Claw grip eases putting woes

The claw is an unorthodox grip that more than a few players on the PGA Tour use to cure their putting woes. And it may become even more popular if the rule makers deem it illegal to anchor the putter to your body. I believe there is a very good possibility this will happen in the next two years, further enhancing the importance of alternative strategies.

There are several variations of the claw, but this is the "normal" version: First, hold the handle of your putter, using a standard grip.

Then let go with your right hand and let your arm hang naturally by your side with the fingers pointing toward the ground. Stretch your right thumb out so that the webbed area between the thumb and the forefinger is taut and each finger on the right hand is extended.

Slide the right hand toward the target until the web of your hand gently touches the handle of the putter below your standard left-hand grip. Keep some bend in your right elbow and the fingers of your right hand extended. The palm of the right hand points at the ground in order to seal in the wrist angle.

To be a good putter, you need to get both the distance and direction right. The player pictured here handles the direction using the seal of the right wrist so that it and the clubface are one ― every place the right hand goes, the clubface goes.

To make sure he has the correct path, he uses two tees to create a gate, then he pushes his right hand through the gate.

While it takes a bit of practice to get used to this unusual-looking technique, it is well worth the time and effort, especially if you play the majority of your golf on fast greens.


To putt with a claw grip, start with your normal putting grip.


With the claw, the right wrist is cupped and the goal is to retain this cup while you putt.