Putting Grip/Setup

[birdie_man]

What's the call?

Palms facing (wrists vertical)...or hand(s) turned/rolled to whatever degree. Both hands? or one hand? Which hand?

Overlap? Reverse overlap? Claw? Double Overlap?

Should there be SOME things that should be thought of as benchmarks that EVERYONE should have?

Or should it be completely personal, as some people think putting should be.

I'd think it would be a balance between sound mechanics based on principle and personal choice based on...well whatever- feel, technique, style, results.

Many things to consider but I think it's a good thread to get going and inestigate.

[Thom]

I see a lot of pros with both forearms on plane, and gripping it with a reverse overlap.

+ Pushing/hitting with angled hinging and you have a classic putting stroke I guess.

[vj]

The Grips

Number 3 should be zeroed out or very close to being zeroed out. This will have the putter resting under the thumb pad of the hand or very close to this. Meaning, don't have the putter sitting completely under the heel pad of the hand as you would the 300 yard drive. There is simply too much power there.

The left palm and the right palm should be parallel BASICALLY. The left hand grip is "Lord of the grip" as Lynn says and should be considered the clubface. So the closer it matches the face the better off you are. There are times when a player needs to turn their left hand on the club creating a considerable difference between face and palm but they are rare.

The right hand should have the index finger on the back of the grip and the thumb "basically" down the shaft. It may lay a little right or a little left depending on how close your thumb is held to the hand.

Overlap, interlock, reverse overlap, ten finger are all acceptable. You will know which one works for you as soon as you put your hands on it. It is like buying a Harley- You can't buy from the picture, you must get on it and "feel" the bike to make a decision.

[birdie_man]

The Grips
Number 3 should be zeroed out or very close to being zeroed out. This will have the putter resting under the thumb pad of the hand or very close to this. Meaning, don't have the putter sitting completely under the heel pad of the hand as you would the 300 yard drive. There is simply too much power there.

Under the thumb pad of which hand?

[vj]

Birdie Man- under the thumb pad of the left hand. If you are left handed it would be under the thumb pad of the right hand.

The more under the heel, the more number 3 you have, the more under the thumb pad, the less number 3 you have.

And remember, number 3 is an angle established with the wedge. So zeroing it out would have the left arm and the shaft in-line.

[The Hawk]

VJ,

I tried for 2 years, but could never get that left hand grip to feel comfortable and putt well. Now that it's under the left heel pad, I felt good and putt better. Are there any compensations that I need to made based on this left hand grip?

[Thom]

VJ,

I tried for 2 years, but could never get that left hand grip to feel comfortable and putt well. Now that it's under the left heel pad, I felt good and putt better. Are there any compensations that I need to made based on this left hand grip?

You actually need to grip the flatstick more in the palm, under the thumppad, not the heelpad like the full swing.

[hue]

vj: Could you post some pics of your putter grip and set up? . I am sure there are many here that would like to see it.

[The Hawk]

Thom, As I stated before, I tried gripping under the left thumbpad (vs. left heelpad) for 2 years and never felt comfortable (and putter horribly). Once I went back to the putting grip under the left heelpad and focusing on left elbow bend to align the left forearm to the shaftplane, I felt (and putted) better. Does anyone else putt like this? I've never felt like this grip gives me too much power (by not zeroing out number 3). But then again, I'm a good putter, not a great putter (which is my goal)

[Bigwill]

Tiger Woods stated in "How I Play Golf" that he grips the putter under the heel pad of the left hand.