You're Correct!

Over the years, the way in which you grip a putter has evolved to the point where you could say that there are around half a dozen different styles of grip.

From the conventional lead hand above trail hand to the claw grip, each of them have become popular amongst both amateur and professionals alike. With each style of putting grip, the hands are placed on the handle in a different way, but there are some key ingredients to make sure that your hands are in the best position for whichever style you choose.

The most important key is that the handle of your grip should run through the lifelines of your hand rather than holding the handle in your fingers. Looking at the conventional grip, you should place your trail hand on the handle first, setting the grip along the lifeline of the palm of your hand. You should now see the shaft running in line with your forearm.

Next place your lead hand on the handle again running through the lifelines of the palm of your hand. Both of your hands are now in a natural position with palms facing each other. When making your putting stroke, you will be able to keep the putter face square to the path without having to make any compensatory moves and your wrists will be less likely to hinge so keeping the tempo of your stroke will become easier.

If you were to use the claw grip, for example, then it is important that the handle is running through the lifeline of your lead hand so your forearm and shaft are running in lines in the conventional grip. Whether your trail hand is placed on the handle using the pencil style or the traditional claw style, you will be able to keep the putter face square naturally due to the key placement of the handle in your lead hand.

When you turn your lead hand towards the target (in a weak position), you will have a tendency to open the putter face through impact causing you to hit pushed putts. You will also pull some putts as a reaction to stop your pushed putts.

When your lead hand is in a closed position or turned away from your target, you will tend to pull many putts due to the putter face closing through impact, although you may also push some of your putts to the right as an instinctive reaction to stop you pulling your putts off line.

If you place your hands too high up the grip and your top hand overhangs the handle, your putting stroke feels as if your wrists are active due to the butt of the grip moving about in your hand. This will reduce your ability to control the speed of your putts on a consistent basis.