Gripping a putter correctly is fundamental to consistent putting, impacting stroke path, face control, and distance. While there are several popular methods, the goal is often to stabilize the putter face and create a pendulum-like stroke with minimal wrist action.
The Foundation of a Good Putter Grip
Regardless of the specific style you choose, several core principles apply:
- Light Pressure: Hold the putter with a relaxed grip, avoiding tension in your hands, arms, and shoulders. Too much pressure can restrict the natural flow of your stroke.
- Square Face Alignment: Ensure the putter face is square to your target line when you take your grip. Your grip helps lock the clubface into position.
- Minimize Wrist Movement: Most effective putting grips aim to reduce or eliminate excessive wrist breakdown during the stroke, promoting a more stable clubface through impact.
- Comfort and Consistency: The best grip for you is one that feels natural, allows you to repeat your stroke, and gives you confidence.
Popular Putter Grip Styles
Here are some of the most widely used and effective putter grips:
1. Reverse Overlap Grip
This is arguably the most common and traditional putting grip.
- Execution:
- Place your left hand (for right-handed golfers) on the grip first, with your thumb down the top of the shaft.
- Place your right hand below your left, ensuring your palms are generally facing each other.
- Overlap the index finger of your left hand over the fingers of your right hand (or sometimes just the pinky and ring finger of the right hand).
- Your right thumb should also sit down the shaft, mirroring the left.
- Benefits: Promotes a unified feel between both hands and helps to reduce the influence of the dominant right hand. It encourages the shoulders to power the stroke.
2. Cross-Handed Grip (Left Hand Low)
Gaining popularity, especially among professional golfers, this grip reverses the traditional hand placement.
- Execution:
- Place your right hand (for right-handed golfers) on the grip first, lower down the shaft.
- Place your left hand above your right, closer to the top of the grip.
- Often, the right index finger will overlap the left fingers, similar to the reverse overlap but with hands reversed.
- Benefits: By placing the left hand lower, it helps to keep the left wrist flat or even slightly bowed, which can prevent the putter face from opening or closing excessively. It often leads to a more stable, square clubface through impact and reduces wristy action.
3. Claw Grip
The claw grip is designed to significantly reduce the influence of the dominant hand, particularly the right hand for right-handed golfers.
- Execution (Common Variations):
- Your left hand grips the putter traditionally (or with a reverse overlap).
- Your right hand holds the putter with the thumb resting on top or to the side of the grip, while the index and middle fingers "claw" the side of the grip or rest lightly on the shaft. The palm of the right hand is often facing away from the target or angled outwards.
- Benefits: Excellent for golfers who struggle with pulling putts or getting too "handsy." It promotes a stroke driven by the shoulders and arms, with minimal right-hand manipulation.
4. The "Light Hand" or "Pincer" Technique
A variation designed to further minimize the dominant hand's impact, this method emphasizes extremely light right-hand control.
- Execution:
- Begin with your lead hand (left for right-handed players) gripping the putter as usual.
- For your trail hand (right hand), reduce its contact to an absolute minimum. Position your thumb behind the grip and allow two fingers to sit to the side. The grip should pass through a "V" shape formed by your hand, almost as if your fingers are acting like crab pincers for delicate control.
- Your right hand should feel barely on the grip, acting more as a guide than a power source.
- Benefits: This specific technique aims to almost entirely eliminate right-hand manipulation, forcing the stroke to be guided predominantly by the lead hand, arms, and shoulders. It's particularly useful for golfers who experience too much wrist hinge or a tendency to push or pull putts due to an overactive trail hand.
Key Considerations for Your Putter Grip
- Grip Size: Putter grips come in various sizes (standard, midsize, jumbo). A larger grip can sometimes help reduce wrist action by making it harder to manipulate the club with your fingers.
- Practice: Experiment with different grips on the practice green. What feels awkward at first might become your most consistent grip over time.
- Feel vs. Mechanics: While mechanics are important, ultimately, the grip should feel comfortable and allow you to make a smooth, confident stroke.
- Wrist Stability: A consistent putting stroke relies heavily on maintaining a stable wrist angle throughout the stroke, particularly at impact. Your grip should help facilitate this.
Choosing the right putter grip is a personal journey. By understanding the principles and experimenting with different styles, you can find a grip that enhances your control, consistency, and confidence on the greens.
