| If you have been paying attention to the putting | | | | palms are turned up. Pavin's grip looks like the |
| grip you may have noticed the thinking about the | | | | palms are under the handle of the club. |
| conventional grip has changed. Previously most | | | | Claw putting grip: |
| golfers used a very conventional grip. Primarily the | | | | The claw grip is unique in that it looks very much |
| same grip as used on the other clubs except | | | | like the putting grip needed to use a long putter, |
| holding the putter in the palm rather than the | | | | except the golfer is typically using a standard |
| fingers. This technique coincides with the thinking | | | | length putter. In the claw grip, the putter is |
| that putts should be made from the shoulders | | | | gripped in a conventional manner using the left |
| with a pendulum or rocking motion. | | | | hand (for right handed golfers) and the right hand |
| It is debatable whether or not putts made from | | | | grips the lower part of the putter handle using the |
| the shoulders roll better, straighter or truer. | | | | thumb and fingers in a claw type grip with the |
| Shoulder putting is just more repeatable and | | | | knuckles facing away from the belt buckle. The |
| therefore more consistent, primarily because it | | | | hands and fingers of the left and right hands may |
| relies less on feel in the hands. Up until recently | | | | or may not be touching. The benefit of the claw |
| 20th century golfers putted from the wrist and | | | | grip is it is easier to stabilize the left wrist through |
| therefore held the putter more in the fingers. Just | | | | the stroke and putt from the shoulders. |
| remember there were some really great wrist | | | | The even hand grip: |
| putters, Bobby Jones and Arnold Palmer to name | | | | This grip is exactly as the name implies, both |
| a few. Now it is not uncommon to see a | | | | hands are placed in the same position on the grip |
| considerable amount of variety in putter grips in | | | | of the putter, forming a Y with the arms, hands |
| use to get the ball down. Here are some of the | | | | and putter shaft. This grip is easier to perform |
| ones you may see: | | | | when an oversized grip is used on the putter to |
| Conventional putting grips: | | | | accommodate the space needed for both hands |
| As previously mentioned this is the most common | | | | and fingers. The even hand grip neutralizes |
| and widely used style of grip. The putter grip is | | | | dominance of either hand promoting a consistent |
| basically the same as the golf grip used on other | | | | stroke. A number of golf professionals that |
| clubs except it is more in the palms. Many golfers | | | | struggled in their careers with putting have |
| have their own variant of the conventional grip. | | | | resurrected winning ways by trying a |
| Tiger Woods does a reverse overlap. In his grip | | | | "non-conventional" putter grip. Putting is the most |
| the index finger of the left hand overlaps the right | | | | individual swing in golf so experimentation with |
| pinky finger rather than the right pinky overlapping | | | | various putting grips could pay off. Just be sure |
| the left index finger as in the overlapping golf grip. | | | | and work on the putting green before going to |
| Corey Pavin, one of the greatest putters ever, | | | | the course with a new grip. |
| grips the putter in a conventional grip except his | | | | |