Putting · Drill
Test Each Hand to Find Your Putting Grip
Part of our putting programs. Build a program with it
Your hands should work evenly on the greens. Test them. Find a flat, nearly straight 10-foot putt. Hit a couple to warm up. Then putt three balls with only your trail hand. Then three with only your lead hand. Did one hand control things? Was one shaky? If one hand dominates, try a grip that quiets it, like a claw or saw grip. Test a few styles on the same putt.
The drill
- Find a flat, straight 10-footer.
- Putt three with your trail hand only.
- Putt three with your lead hand only.
- Note which hand dominates or wobbles.
- Try a claw or saw grip and retest.
Why it works
A putting stroke works best when both hands share the job and neither one steers the putter face. Hitting putts with one hand shows you what each hand does on its own, so you can see which one pushes, pulls, or shakes. A claw or saw grip changes how much the dominant hand can grab the handle, which lets the shoulders swing the putter and keeps the face steadier.
Common mistakes
- Hitting the one-handed putts with a hard, fast stroke.Use the same smooth, easy pace you would use with both hands so the test shows your normal stroke.
- Judging each hand on only one ball.Hit all three balls with each hand and look for a pattern in start line and feel before you decide.
- Changing grips without retesting on the same putt.Keep the same 10-footer and hit three balls with each new grip so you can compare the results fairly.
How you'll know it's working
- With each hand alone, the ball starts on your line and rolls at a similar speed.
- The putter face feels steady through impact, with no flicking or jerking in either hand.
- With the new grip, your two-handed putts start on line more often and the stroke feels quieter.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a shorter 6-foot putt with a flat, straight line so you can focus on how each hand feels.
Harder: Move back to a 15-foot putt, or only count a putt as good if it starts on line and finishes within a putter-grip length of the hole.
Common questions
Which hand should control the putting stroke?
Neither hand should take over. The goal is an even stroke where the shoulders move the putter and both hands hold the face steady.
When should I try a claw or saw grip?
Try one if your trail hand pushes or flicks the putter, or if one hand feels shaky in the one-handed test. Retest on the same putt to see if the ball starts on line more often.
