Putting Grip/Setup
 

What's the call?

Palms facing (wrists vertical)...or hand(s) turned/rolled to whatever degree. Both hands? or one hand? Which hand?

Overlap? Reverse overlap? Claw? Double Overlap?

Should there be SOME things that should be thought of as benchmarks that EVERYONE should have?

Or should it be completely personal, as some people think putting should be.

I'd think it would be a balance between sound mechanics based on principle and personal choice based on...well whatever- feel, technique, style, results.

Many things to consider but I think it's a good thread to get going and inestigate.

I see a lot of pros with both forearms on plane, and gripping it with a reverse overlap.

+ Pushing/hitting with angled hinging and you have a classic putting stroke I guess.

The Grips

Number 3 should be zeroed out or very close to being zeroed out. This will have the putter resting under the thumb pad of the hand or very close to this. Meaning, don't have the putter sitting completely under the heel pad of the hand as you would the 300 yard drive. There is simply too much power there.

The left palm and the right palm should be parallel BASICALLY. The left hand grip is "Lord of the grip" as Lynn says and should be considered the clubface. So the closer it matches the face the better off you are. There are times when a player needs to turn their left hand on the club creating a considerable difference between face and palm but they are rare.

The right hand should have the index finger on the back of the grip and the thumb "basically" down the shaft. It may lay a little right or a little left depending on how close your thumb is held to the hand.

Overlap, interlock, reverse overlap, ten finger are all acceptable. You will know which one works for you as soon as you put your hands on it. It is like buying a Harley- You can't buy from the picture, you must get on it and "feel" the bike to make a decision.

Under the thumb pad of which hand?

:shock:

Birdie Man- under the thumb pad of the left hand. If you are left handed it would be under the thumb pad of the right hand.

The more under the heel, the more number 3 you have, the more under the thumb pad, the less number 3 you have.

And remember, number 3 is an angle established with the wedge. So zeroing it out would have the left arm and the shaft in-line.

VJ,

I tried for 2 years, but could never get that left hand grip to feel comfortable and putt well. Now that it's under the left heel pad, I felt good and putt better. Are there any compensations that I need to made based on this left hand grip?

You actually need to grip the flatstick more in the palm, under the thumppad, not the heelpad like the full swing.

vj: Could you post some pics of your putter grip and set up? . I am sure there are many here that would like to see it.

Thom, As I stated before, I tried gripping under the left thumbpad (vs. left heelpad) for 2 years and never felt comfortable (and putter horribly). Once I went back to the putting grip under the left heelpad and focusing on left elbow bend to align the left forearm to the shaftplane, I felt (and putted) better. Does anyone else putt like this? I've never felt like this grip gives me too much power (by not zeroing out number 3). But then again, I'm a good putter, not a great putter (which is my goal)

Tiger Woods stated in "How I Play Golf" that he grips the putter under the heel pad of the left hand.

"under the butt of the left hand", he says??? I think it's less in the palm but not under the heel.

My golf buddy grips his putter like he grips all other clubs, and he's a decent player, so I guess it up to you. But I think in the palm of the left hand is classic. You can have your forearms on plane and the back of the left hand corresponding(?) with the putterface.

I'm fairly positive he said under the heel pad. Of course, he may have changed this since the book. I'm personally in agreement with you as far as gripping it more in the palm of the hand; there's less play in the wrists, which is big for me as far as consistency is concerned.

Thanks...this is very helpful information.

:shock:

Getting the grip completely under the heel pad of the left hand causes some severe deformities of alignments that I see all the time. For one the player's putter is never soled properly. The toe will always be up. Putting in this way over an extended period will create right alignment more often than not.

Getting number 3 loaded up will also get the forearms out of plane which will now have the shaft and arms out of plane and "hurt" (possibly destroy) the flying wedges.

If it feels uncomfortable lying under the thumb pad (zeroing out #3) then get the putter setting a little under the heel pad. But look, look in front of a mirror at your address postures to make certain you don't create any severe misalignments of the above.

Thanks VJ for the advice. I'll try the grip suggestion.

What happens if I turn the left hand grip slightly left and the right hand slightly right (like Goosen does and Norman used to do)?

This seems to make it easier to align forearms and clubshaft and also lock-in alignments and then stroke from left shoulder.

Hawk,

The position of the hands is preference. You may do anything you wish to do!! Golf is such a democracy.