The position of your hands on the grip is an important element when putting, but it is not the only thing you need to think about. There are plenty of other grip keys to keep in mind, so we wanted to touch on some of the important ones in this section. Please review the list below for an explanation of some of the other keys you need to watch for when working on your grip.
Light grip pressure. This is a big key which is overlooked by many players. When you are trying to roll consistent, quality putts up toward the cup – especially under pressure – you need to maintain a light grip pressure on the putter. Keep your hands relaxed and rock your shoulders back and through in order to send the ball on its way. You don’t have to make a big swing when putting, so you don’t need to hold on tight in order to maintain control over the club.
Run the grip up your left palm. Another key element to the putting grip is the proper placement of the handle of the club in your palm. When hitting full shots, you want to place the handle of the club across your palm, preventing it from running up into the area of your wrist. This is important because it will allow you to maintain freedom in your wrists during the swing, opening up the potential for greatly improved swing speed. On the greens, of course, you don’t need to worry about swing speed. By letting the handle of the putter run up your palm toward your wrist, you can stabilize the club and swing it through the ball more consistently.
Find the right grip. In this case, we aren’t using the word grip to describe the way your hands fit on the club, but instead, we are talking about the actual piece of rubber that is installed over the shaft. There are countless putter grips on the market today, and a little experimentation can go a long way toward helping you find one that fits perfectly in your hands. Depending on your hand size, the style of grip you use when putting, and other variables, you will likely be led to a specific putter grip. That might not be a grip which is popular with other players, but that doesn’t matter – you just need to find something that you trust. Your local golf shop should have a variety of grips available for you to consider, so it should only take a few minutes to track down one that you love. Of course, buying a new grip is far less expensive than buying a new putter, so this is a good place to start if you aren’t happy with how your putter feels at the moment.
You don’t have to commit to a single grip. This last tip is a bit unconventional, but it can help you unlock your best possible performance on the greens if you give it a try. Some golfers excel in either short- or long-putting while struggling with the other half of the equation. For instance, you might be great at holing out from inside ten feet, while you have a hard time even hitting a good lag putt from long range. If this sounds like your game, consider using two different putting grips – one for short putts, and one for long. With this approach, you can optimize your performance in these two categories and hopefully reduce the total number of putts you need during each round.
When practicing your putting, your grip is something which should receive a lot of attention. There are other important elements to work on as well, of course, but don’t forget about taking time to make sure your grip is working as it should. A problematic grip can cause you a significant amount of trouble on the greens. Put this part of your game somewhere on your to-do list for practice and you will be a better player for the effort.
