the holy grail of putting strokes, and it comes from the shoulders.
The saw grip serves as a brilliant training wheel for this pendulum motion. Since your hands are no longer in control, you must use your shoulders to rock the putter back and through. You begin to feel your upper chest, shoulders, and arms working together as a connected triangle. This engagement of the larger muscle groups is far more reliable under pressure than relying on the smaller, fussier muscles in your hands. This leads to a stroke path that is much more likely to return to square at impact, sending your ball on its intended line.
For golfers who struggle with the dreaded putting "yips," a complete change can be liberating. The yips are a neurological and psychological knot where golfers develop an involuntary twitch or jerk in their stroke, especially on short putts. Trying to fix this with the same old grip can feel hopeless because the physical and mental muscle memory is already ingrained.
Switching to the saw grip is so radically different that it effectively gives you a clean slate. The physical sensation is completely new, which can help bypass the old, anxious neural pathways. It gives you something new and technical to focus on, taking your mind off the pressure of making the putt and placing it on the process of making a good stroke. For many, this pattern interruption is exactly what they need to get their confidence back on the greens.
Ready to give it a try? The key is patience. It will feel strange at first. Very strange. Don't go to the course with it immediately. Spend time on the practice green or even on your carpet at home to build comfort and trust in the new motion. Let's walk through it for a right-handed golfer.
Your left hand is the anchor of the saw grip, providing the main structure and stability. Place your left hand on the top of the putter grip in your normal fashion. You can use your standard putting grip, but many find it helpful to let the grip run a bit more through the palm (the "lifeline") to create a very stable platform. Make sure the back of your left hand is pointing squarely at the target. This hand shouldn't be tense, but it needs to be solid.
This is the part that defines the grip. Instead of placing your right hand under your left, bring it to the side of the grip. Let your right arm hang naturally from your shoulder. Now, you have a couple of popular options for how the palm faces:
Experiment to see which palm orientation feels more stable and comfortable for you. The goal is to feel like your right arm and the putter have become a single unit.
Once your right palm is in position, you need to decide what to do with your fingers. There's no single "correct" way. This is about personal comfort and feel.
The final step is to check for tension. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is a death grip, your pressure should be around a 3 or 4. The left hand provides the structure, the right hand is just along for the ride. If you squeeze too hard with your right hand, you will re-introduce tension and defeat the entire purpose of the grip.
Grip the putter, take your stance, and notice how your shoulders feel. They should feel more connected and "in charge" of the stroke. Your eyes should be over the ball, and your posture athletic. Now, just focus on rocking your shoulders back and forth, letting the putter swing like a pendulum without any independent hand action.
This grip isn’t for everyone, but it can be a game-changer for a certain type of player. Consider making the switch if you recognize yourself in these statements:
Commitment is essential. You can't try the saw grip for five putts, miss a couple, and then give up. It's a new motor pattern, and your brain needs time to learn and trust it. Dedicate at least two or three practice sessions exclusively to this grip, focusing on drilling short putts from 3-5 feet. Start the hole hundreds of feet from your target. Your goal isn't to make everything at first, it's to groove a pure, pendulum-like motion. Once you feel the stable, shoulder-led stroke click into place, you may find that potting has become simpler and more reliable than ever before.
The saw grip offers a fantastic solution for golfers plagued by over-active hands and an inconsistent putting stroke. By repositioning the right hand and forcing the larger muscles to take over, it fosters a stable, repeatable pendulum motion that can dramatically improve your accuracy and confidence on the greens.
Mastering a new technique like the saw grip takes practice and the right feedback. If you're on the practice green or even your living room carpet trying to find that perfect feel, you can ask questions and get instant feedback with our golf coaching app. With Caddie AI, you have a 24/7 golf coach in your pocket, ready to offer advice about grip pressure, stroke mechanics, or any other part of your game, helping you groove better habits, faster.
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