Alternative grips
 

I have been using the claw for the past few years with some success. VJ has stated that the forearms and shaft should be lined up but this is difficult w/ the claw. IS there some insight you can give to me about things I should check? Love the Putting Arc btw. Really shows how much you can/should release it.

:D

Bgolfing,

The right forearm flying wedge is the reason I feel the forearms should be in line (in plane) with the clubshaft.

Is it a must? No. Does it add to non-compensating structure of the lever assemblies? Absolutely.

I have one....its called

THE PISTOL GRIP

Use your mind like a time machine and go back to when you're like 5 years ago and used to play cowboys and indians with imaginary guns and you just used your index finger and thumb as the "gun."

Now just use both your hands and "stick someone up!"

Bend from your waist and put your hands (still in stick'em up position) on the putter grip in your palm.

Done correctly your right index finger is down the aft part of the shaft and your left index finger is down the front side of the shaft. Your last 3 fingers of your right hand covers your left index finger.

Now the neat thing about the "pistol grip" is that you can use your index fingers as pressure points to putt.

Push off the left index finger (pressure point) to start the club back and push off the right index finger (pressure point) to start the club foward.

-----

I've converted many people who have problems yipping. Instead of "wristy" wrists, they just focus that "wristiness" in their fingers and/or pressure points.

Try this grip!
 

Some 8-9 years ago, I did a lot of putting experimentation. As I was between hitting and swinging with the putter, I tried to find a grip that would keep the clubface square whether I decided to push with my left hand (I'm a lefty) or pull with my right. Also, I wanted a grip where I had good distance control by lag pressure. I ended up with a grip that has served me very well since. Here's the right handed application:

IMO, one big problem with the ordinary putting grip, is that the club shaft rests against the "heel bone" of the left hand and the index finger bones. This creats optimal conditions for clubhead throwout. And you easily end up with two anchoring points in your grip - the heel bone and the bones in the index finger. One anchoring point attached to your hand, the other attached to your arm. If your hand is not in perfectly sync with your club , one of the anchoring points will let go, and inconsitency will be the result. Here's my solution:

Left hand:

Place your left hand on top of the putter grip: Place the end of the putter grip in the palm of the left hand, so that it stops on the low side of the "heel bone". of the left hand. When you close your fingers around the grip, the end of the grip shall be partly hid by the hand/forearm joint. The putter will now be a true extension of your left hand.

One point is that the club-hand contact shall be dominated by the soft "muscle pillows" in the palm of the hand, and not by the bones at each extreme of the palm. In this respect the sensation shall be quite similar to the ordinary grip where the club is resting under the heelbone of the hand - but basically being held in a soft spot in your hand. Another point is that it shall be easy to create a clubhead lag without exessive hand bend.

The right hand:

I use "double overlap" grip The right little finger is overlapping the left hand, and the left index finger is overlapping the left hand.

Now, PP1 and PP2 are very well aligned, and it should make very little difference whether you go for a hit or a swing - as long as you keep the lag pressure.

I use PP3 in both directions - to control the clubhead lag throughout the stroke. Sometimes I coose to lock the clubhead lag.

The grip is very well suited to keep the flying wedge intact regardless of how you choose to address and strike the ball. It allows you to apply the amount of forward pressure that you care to apply, and you can freely choose between hitting and swinging at the ball. By adjusting the ball position and forward pressure, it is equally well suited for very long and short putts.

Using this grip the last years, I have achieved great putting consistency while spending a minimum of putting stroke maintainance.

Anyone else tried similar?

The right little finger is overlapping the left hand, and the "left index finger" is overlapping the left hand. "

What is the left index finger doing?

Would be nice if you could post a picture of this grip.

Thanks for your post.

The left index finger is resting on the right ring finger and long finger. The right little finger is resting along the left long finger - and might also be intouch with the left ring finger. The grip is a sort of overlapping-interlocking grip.

We have lost or hidden our digital camera somewhere. I will post pictures if/when we find it.

Best regards,

:D

One of the best putters in the world uses and interlock grip during his putting stroke. It is mind boggling to watch but he is great at it.

"Don't hesistate in changing the grip for better ball control." is what Mr. Kelley said.

My grip actually looks quite conventional until you notice that the end of the shaft is hid inside the hands.