Putting Grip Pressure

Putting Tips: The Difference Putting Grip Pressure Makes for Duffers
by Wayne Hudler

The devil is in the details. Little things mean a lot. Cliches exist because the communicate a truth. Don't continue to be frustrated by the little things in your putting. How firm you grip the putter can be one of those kinds of little things. Take a minute to get this detail right in your putting.

If you have lived very long at all you understand how much of a difference little things can make in life. Golf is no different. A slight stance alteration or a different brand of golf ball might help you play better for a while.

One of those little things in golf is grip pressure and this is particularly true when putting.

Muscle tension inhibits the proper movement of the body. It is difficult to remain fluid and maintain a consistent tempo throughout the swing if your muscle are too tense.

Further muscle tension makes it nearly impossible to keep the putter face square during the swing.

That being said, A very common mistake is to grip the putter too tightly. I see it over and over again during my time on the golf course.

Dooley's putting recommendations

I have seen players gripping so tightly that you see the muscles tense in their forearms and the pads of their fingers flatten against the putter grip. This is a recipe for disaster. It is impossible to putt consistently well while holding onto the putter grip like there was no tomorrow.

An overly tight grip limits the muscle movement causing the golfer to use a hard, jerky putting stroke rather than the proper more relaxed putting stroke.

The correct stroke is smooth, even and fluid. It is not uncommon for too much of the stored energy held by those tensed up muscles to be released during the stroke causing you to hit the ball way past the hole.

Now you have a long second putt, sometimes longer than the first.

Dooley's putting recommendations

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So what is the correct method? Let me just say the grip should be just strong enough to control the putter head but not so strong that the muscles in your hands, forearms and shoulders become tense.

One common illustration is to think of a scale from one to ten with one being very loose and 10 being very tight. The recommended pressure would be about midway or barely lighter, say four or five.

It is also important to have the pressure balanced between both hands.

Too much grip pressure in the left hand will cause the putter face to move to the left of the intended target line (for right-handers).

Likewise, too much grip pressure in the right hand will cause the putter face to move to the right of the intended target line.

This leads us to a tip from Dooley Duffer.

Even pressure from both hands is more important than how much pressure is applied to the putter grip. Folks, now that is something you won't read elsewhere, haven't seen this information available anywhere else on the net.

Dooley's putting recommendations

At the end of the day you need to be comfortable as you make your stroke.

So you will have to find your own individual solution. Just know that that solution needs to follow the guidelines discussed here because little things can and do make a huge difference.

Find the best information to help with your putting game here: Dooley's putting recommendations

Wayne Hudler is an avid golfer of over 30 years and golf writer. He has been recognized as an expert by the leading online article directory.

Dooley Duffer Golf is devoted to helping ordinary golfers (duffers) improve. Are you a duffer? Visit Dooley Duffer Golf where you will find an ever growing collection of improvement resources. Dooley Duffer Golf

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