Mar
15
2008

In Search Of A New Putting Grip

Posted by Double Eagle in Miscellaneous

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My putting isn’t in terrible shape, but trying new things is what I do.

I’ve been working with the Pelz Putting Track (not as much as I should, though) and I notice that my takeaway is a little flaky. I see that on the course at times too. Previously, I’ve described my putting stroke as “loopy” where my natural tendency is to get the putter head outside the line on the way back.

I’m starting to wonder if my right hand isn’t a little too active in the stroke.

Of course, that all could be an excuse I’m using to talk myself into trying something new and interesting. I can’t seem to tune into a golf telecast without seeing some kind of unconventional putter or putting stroke. If “The Claw” works for Mark Calcavecchia, then why not me? Then, I flip open the April 2008 issue of Golf Digest and see an article called “Putting: Grip it Like the Pros” showing a handful of different putting grips that tour pros are using (including The Claw).

I’ve eliminated the possibility of going to a long putter. That’s just not something I want to do. The idea of changing my grip is something that I’m much more cozy with.

Many times, these unconventional putting styles are intended to fight the yips. I haven’t taken a putting census, but I’d expect to see more players on the Champions Tour trying these things, as the yips seem to come with age. I don’t have the yips, but there’s nothing wrong with a little experimentation to see if improvements can be made.

I’ve changed my putting grip a handful of times in my life. I find that as far as swing changes go, it’s something that yields quick results and if things aren’t working out, it’s easy to revert to a previous grip.

Right now, my current favorite is The Claw or some variation. I’m planning a round today, so I’ll hit the practice green and try out a few things.

As always, I’m interested to hear whether any of you use unconventional putting grips.

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There are currently 9 responses to “In Search Of A New Putting Grip”

  1. 1

    Greg B. said:

    There is a certain feeling I have when I’m putting well and it can best be described as “comfortable”. That feeling extends to the rest of the game as well, but I have days where I’m comfortable putting but not the other areas of the game.

    When I’m comfortable, I trust my stroke and I trust my line; I have no doubt. I think that new clubs, new swings, new grips etc provide a period of better performance because we revert to trust. After all, it’s a new club (grip, swing, etc), and we really aren’t sure what’s going to happen so we must trust our ability and let go.

    I’m trying to find ways to get to that comfort zone and stay there longer. One good drill is to place six or so balls at varying distances (generally 10 to 60 feet) around the cup on the practice green. Move to each ball and putt without thinking about it. Just step up and putt, no practice stroke, no green reading. Just look at the hole as you move from shot to shot, step up and putt.

    After the first few shots I find myself amazingly accurate. This drill helps put my in that comfort zone.

    I do a similar drill with five footers but I take an extra second or two over the ball.

    I’m sharing this because I was considering a new putter grip too. I made a few putts with on of those thick (not like KJ’s, but perhaps 2x bigger than normal and more square) grips and I was amazed at how well I putted the first time I used it.

    I later realized that I was hitting it in a manner much like the drill I described above.

    However, I still like and want that grip and I may go ahead and get it one day. My reservations are that I’m not sure I’ll be a better putter because of it.

    -G

    Posted on March 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am

  2. 2

    Double Eagle said:

    Comfortable is a great way to describe it. I haven’t felt comfortable in a while.

    That’s an interesting drill, Greg. It takes the mental baggage right out and just lets you do your thing. I’m going to give that one a try.

    I’ve also been interested in those larger than normal putter grips. I haven’t tried one out yet, but I’ve been fascinated since I saw Choi’s a while back. I like that it has his hands placed symmetrically on the grip. With trying to make a nice pendulum stroke, having one hand lower than the other throws off the symmetry by putting one shoulder slightly lower to start. Sometimes I wonder if that has an effect on the stroke.

    Posted on March 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am

  3. 3

    Greg B. said:

    The one I tried (I can’t recall the brand) also came in the “two thumb” thickness for a symmetric grip style.

    Thinking back, the comfort I felt was due to an increased control I felt I had with very, very light grip pressure.

    I’m going to have to go back and play with it a bit more to determine if I get adequate feedback with it. I do this by putting with my eyes closed and trying to feel if the ball is left/right/long/short.

    I have had tremendous putting days where I’ve rolled in lots of putts. These days have been so good that I really don’t want to fool with my putter. The question becomes, Will I find these days more frequently with a new grip? And, Do I want to take the risk of lessoning the frequency of good days that I currently have?

    Pursuing excellence in golf is a maddening endeavor.

    -G

    Posted on March 15th, 2008 at 10:57 am

  4. 4

    John Gorman said:

    I’ve been having some of the same problems as you. I’m just not rolling it consistenly with the conventional grip. I started working on a modified crosshanded grip that is actually like a one-handed grip with my left hand over my right hand to merely serve as a light guide for the putter. I haven’t tested it on the course, but it feels pretty good on the practice green.

    Posted on March 17th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

  5. 5

    Double Eagle said:

    I’m interested to hear what kind of results you see after using the new grip for a while, John.

    I was fairly happy with my one-round trial with the claw last weekend. I’ll talk more about it in a new post after I get through a couple more sessions with it. I think my takeaway improved some, but there were a couple of other improvements that I didn’t expect.

    Posted on March 17th, 2008 at 8:14 pm

  6. 6

    Marc Sirkin said:

    I’m trying left hand low this season - and perhaps a different putter that better fits my straight putting motion. I’m too afraid to try the pendulum thing at this point.

    Posted on March 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  7. 7

    Double Eagle said:

    My brother uses a left hand low style, Marc. He’s been doing it for several years and has good success with it.

    If your putting stroke is straight back and through (keeping the face square to the line), then you’re probably using a pendulum stroke already. It’s not much more than making sure your hands hang directly under your shoulders so that you can keep the face square to the line without having to make a bunch of manipulations. Then, you just make sure to keep your head and spine steady and make the stroke with your shoulders.

    Posted on March 18th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

  8. 8

    TP Golf Online said:

    Interesting how times have changed when new and innovative putting styles originate from the PGA Tour first. I remember in the mid to late 80’s when all the radical putting style were on the Senior (now Champioins)Tour.

    I have experimented with the left hand low, which I used for about three years, and one where the left hand was “twisted” to the left so the left thumb was on the target side of the grip rather than the top. This second grip was supposed to help stop pulled putts. On those uncomfortable days it drove me bananas.

    Now I have reverted back to a conventional grip. Since I have not played as much in the past few years this has helped me remain somewhat consistent on the greens.

    I also use a drill similar to Greg B’s. I find these helpful in find the speed of the greens prior to playing a round.

    Posted on March 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am

  9. 9

    Is the Next Putting Grip the Best Putting Grip? said:

    [...] this year, I tried something radical.  I went with “The Claw” putting grip.  You may have seen Mark Calcavecchia using [...]

    Posted on July 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am

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