Increase Confidence In Your Putting Stroke with a Comfortable Grip

So how confident are you with your putting stroke?

Start improving your putting by developing a comfortable grip. One that becomes a habit that is instantly remembered and repeatable. Never squeeze the putter grip, hold it just firm enough that it won’t fall out of your hands or the weight of the putter head causes your wrists to break performing the stroke.

The putting grip can be of many styles and you may need to practice several to determine the best one for you. The following is discussed for a right-handed golfer but if you putt left-handed, simply reverse the description. Do you use one of these:

• Conventional – right hand lower than the left with each thumb down the front of the shaft, the fingers wrapped around the back of the grip, somewhat overlapped. Some times the index finger of the right hand extends down the shaft.
• Overlapped – right hand lower, slightly, with the thumbs down the front of the shaft but both hands are overlapped in the fingers. It hardly looks as though there are two hands on the putter grip.
• Lead-hand Low – the left hand is lower on the shaft with thumbs extending down the front of the shaft and fingers wrapped around the back of the grip, generally there is minimal overlap, possibly the pinky of the left head. The left wrist could also be rotated towards the body so the left thumb rests along the leading flat edge of the grip.
• Claw – used for the longer putters where the left hand holds the top portion of the grip anchoring it to the sternum and the right hand is placed on the second (lower) grip with the thumb behind along the back of the grip and the right forefinger extends down the shaft. The shaft rests in the web between the thumb and forefinger. The remaining fingers most likely do not touch the grip.
• Saw – similar with the claw except with the right hand. The shaft rests in the web between the thumb and forefinger but the fingers and thumb extend pointing down the line of the intended line. When the putter swings, it is the same motion as sawing.
• Baseball – used for mid-length (belly) putters where the grip is same as holding a baseball bat; the hands don’t overlap but the right hand is below the left, barely touching.
• Divorced – same as baseball but the right hand is lower so there is separation between them,  sometimes several inches.

The most damaging element that any golfer can do is grip the putter tightly. This will introduce tension in your forearms, shoulders, neck and also cause brain freeze. Negative thoughts are always introduced when in tense predicaments.

Keep tension away during your putting swing; allow the putting stroke to flow.

Try the styles described above and find one that feels most comfortable. Do this in front of a mirror many times, finding the feeling in your hands as a 'mark' so you are able to duplicate that grip over and over.

Your grip controls the putter face and swing path. You want your hands to maintain as close to parallel the intended path the golf ball is to travel, without tension introduced to the forearms. This will cause manipulation of the putter head and send the golf ball rolling off-line immediately.

A comfortable grip that your mind has confidence in that you're able to control the path of the putter will help you improve your putting, create a consistent putting stroke and place you well on your way to reduce the amount of putts you have on any green.