Your putting grip is the only connection between your body and the putter. Get it wrong, and even a perfect stroke goes sideways. Here's how to find the grip that fits your game.
Why Your Putting Grip Matters More Than You Think
Most golfers obsess over their full-swing grip but never question how they hold the putter. That's a mistake. According to Golf Digest's analysis of PGA Tour putting grips, tour professionals use at least six distinct grip styles — and the "right" one varies dramatically from player to player.
Your putting grip influences three critical factors:
- Wrist stability — How much your wrists break down during the stroke
- Face control — Your ability to keep the putter face square at impact
- Pressure consistency — Whether grip pressure stays even through the stroke
A grip that eliminates your specific tendency — whether it's a yippy flip or a pushed putt — can transform your results overnight. Let's break down every major style so you can find yours.
1. Reverse Overlap Grip: The Classic Standard
The reverse overlap is the most popular putting grip in golf history. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and roughly 60% of PGA Tour players use some version of it.
How It Works
Place your left hand (for right-handed golfers) on the grip with the index finger extended down. Your right hand goes below, and the left index finger overlaps across the fingers of your right hand. Both thumbs point straight down the shaft.
Why It Works
- Feels natural if you're used to a standard full-swing grip
- Promotes a unified hand action — both hands work as one unit
- The overlapping index finger prevents the hands from working independently
- Easy to maintain consistent grip pressure throughout the stroke
Best For
Golfers who have no significant wrist-breakdown issues and want a comfortable, traditional feel. If your stroke is fundamentally sound and you're not fighting the yips, this grip gives you the most tactile feedback.
Watch Out For
If you tend to get "handsy" under pressure — flipping the wrists through impact — the reverse overlap may not provide enough wrist restriction. Consider one of the alternative grips below.
2. Cross-Handed (Left-Hand Low) Grip
The cross-handed grip has surged in popularity over the past decade. Jordan Spieth's three-major career thrust it into the spotlight, and today around 24 PGA Tour players use it full-time — making it the most popular alternative grip on tour.
How It Works
Swap your hands: the right hand goes on top, the left hand below (for right-handed golfers). Your left arm now leads the stroke, creating a straight line from your left shoulder down through the shaft.
Why It Works
- Dramatically reduces wrist breakdown through impact
- Levels your shoulders naturally, promoting better putting alignment
- Takes the dominant hand out of the equation, reducing "hit" impulse
- Excellent for maintaining a pendulum-style stroke
Best For
Golfers who struggle with wrist flip, who "hit" at the ball instead of stroking through it, or who have fought putting yips. Also excellent for golfers whose right shoulder tends to creep forward at address.
Watch Out For
Distance control can feel awkward initially because you're removing some feel from your dominant hand. Give it at least two weeks of dedicated practice before judging results.
3. The Claw Grip
Made famous by Chris DiMarco and now used by players like Sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood, the claw (also called the "saw grip") looks unusual but delivers remarkable stability.
How It Works
Your left hand holds the grip normally. Your right hand, however, doesn't wrap around the grip at all. Instead, the grip rests against your right palm or between your thumb and forefinger, with your fingers pointing downward like a claw. The right hand essentially guides rather than grips.
Why It Works
- Almost completely eliminates right-hand dominance in the stroke
- Makes it physically difficult to flip the wrists through impact
- Reduces grip pressure in the trailing hand dramatically
- Forces a shoulder-driven stroke rather than a hand-driven one
Best For
The claw is the number-one recommendation for golfers fighting the yips. If you've tried everything else and still feel that involuntary twitch on short putts, the claw's mechanical restriction can be a revelation. Also excellent for golfers with arthritis or chronic hand tension.
Watch Out For
The claw can feel extremely awkward at first. Lag putts may suffer early on because you're removing a lot of "feel" from the dominant hand. Commit to at least 500 putts before evaluating results.
4. The Pencil Grip
A close cousin of the claw, the pencil grip takes the concept even further. Several tour players have adopted it in recent years as a yips remedy.
How It Works
The left hand holds the grip conventionally. The right hand holds the shaft between the thumb and forefinger — literally like holding a pencil. The remaining fingers may rest lightly on the grip or float entirely.
Why It Works
- Maximum wrist restriction in the trailing hand
- Extremely light grip pressure — impossible to "squeeze" the putter
- Promotes pure pendulum motion driven entirely from the shoulders
- Eliminates any chance of the dominant hand "taking over"
Best For
Severe yips sufferers who need even more restriction than the claw provides. Also works well for golfers who grip too tightly under pressure.
Watch Out For
Feel and feedback are minimal. This is a "function over feel" grip that prioritizes mechanical consistency over touch. Not ideal for fast, undulating greens where you need maximum sensitivity for distance control.
5. Prayer (Palms-Facing) Grip
The prayer grip is gaining traction among mid-handicappers as a middle ground between traditional and alternative styles.
How It Works
Both palms face each other directly, parallel to the putter face. Your hands mirror each other on the grip — neither dominates. It looks like you're pressing your palms together in prayer, with the putter between them.
Why It Works
- Neutralizes both hands equally — no hand dominance whatsoever
- Natural alignment of palms parallel to the putter face promotes square contact
- Promotes equal grip pressure in both hands
- Comfortable transition from conventional grip — less extreme than claw or cross-handed
Best For
Golfers who want the stability benefits of alternative grips without the extreme feel change. Good for golfers who push or pull putts because one hand overpowers the other.
Watch Out For
Requires a grip (the rubber piece on the shaft) that accommodates palms-facing hand placement. Thicker, flatter-sided grips like SuperStroke work best with this style.
6. Arm-Lock Grip
The arm-lock has been the most controversial grip innovation of the last decade. Popularized by Matt Kuchar and Bryson DeChambeau, it uses an extended putter shaft pressed against the lead forearm.
How It Works
Using a putter 2-4 inches longer than standard (typically 38-41 inches), you press the butt end of the shaft against your lead forearm. Your lead wrist is effectively locked in a fixed position because the shaft acts as a splint. The grip is typically a reverse overlap or conventional style, but the arm-lock mechanic overrides everything.
Why It Works
- Completely eliminates wrist breakdown — it's physically impossible
- Extremely consistent face angle through impact
- Promotes a natural forward-press position at address
- Reduces the number of moving parts in the stroke to almost zero
Best For
Golfers who want absolute mechanical consistency and are willing to sacrifice some "feel" for it. Excellent for straight-back, straight-through stroke types. Good for golfers who've tried everything else for persistent yips.
Watch Out For
Requires a purpose-built arm-lock putter or significant modification to a standard putter (added loft, extended shaft). The higher effective loft (typically 7-9 degrees) means the ball launches differently. Distance control takes time to calibrate because the stroke feels very different from conventional putting.
How to Choose: A Decision Framework
Use this quick diagnostic to narrow your options:
Step 1: Identify Your Problem
- No major issues, want optimization? → Start with reverse overlap, refine from there
- Wrist flip or breakdown? → Cross-handed or claw
- One hand overpowering the other? → Prayer or cross-handed
- Yips (involuntary twitch)? → Claw, pencil, or arm-lock
- Pushing or pulling consistently? → Check alignment first, then try prayer grip
Step 2: Test on Your Putting Mat
Here's where home practice on a quality putting mat becomes invaluable. Testing a new grip on the course — with score pressure and playing partners watching — is a recipe for abandoning it too soon.
Instead, dedicate 15 minutes per day on your putting mat to the new grip. Hit 50 short putts (3-5 feet) and 50 lag putts (8-12 feet). Track your make percentage and proximity to the hole. After two weeks, compare results to your baseline with the old grip.
Step 3: Give It Time
Every tour player who's switched grips reports the same pattern: it feels terrible for 1-2 weeks, then clicks. Spieth switched to cross-handed as a junior and never looked back. Sergio Garcia adopted the claw mid-career and revitalized his putting. Don't judge a grip after one range session.
Grip Pressure: The Hidden Variable
Regardless of which grip style you choose, pressure is the X-factor most golfers ignore. Tour pros typically grip the putter at a 3-4 on a 1-10 scale. Most amateurs sit at 7-8.
The pressure test: Hold your putter in your putting grip. Have someone try to gently pull it from your hands. If they can't budge it, you're gripping too tight. You should be able to feel the weight of the putter head — if you can't, lighten up.
High grip pressure causes:
- Tension that travels up the forearms into the shoulders
- Reduced feel for distance
- Jerky stroke acceleration
- Inconsistent face angle at impact
Practice maintaining soft pressure with your chosen grip using a simple daily routine — the repetition builds muscle memory for proper pressure without conscious effort.
What the Data Says
Golf Digest's analysis of PGA Tour putting grip methods found revealing patterns:
- Traditional/reverse overlap grips dominated in strokes gained: putting among the top 10 putters on tour
- Cross-handed users showed the most consistent performance — fewer extreme highs and lows week to week
- Claw/pencil users had the biggest improvement trajectories, suggesting the grip works best for players who needed a change
- Arm-lock users were too few for statistical significance but showed excellent short-putt conversion rates
The takeaway? There's no universally "best" grip. The best grip is the one that solves YOUR specific problem.
Transitioning to a New Grip: The 21-Day Protocol
Days 1-7: Mat Only
Practice exclusively on your putting mat. Focus on comfort, not results. Hit 100 putts per day. Don't track scores — just get the feel dialed in.
Days 8-14: Practice Green
Take the new grip to the practice green. Start with 3-footers, then work outward. Play competitive drills to add pressure. Track your make percentage from 5 feet.
Days 15-21: On-Course Trial
Use the new grip in casual rounds. Don't switch back mid-round — commit fully. After 21 days, evaluate: Are you making more putts? Do you feel more confident? Is the stroke more repeatable?
The Bottom Line
Your putting grip isn't a lifetime commitment — it's a tool. Tour pros switch grips more often than you'd think. The key is identifying what's holding you back, choosing a grip that addresses it, and giving the transition enough time to work.
Start experimenting at home. A quality practice setup removes the pressure of the course and lets you focus purely on the mechanical change. Once the new grip feels natural on the mat, you'll carry that confidence to every green you play.
About Chiputt Golf
At Chiputt Golf, we build tour-grade putting mats designed for serious practice. Our premium putting mat features true-roll surfaces, dual hole cups, and the PaceMaster pace training system — everything you need to test grip changes, build new habits, and lower your scores from home. Pair it with our putting mat extender for even more practice versatility.
