Struggling with your putting? A renowned coach who has taught over 3,000 players believes the fix might be simpler than you think. James Jankowski says it all comes down to one conventional, yet crucial, grip technique that provides stability.

He explained, "With a neutral, conventional grip, the hands oppose each other with the palms facing the sides of the grip. The back of the left hand points towards the target and the back of the right hand points away."

In a conventional putting grip (for right-handed golfers), the back of the left hand points toward the hole while the right hand points in the opposite direction. Referencing the intersection of the life line, the left hand should grip the handle with the thumb pointing straight down and the thumb pad out on the front. 

Then, the right hand should be placed in a reverse overlap. And the same rule applies here, with the right thumb pointing straight down, aligning with the life line. One thing to note here is that the radiocarpal joints, elbow, and forearms should be parallel to each other and the target on the ball. 

But why do we need the reverse overlap? Well, it allows right-handed golfers to get an easier and better grip on the putter. The lower right-hand further provides a sense of stability and awareness. 

James Jankowski stresses that a reliable putting motion comes from minimal hand manipulation and a neutral grip. However, this isn’t the grip that everyone is comfortable with. 

Other Putting Grips That One Can Adopt

If the golfers face trouble with coordinating face rotation and have unwanted pushes or pulls, especially on short putts, they can use a claw grip. That’s Scottie Scheffler’s preferred grip. 

Herein, the trail hand should be extended, with the back of the hand facing away from the golfer. The non-dominant hand stays the same as in a conventional grip. This grip helps stabilize the rotation of the dominant arm. 

One can also follow Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth for a left-hand-low grip. Although it demands a shorter putter to retain the conventional trail arm structure, it’s a good alternative for people preferring a lead-side holding technique. Here, the lead-hand wrist is flexed, and that prevents the putter head from overtaking. 

If those don’t work for you, you can opt for the prayer grip. It’s a style that promotes a torso-driven strike. Here, the hands are placed palm-to-palm, as if the golfer is praying, and then the fingers are interlocked. But one would need a larger grip to execute this grip. 

In the end, Jankowski branded putting as a personal thing. And one would have to try it all to choose the perfect grip.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar