Putting Grip/Setup

[Thom]

Tiger Woods stated in "How I Play Golf" that he grips the putter under the heel pad of the left hand.

"under the butt of the left hand", he says??? I think it's less in the palm but not under the heel.

My golf buddy grips his putter like he grips all other clubs, and he's a decent player, so I guess it up to you. But I think in the palm of the left hand is classic. You can have your forearms on plane and the back of the left hand corresponding(?) with the putterface.

[Bigwill]

Originally Posted by Bigwill

Tiger Woods stated in "How I Play Golf" that he grips the putter under the heel pad of the left hand.

"under the butt of the left hand", he says??? I think it's less in the palm but not under the heel.

My golf buddy grips his putter like he grips all other clubs, and he's a decent player, so I guess it up to you. But I think in the palm of the left hand is classic. You can have your forearms on plane and the back of the left hand corresponding(?) with the putterface.

I'm fairly positive he said under the heel pad. Of course, he may have changed this since the book. I'm personally in agreement with you as far as gripping it more in the palm of the hand; there's less play in the wrists, which is big for me as far as consistency is concerned.

[fogger]

Birdie Man- under the thumb pad of the left hand. If you are left handed it would be under the thumb pad of the right hand.

The more under the heel, the more number 3 you have, the more under the thumb pad, the less number 3 you have.

And remember, number 3 is an angle established with the wedge. So zeroing it out would have the left arm and the shaft in-line.

Thanks...this is very helpful information.

[vj]

Getting the grip completely under the heel pad of the left hand causes some severe deformities of alignments that I see all the time. For one the player's putter is never soled properly. The toe will always be up. Putting in this way over an extended period will create right alignment more often than not.

Getting number 3 loaded up will also get the forearms out of plane which will now have the shaft and arms out of plane and "hurt" (possibly destroy) the flying wedges.

If it feels uncomfortable lying under the thumb pad (zeroing out #3) then get the putter setting a little under the heel pad. But look, look in front of a mirror at your address postures to make certain you don't create any severe misalignments of the above.

[The Hawk]

Thanks VJ for the advice. I'll try the grip suggestion.

What happens if I turn the left hand grip slightly left and the right hand slightly right (like Goosen does and Norman used to do)?

This seems to make it easier to align forearms and clubshaft and also lock-in alignments and then stroke from left shoulder.

[vj]

Hawk,

The position of the hands is preference. You may do anything you wish to do!! Golf is such a democracy.