Putting grip styles: The ultimate guide to “rolling the rock”

“Hit for show, putt for dough.” We’ve all heard it. Today we want to have a conversation about putting grip styles. IF you are confident in your putting stroke, you will make more putts, and your game will drastically improve. 

I’ve spent over 20 years in competitive golf and have tried out several putting styles and grips. Below, I will cover the advantages and disadvantages of each putting style and grip size. Additionally, I will share my experience and recommendations to help you feel more comfortable standing over putts. 

Should you change your putting grip size or putting style?

Let’s start with some data. Tired of three-putting? So are we. But what validates the move to change a fundamental feature of your putting grip size or putting? Check this out. Three-putt percentage from 35 feet*:

  • Tour Pro: ~7%
  • 0 handicap index “scratch golfer”: ~23%
  • 5 handicap index: ~30%
  • 10 handicap index: ~35%
  • 15 handicap index: ~40%
  • 20 handicap index: ~45%

*data from ArccosGolf. Arccosgolf.com

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP. A 20 handicap index is scoring a 92 on 18 holes. From 35 feet this 20 handicap golfer essentially has a 50/50 shot at three putting. What are your expectations?

Still considering or curious about putting grips and styles? We’ll touch on that below!

What are the best putting grips?

There are four different putting grip styles I would recommend 

1.)   Traditional

2.)   Cross handed [Left hand low]

3.)   Arm locked

4.)   The Claw

1. Traditional putting grip

A traditional putter grip is commonly understood as the same grip style that you hold the rest of your clubs in. If you swing as a “right hander” (think Tiger Woods), then a traditional putting grip means your right hand is lower on the shaft than your left hand. For “left-handers” (think Phil Mickelson), your left hand is lower. Most traditional putters will interlock their pinkies, but it is not uncommon to do a baseball grip as well. Both are considered traditional putting styles.

2. Cross handed “left hand low”

A cross-handed putter grip is exactly how it sounds. For “right-handers,” instead of their right hand being lower on the shaft, they cross it so their left hand is low. For lefties, their right hand is lower on the putter shaft.

3. Arm locked, forearm anchor

Similar to a traditional grip, the lead hand is higher on the putter shaft. The difference for an arm-locked grip is the length of the putter. Arm-locked putters are generally longer so putters are able to pin the extended grip on their leading forearm.

4. The claw

Similar to a traditional grip, the lead hand is higher on the putter shaft. The difference for a claw grip is how the lower hand interacts with the putter grip. Instead of a “baseball grip” where the shaft is in the palm, for a claw grip, the lower hand now supports the putter with the backhand facing out, fingers pointing down.

How do I choose a putting grip?

The best golfers in the world use a traditional putting grip. So, my recommendation is to start with a traditional grip. As of April 2023, 80% of the top 25 putters on the PGA tour, according to strokes gained, are putting with a traditional grip. See the full breakdown below.

Rolling the rock with a traditional putting grip. You can see the lead hand is slightly higher on the putter grip/shaft.

START WITH THE BASICS and modify as you become more advanced.

You want to find out what feels most natural to you, but a traditional grip is a good starting point because it will be the easiest to develop since you already grip your other clubs in a similar fashion.

If you seem to have hit a putting rut and the traditional grip doesn’t seem to be working, here are five recommendations to help:

  1. Modify your technique/stroke
  2. Change putting grip size
  3. Change putter
  4. Change putting grip 
  5. Do nothing 
  6. Sleep with your putter to improve the relationship? (Guilty)

Another recommendation would be to try the “deceleration putting stroke.” A common myth many putters are fooled by is the idea that deceleration is the devil…Tell that to the great putter Ben Cranshaw. 

We’ll talk more about embracing the deceleration putting stroke in another article 

Which putting grip is used most by professionals?

As of April 2023, 80% of the top 25 putters on the PGA tour use a traditional putting grip. 

Ranking based on strokes gained, according to the PGA tour. 

What putting grip does Tiger Woods use?

Tiger Woods uses a traditional putter grip, normal putter girth size, and a blade putter. At the 2023 Masters, Tiger Woods used his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS.

How do I know what size putter grip to get?

You want to find the putter grip that feels most natural to you. I recommend starting with a normal, standard size grip. 84% or 21/25 of top PGA tour putters are using a standard size grip.

Standard grip size is good for you if: 

  • You just started playing golf.
  • You have a straight back, straight forward putting arc.
  • You like to have more control over the club face.

If you picked up the putting yips and are hitting the ball way off line, it might not be the grip—it might be a deceleration issue.

Ranking based on strokes gained, according to the PGA tour. 

Midsize or ovesized grip is good for you if: 

  • You are missing short putts often.
  • You are too “wristy” with your putting stroke or you grip the club with too much pressure.
  • You picked up the putting yips, and/or you can’t get out of a rut with the flatstick.
  • You have a strong arc stroke.

A bigger putter grip is designed to take some of that pressure out of the hands and into the arms/shoulders. It will also promote a slight arc stroke or even a straight arc stroke because of the heavier grip.

Most pro shops or retail golf stores will have putters with bigger grips you can try out. I recommend testing it out before ordering a grip online.

New golfers don’t necessarily need to get a bigger grip; it won’t necessarily solve their putting problems. Instead, get on the practice green and prioritize technique and drills to develop touch.

If you are still undecided, take the SuperStroke quiz that will recommend the right grip! I have a SuperStroke on my putter, and I love the feel!

What is the benefit of a bigger putter grip?

  1. Reduces wrist movement by taking pressure out of the hands and can make the putter feel more natural in your hands.
  2. Increases odds for hitting your putts in the center of the putter face, as the heavier grip promotes a slight arc stroke or even a straight back straight forward putting arc. 
  3. Easier to hold for golfers with arthritis in the hands and/or wrists.

SuperStroke is the leader in oversize grips, and in the 2021-2022 season, 14 PGA tour winners were using SuperStroke grips; there are 47 PGA tour events.

What is the disadvantage of the bigger putter grip?

  1.  You may lose some of that “ball to putter face” contact feeling.
  2.  You may lose a sense of control as the face of the putter will feel lighter because of the heavier grip.
  3.  It might hinder your natural putting stroke if you are a good “wristy putter.”
  4.  It may take some time to get used to.

DO NOT GET AN OVERSIZED PUTTER GRIP if you are a “wristy,” “feel,” or “pop putter” like Brandt Snedeker. An oversized putter grip will make that motion harder.

Decrease wrist action while putting?

Buy an oversized putting grip. The great thing about a bigger putter grip is it will force you to use your bigger muscles, such as rocking your shoulders and forearms, as opposed to using your hand muscles with a strong grip. 

Try this drill if you continue to miss short putts and can’t minimize the wrist movement.

SO, how do I become a better putter? 

I remember leaving the putting green in tears after giving up on finishing my Phil Mickelson-inspired putting drill. I had the putting yips, and I was tired of wasting hours on the putting green with the false hope that all it took was more repetitions. Here is my recommendation when getting started. 

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER. 

Figuring out your putting style, putter grip, putter, and proper technique is vital before you can start to hone your putting stroke. Everyone will putt differently, and I can’t identify what will work for you, but nailing down the basics should always be step number one. Once you are confident in your stroke, commit and go practice! 

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