Forum > Any other business?

David Gilvarry

Hello all! This being my first forum post on golfshake.com so bare with me.

Recently started my golfing campaign again for this year and am relatively pleased with how the rust is coming off except for my putting, I tend to over hit putts when I dont place the index finger on my right hand down the shaft pointing at the floor, however when I do I sometimes tend to be less accurate with my putts even if the speed is right plus I dont think ive seen any pros on tv putting with an index finger down the shaft??? Is this a beginners grip? What grip would you recommend?

 Many thanks

David Marshall

Hello David, welcome.

If anybody has an unorthodox putting grip it must be me. I have the index fingers of both hands pointing down.

The most important thing to remember when putting is to keep the head totally still. Only move the arms and shoulders. Even after the ball is struck, don't move your head. Keep the stroke smooth and fluid. The tendency is to stab the ball, especially on short putts. 

Adrian Hope

I too have both index fingers pointing down the grip. I keep my wrists rigid and do a very short back swing and a good follow through. I have found that doing a short backswing keeps the club face on target and makes it easier to judge distance and speed.

Wayne Santorini

David you need to have palm to palm as if your going to clap, whether you have a finger or fingers down the shaft is a personal thing, you also need "dead hands" (no hard grip and no movement in the wrists), also your elbows drawn towards each other but not where it's restrictive, you should still feel comfortable, you certainly don't want them splaying out, your aiming to achieve a triangle shape so that the bottom of the triangle is the points between your shoulders and the top of the triangle is the point where the hands are on the grip.

Ensure your shoulders ( leaning over it's where the base of your neck meets your shoulders) are flat and level to the ground so you promote a straight through shot, if you were to hold a bamboo cane across your chest, with your right palm on your left shoulder and the left on the right shoulder, holding the cane through the point where your arms cross over, and use the putting stroke the ends of the cane would go up and down in a vertical line, not back on the inside or forward. Being more upright will cause an in-to-out-to-in movement, and will be hard to putt consistantly the same everytime.

You will find that your putter shaft is too long (unless you've already had it cut down to your personal preference) as they tend to be made with an average of 34" or 35" length, I have had mine cut down to 29" (I'm 5' 10" which is perfect.

Matt Hargraves

Richard Lane-blackwell

Wayne,

I have always putted with right hand below left but as you say in your advice above you should have hands palm to palm.  Is this part of the reason that my putting is rubbish?

Also, I have quite big hands and it feels quite awkward trying to hold the putter grip with palms facing each other.

Wayne Santorini

Richard a slight difference in variation is fine, I was just trying to remark that it shouldn't be like a normal grip.

I will try and get photo's done so that I can post them, it's much clearer to see and understand then.

Matt if you are in the correct putting position and your palms of your hands are almost on the metal shaft then that tells you to take 3" or 4" off and have it regripped.

Wayne Santorini

Wayne Santorini

Richard Lane-blackwell

Patrick Bourke

Wayne Santorini

It's worth trying a 2Thumb grip first before having one put on your putter Richard, 2 reasons they are expensive and what if you don't take to it!!!! you will have wasted time and money as you'd need to replace another grip.

The important part to to get the posture correct and ensure there is no movement from the waist down, your hands can be together (as in a 2 thumb grip) or none target hand below the target hand. ( I use the word Target to explain that part of the body closest to the target, allows for coaching left or right handed players)

Darren Millichip

Lewis

i was once like you and couldnt putt for squat!!!!

then at the N vs S 2008 at Belton woods they had (i believe ) the inventor of the 2 thumb grip Phil Gazeley there and i tested the grip on some putters he had brought along

i was amazed on the difference it felt to me and just with a few practice putts i was more consistant on both line and length

although it took me almost 1 year to get a 2 thumb grip put onto my putter i would say it is the best thing i have ever done, yes i still make some terrible putts but i put that down to not playing regularly enough, i also now days very rarely 3 putt and my putting stats i would say have gone from nearly 40 putts per round to now round the 30 mark

personally i would say get it put on, the cost of it isnt that expensive at roughly £15

regards

darren

Christopher Watmore

Before jumping for a 2 Thumb Grip you need to consider a couple of things. For one after fitting it you may find it doesn't fit in your Golf Bag, also makes pulling clubs in and out of your bag very awkward. On a more serious note you will find it reduces the feel for the putter head and possible make it hard for you to feel the headweight and therefore judge stroke length.

I decided on having a different grip fitted to my putter:

They are smaller then the 2 Thumb but much larger then your typical Mid-Size or Jumbo Putter Grips. Works exactly like a 2 Thumb Grip by locking your hands and wrists together when you take a traditional grip on the club. Doesn't matter if you grip left below right or othodox as its still more tradtional then a 2 Thumb Grip. They are also about £4 cheaper as well.

Darren Millichip

i will agree with you there chris, the larger size of the 2 thumb grip does make it slightly harder at times to remove the putter from your bag but generally i dont seem to have a problem with it

1 other thing you will need to consider when buying a 2 thumb grip is the weight of the grip itself as they do come in different weights depending on each individuals requirements

personally i havnt found it to reduce the feel of the club more infact it has helped me gauge better the distance needed

i also agree alot of factors need to be considered when choosing to change your grip on your putter

as previosly stated try to get e trial run in a pro shop or similar

darren

Matt Hargraves

Christopher Watmore

Wayne Santorini

Dave ley

David, you won't go wrong in buying this DVD I have recommened it to a few fellow GS'ers and have all found it usefull , no affilliation to the product just a satisfied user. Good luck.

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David Lythgoe

Putting is a game within a game, or an Art.

The question of "what is the correct grip?" does not have a correct answer. If you have the worst lookin grip, swing your putter sideways yet hole 99% of putts under 10ft, it must be the correct grip for you.

FEEL is the main thing about the art of putting. Right line, wrong speed. Right speed, wrong line. Too hard. Too soft. All mean a putt misses. If you are a good enough putter, you could hole putts with a tree branch or a walking stick.

I was once told by a Darts player not to bother with how I threw the dart, just to concentrate on the section of the board I was aiming at. It's Hand & Eye co-ordination. Ask a women who can't hit the ball. "Has she ever tried to slap someone and missed?" Most will answer no.

Concentrate on one thing and the rest should be done by your brain. Or K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). Over complicate matters and there is more to go wrong.

TheLyth