Putting Grip

About half of the strokes in a round of golf take place on the putting green.  Therefore, putting should be an area that you focus much of your time when practicing.  And that's just what the pro's do!  Many will focus as much as two thirds of their practice time on just putting.  One of the most common questions golfers have is whether or not they should adjust their putting grip.

There's many different ways golfers go about gripping a putter.  While there are different kinds of putting grips, one thing they all have in common is the goal of maintaining stability in the front wrist so that it stays straight during the follow through of the stroke. 

Golfers who are struggling on the putting green can see remarkable results simply by changing up their putting grip.  First, we need to ensure that you are holding the putter in your hands properly.  The putter should be flat and diagonal across the palm of the hand.  The shaft of the putter should run in a straight line with the forearm - imagine the putter shaft as an extension of your forearm.  Once you know you are holding the putter properly, there are several popular grips you can try.

1.  The most popular putting grip is commonly known as the Traditional Overlap grip.  To do this simple grip, put your left hand on the top of the grip and your right hand just below.  Then connect your hands by lifting your left index finger and wrapping it over the fingers on the right. 

2.  In the Two Fingers Down grip, place the palms over the grip and then point the index fingers of each hand straight down the shaft. 

3.  The claw is an unusual but very popular grip among golfers who find themselves struggling with the Traditional Overlap and are looking for a way to get their hands working together more fluidly.  Grab the putter as you normally would with your top hand - thumb on top, fingers wrapped around the bottom.  Then place your bottom hand underneath it with your palm facing down and let the club lie on the fleshy webbing between your thumb and index finger.  Wrap your fingers over the top to help stabilize. 

4.  In recent years, the left below right grip has gained popularity.  This grip is basically the reverse of the traditional overlap putting grip.  If you are right handed, you would place your right hand at the top of the shaft and your left below it.  Then link your hands by hooking your index finger of your right hand over the fingers of your left hand. 

5.  Another new style of putting is called the box grip.  To do this putting grip, you want to have your palms on the shaft side-by-side keeping the shoulders level as you position yourself over the ball.  Place your left hand at the top of the putter grip and point your index finger down the side of the shaft.  Place your right hand next to your left and an inch lower, again with your index finger pointing down.  Your hands should now form a box-shape.

Try experimenting with these different grips if you are having trouble on the greens.  You will probably find that one of them naturally corrects a problem with your form you didn't even know existed.  Your putt should be smooth, comfortable, and most importantly, straight!