Theoretically speaking, putting should be the easiest part of golf. You’re close to the hole, there aren’t any hazards to worry about and for the most part, you have a pretty good idea of which way your ball is going to roll. It should be simple, right?
Wrong. More players (especially professionals) struggle with their putting more than any other part of the game. It doesn’t matter how well you’re hitting the ball, if you can’t make a 4-footer, you’re not going to put up a very good score.
A lot of golfers who have trouble putting worry far too much about technique and mechanics when they’re on the green. Instead of focusing on making the putt, they’re trying to figure out if their face is square, or if their putter is on line, or if they’re using their wrists and all the over-thinking only makes things worse.
In reality, there are only two things that really matter when you’re standing over a putt — confidence and comfort, and if you don’t have either, it may be time to make a change and experiment with a different grip. Try one listed below.
Left Hand Low (Crosshand) – This grip is great if you’ve had trouble with the conventional “right hand under the left” grip. It may feel a little unnatural at first but after a few hours of practice, you won’t be able to tell you’ve changed anything.
All you have to do is “flip flop” the position of your hands on the putter. Wrap your left hand around the bottom of the grip and then overlap your right hand above it.
Notable professional that uses this grip: Ricki Fowler
The Claw – If you don’t have a problem with the yips, then you’re lucky. Those little tiny uncontrollable twitches of the hands or wrists are short game killers and the only way to get rid of them is by completely changing the way you swing (or in this case, putt).
The claw grip is great for getting rid of the yips. Start by taking your normal putter grip. Now, take your right hand off the putter and turn it so that you’re pinching the grip in between your thumb and pointer finger. You can pinch with any number of fingers (whatever you feel most comfortable with). The goal with this grip is to use your left hand for swinging the putter and your right hand for stability. NOTE: The picture to the left is of a left-handed golfer.
Notable pro golfers who use this grip: Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson
The Anchored Putter – Anchoring has been a hot topic of debate the past couple of years in the golf community. Many organizations wanted it banned because they thought it provided an unfair advantage to players who used it and this year, the PGA Tour decided that in 2016, anchoring any club to your body will be against the rules. However, if you’re not playing in any USGA or PGA sanctioned tournaments, it’s perfectly legal.
Notable professional golfers and major winners who use this grip: Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Ernie Els, Keegan Bradley