Smooth Putting Stroke Golf Drills: Grip Pressure Experiment

If you notice a competitor’s wrist and arm veins popping out when he’s putting, you know he’s feeling some pressure. He’s applying it, too.

Throbbing veins are a sure sign of an overly tight grip — a guaranteed putt-wrecker. Tension can cause you to hit the ball too hard or soft, to pull it or push it, or even stub the putter on the green. Distance control becomes especially difficult when the hands lock up.

What’s the correct grip pressure for putting? Most golfers feel comfortable with a pressure between 3 and 5 on a scale of 1-10. In other words, light and relaxed, but firm enough to control the club.

Try this drill to find your own optimal grip pressure:

Drop a few balls about five feet from the cup.

Grip the putter as loosely as possible, with a pressure of 1 on a 10-point scale.

Hit each ball and note the results.

Next, grip the club with maximum pressure (10), hit a few more putts and note where they finish.

Continue varying your grip until you find the pressure which produces the best results. Keep the number in mind and integrate it into your putting routine.

Any time you feel tension arise on the course, make sure your grip pressure matches your personal number, be it 2, 4, 6 or something else. On the greens, comfort equals control – and consistency.