On the PGA Tour, while every golfer has a unique style, their putter grip plays a crucial role in determining the accuracy and consistency of their putts.
In golf, the saying "Putting wins championships" always holds true. No matter how powerful your driver is or how accurate your iron shots are, if you can't get the ball into the hole, you'll never score.
Putting isn't just a part of the game; it's genuinely essential for achieving high scores. The ability to control the green, read lines, and maintain a stable, accurate putt is a decisive factor in scoring and, at times, the difference between victory and defeat.
Just like full swings, every player has their own style when putting. And one way golfers differentiate themselves is through their putter grip styles.
If you watch the PGA Tour every weekend, you'll see a variety of putting grip techniques used by professional golfers. But which putter grip is the most popular? Based on the grip styles of the top 50 golfers in the 2024 SG: Putting rankings, let's explore the most common putter grips and their benefits.
Traditional Grip
- Number of users: 37 (74%)
- Notable users: Jason Day, Zach Johnson, Viktor Hovland
- How it works: This is considered a reliable putter grip and is the most popular style on the greens among the top 50 golfers in SG: Putting, with 37 players using this grip. With this grip, the right hand (for right-handers) is placed lower than the left hand, similar to how you'd place your hands on the club for a full swing. This provides a more comfortable and natural feel for many golfers.
This isn't just a popular grip on Tour; it's also widely used by amateur and recreational players. The traditional putting grip has been in use since the inception of golf, and legends like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, and Ben Hogan have all employed it.
Left-Hand Low (Cross-Handed) Grip
- Number of users: 8 (16%)
- Notable users: Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman
- How it works: Simply put, Left-hand low is a putter grip where the left hand is placed lower than the right hand on the grip. It's also known as a cross-handed grip. (For left-handed players, this means the right hand is lower than the left.)
This putting grip helps golfers achieve more balanced shoulders at setup and minimizes the influence of the dominant hand during the putting stroke. The Left-hand low grip has become increasingly popular in recent years, with Major champions like Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark using this technique in their victories.
Broomstick Grip
- Number of users: 3 (6%)
- Notable users: Adam Scott, Akshay Bhatia
- How it works: The Broomstick putter grip was once considered a last resort for poor putters, but this style has become more popular in the last decade—even as PGA Tour rules eliminated the ability to anchor the club tightly to the body.
With a shaft extending almost to the chest, the Broomstick putting stroke is fundamentally different from a conventional putt, but it can offer significant benefits for certain players. The putter is designed to swing like a pendulum and requires the player to rock their shoulders back and forth to strike the ball. It may take some getting used to initially, but once mastered, this motion can create a perfect ball roll.
Claw Grip
- Number of users: 2 (4%)
- Notable users: Russell Henley, Taylor Pendrith
- How it works: Scottie Scheffler garnered attention late last year when the world's No. 1 golfer switched to a claw-style putter grip for his short putts. While it might look a bit unconventional, it seems to have helped improve his putting from short distances.
With the right hand (for right-handers) gripping the club in a "claw" fashion, this putting technique helps keep the dominant hand more stable throughout the stroke. If this putter grip works for the world's No. 1 golfer, it can work for any player.