Putting...Grip It Like You Play!

Becoming a better putter is something that nearly all golfers would like to achieve. Having a sharp game on the greens is what enables us to shoot low scores and save rounds. But because putting can be so challenging, numerous golfers try whatever they can to get the ball in the hole. Belly putters are more common than ever, while many others have tried different ways of holding the putter (i.e. pencil grip, reverse grip). But, I want you to forget all of that right now!

My brother Kenny recently passed away and it's been a tremendous loss. What people may not known about Kenny is that he was an amazing putter. We had many putting competitions together and I was never able to come close to his abilities on the green. Well, the other day I was thinking about Ken and things he used to preach about with putting. I'm not sure why it never hit me, but it made so much sense so I'd like to share it with you all today.

Instead of experimenting with ten different grips, try putting with the same grip you play with. When I would putt, the club would sit more in the palm of my hand, which led to any number of problems like taking the putter back outside instead of straight back. I've tried long putters and different grips as well, but it wasn't until the other day that I found myself listening to Kenny's instructions. I placed the putter in the crimp of my fingers and held it exactly as I would any other club. The results were pretty startling.

All of a sudden my putts started diving into the hole with some speed. Even without trying, I had become more aggressive with my stroke. Not because it was a conscious desicion to be more aggressive, but because the positioning of my hands had an effect on the rest of my setup including where my arms would hang at address. It allowed my arms to swing much more naturally and with more assertiveness.

We all miss Kenny here at Swing Surgeon Golf, but I'm sure he's looking down on us and reminding us to "grip it like you play!!"

Keep it vertical,

The Surge!
Don Trahan
PGA Master Professional

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