 |
How to Grip a Putter: Types of Putter Grip
Unlike the regular grip for irons and woods, you will see more types of putting grip.
There are:
1. Reverse-overlap
2. Cross handed
3. Split-handed
4. The claw
5. The psycho
6. Palm facing
7. The Pencil
8. Ten finger
You can use any of them that suit you. Pick a grip that will give you feel for the putter face.
Today, I will talk to you about how to hold it with reverse-overlap grip. I will also give you some of the important keys to think about with other types of grips as well.
Reverse-overlap
This grip is the most popular grip when putting. The difference between the overlap grip and the reverse-overlap grip are 3 things.
1) Left forefinger
With reverse-overlap grip, your left forefinger is laid across the fingers of the right hand. You right pinkie does not overlap left fingers.
2) More in the fingers
Most of pros hold their putters more in the palms than in their fingers.
Annika Sorenstam said she holds the grip so that it "runs diagonally through her left hand, between the heel and thumb pads, so that its butt end points up her left forearm."
But Tiger Woods said that the handle of the putter runs under the butt end of his left hand. This means that he holds little more in the fingers than most pros with reverse-overlap grip.
I like the way Tiger holds the putter because it will give you more feel if you hold it more in the fingers.
The advantage of holding it more in the palms is that your putting stroke will be more stable.
I don't say which type of grip is correct. Pick the one you are comfortable with.
But in general, holding it more in the fingers is good for long putts. Gripping it more in the palms is good for short putts.
So if you lack distance control with your putter, you might want to hold it more in the fingers for extra feel.
3) Flat part of the grip
When you look at the putter grips, there is a flat part on top of the grip.
It is designed to rest your thumbs.
With putting, not too much people talk about weak grip or hook grip because putting grips are designed with a flat part on top.
But I personally think that there should be a strong grip for putting. In fact, I hold the putter with stronger grip than most golfers.
My thumbs are rested little right of center on the putter grip. By changing it to stronger grip, I started to hold more putts.
But I don't recommend this to everyone. Some golfers do well with conventional type of grip.
However, if you miss lots of putt to right or pull it left, you might want to try stronger grip.
Cross Handed Grip
With cross handed grip, your left hand will be lower than your right. This type of grip will limit extra wrist movement during the putting stroke.
I think this grip is good for short putts. Some golfers do well with long putts as well.
I tried this type of grip for a few months. But I stopped using this grip because I thought it didn't give me enough feel for the putter face.
But it might work for you. If you don't like short putts, you might want to try cross handed grip.
Ten-Finger Grip
I personally like this grip. It gives me extra feel for the putter head and face.
Feel is really important for putting. And I think it's better to hold it with all of your fingers for feel.
Don't Get Too Technical
When I started to get serious with golf, I read all the books and magazines about golf. I watched lots of videos about golf swing. I recorded all the golf tournaments. I also had a few teachers.
By the funny thing is that I was putting much better without those knowledge.
When I was a teenager, I was good at putting. But with all those knowledge, I was worrying more about how to stroke the putter.
But I finally realized that the feel is more important than techniques.
So whatever you do for putting, focus on your feel. When you choose putting grip, pick the one that will give you better feel for the putter face.