Best Golf Tips: The Different Types Of Putting Grips
PGA pro James Whittemore discusses the many different types of putting grips, including Tiger Woods' Reverse Overlap Grip...
Fed up of inconsistent putting? Yes, it might be time for a new putter or a quick lesson with a PGA pro, but one quick fix could be a switch to a new putting grip.
In the video below, GolfMagic's resident PGA pro James Whittemore takes a closer look at the many different types of variants of putting grips that you can adopt to help you hole more putts in 2021. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
All of these putting grips are used by players on the PGA Tour - so there is no right or wrong way to hold a putter. However, James takes a look at five different styles of putting grips that are considered the best to help you shoot lower scores.
#1 - REVERSE OVERLAP PUTTING GRIP
Okay, the first one I'm going to discuss is the REVERSE OVERLAP putting grip, as used by Tiger Woods. I take my normal grip with my left hand on top of the grip, with my right hand underneath. I then take my overlap grip. All I'm going to do is I'm just going to reverse that, as the name suggests. I'm going to go from my little finger on my bottom hand is then going to sit down on my first finger on my top hand is just going to hook onto my little finger on the back... or I can just slide it down the rest of my fingers on my bottom hand as well. Go with what feels comfortable to you.
WATCH: TIGER WOODS' GATE PUTTING DRILL
#2 - LEFT HAND LOW PUTTING GRIP
What I'm doing here is flip my hands around - with the left hand lower than the right. The reason behind someone going to a left hand low putting style is because I don't want to actively get my right hand (bottom hand) working too much. It can stop any real kind of wrist action. It encourages me to keep the face of the putter squarer for longer, without feeling like I want to turn the face over.
#3 - PRAYER PUTTING GRIP
Okay, here the hands come together. The reason for this one is that if my hands come together, everything in theory is symmetrical... so elbows, hands and shoulders all in line with each other. It should keep everything working together, and ensures you don't flip the hands at impact. You want your two index fingers sliding down the side of the grip, and I recommend you want to interlock your hands. Keep the hands together and get that blade working.
#4 - PENCIL PUTTING GRIP
This one has become very popular on Tour the past 10 to 15 years. PGA Tour pros such as Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Phil Mickelson like to use this one. Take your crease line between your thumb and first finger just slots on the side of the grip below your top hand. Your index finger then goes down the front of the grip. The rest of your fingers just fold up and go behind the grip. The real advantage of this is that is takes away your bottom hand entirely - it's only really there for support. You are focused on controlling the putt with your top hand.
#5 - CLAW PUTTING GRIP
This one is a variant of the pencil putting grip, but very, very similar. Your left hand grips the putter in the neutral position, and your right hand is positioned with knucles facing directly out. Position the V between the thumb and pointer finger into the side of the grip, and then have your thumb naturally wrap around the back of the grip just like the pencil grip.
JAMES WHITTEMORE INSTRUCTION SERIES 2021:
WATCH: HOW TO NEVER TOP A GOLF BALL AGAIN IN YOUR LIFE
WATCH: HOW TO CORRECTLY GRIP THE GOLF CLUB
Which putter grip do you currently use? Have you always used the same grip, or do you typically change from round to round? Let us know your thoughts and comments over on our social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - or come and join us over on our YouTube Channel.
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Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
