I’ll never forget the first time I saw PGA Tour phenom Jordan Spieth putt.

I was watching a golf tournament on TV and said out loud, “Spieth is putting the wrong way”. That was the first time I had ever seen the left-hand low putting grip and it worked very well for Spieth that day.

Some golfers swear by the left-hand low putting grip. Find out what it is and how it can help improve your golf game here. After reading this you’ll be able to decide if this unconventional putting technique is worth trying on the course.

What is The Left Hand Low Putting Grip?

As its name implies, the left-hand low putting grip requires the golfer’s left hand to be the lowest one on the putter shaft. This grip is considered non-traditional because standard putting grips require right-handed golfers to have their right hand in the lowest position on the putter grip.

When using the left-hand low putting grip, there are two main options as far as how the right hand and left hand fit together on the golf club. Most golfers prefer to take their left pinky finger and lay it on top of their right index finger. This is the most common method of employing the left-hand low technique.

The other option is to point the right forefinger straight down the side of the handle. This is how PGA Tour pro Jim Furyk employs the left-hand low grip and it has paid huge dividends for him during his career. No matter what option you choose, make sure that both of your thumbs sit on top of the putter grip for maximum control of the putter head.

The Benefits of Using This Putting Grip

The left-hand low putting grip may look a bit odd, but there are a ton of benefits to using it. Here are some of the biggest advantages of putting this way.

Better Alignment

Lots of golfers struggle with their alignment on the greens. When using a traditional putting grip, it’s easy to have open shoulders when lining up your putts. This can lead to putts being pulled to the left (for a right-handed golfer).

A main advantage of the left-hand low grip is that it automatically forces the golfer’s left shoulder to square up with the right shoulder. This improves the golfer’s putting stance right from the start, without him even having to think about it. A better setup on the green can lead to more birdies!

Limits Hand and Wrist Action

A putting stroke that is too ‘handsy’ has a lot of disadvantages. Unfortunately, lots of golfers rely too heavily on their hands and wrists when putting. This often leads to poor putting speed and a lack of accuracy.

The left-hand low putting grip helps take the hands and wrists out of the putting stroke. This forces the bigger muscles like the hips, shoulders, and arms to control the entire stroke. When this happens, the golfer will notice that their putting technique is more reliable and consistent.

Easier to Stay on the Target Line

Putting sounds easy enough. After all, the golfer is simply trying to take the putter straight back and straight through the target line. As with several things in golf, the concept is simple but the execution isn’t easy.

Some golfers struggle with their dominant hand taking over the putting stroke. When this happens, the putter face is either pushed or pulled off the target line. This results in a ton of frustration with the flat stick.

The left-hand low technique takes the golfer’s dominant hand out of the putting stroke to a certain degree. With the nondominant (left) hand in more control of the club, it’s easier to stay on the target line.

Pro Golfers Who Use The Left Hand Low Putting Grip

Wondering if any pros actually use this putting technique? Here’s the list…

Jordan Spieth

Spieth is the most famous left-hand low putter on the PGA Tour. The three-time major champion consistently ranks as one of the best putters in the game. This proves that the left-hand low technique can provide high-level results, even for top-tier pro golfers.

An interesting thing about Spieth is that he is naturally left-handed, even though he plays golf right-handed. This may explain why he chooses to use the left-hand low grip.

Kevin Chappell

Chappell is another PGA Tour player who loves the left-hand low (lhl) putting grip. The 35-year old has won once on the PGA Tour and once on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Chappel’s putting grip is of the left-hand low variety but he adds a twist to it. Chappell almost makes a claw with his left hand and then cups it over both the putter and his right hand. This would be uncomfortable to most golfers but it works exceptionally well for Chappell.

Billy Horschel

Horschel is a big fan of the left-hand low putting grip and it has served him well. The 35-year old Florida alum has won 6 PGA Tour events and he also won the 2014 FedEx Cup.

Horschel employs the left-hand low technique because it keeps his wrists from breaking down during the putting stroke. Horschel prefers an oversized putter handle, which may help him make the best use of his left hand low grip.

Other Common Putting Grips

Vardon Grip

The Vardon Grip (aka the overlapping grip) is the most common in golf for full swings. Not many golfers use it while putting though. With the Vardon Grip, the right pinky rests on top of the left index finger.

Reverse Overlap Grip

The reverse overlap grip is considered the conventional way to putt. This grip is basically a reversal of the Vardon Grip. The left index finger sits on top of the right pinky with the reverse overlap grip.

Claw Grip

The claw grip has been around the game of golf for several decades. With the claw grip, the right hand is still the lower hand. However, the golfer forms a claw shape with the right hand to keep it from overpowering the putting stroke.

Saw Grip

The saw grip is very similar to the claw grip. The only major difference is that instead of the fingers pointing straight down the shaft, the fingers point horizontally towards the target line. This makes it look like the fingers are trying to saw through the putter’s handle.

Cross-Handed

The cross-handed grip is another term for the left-hand low putting grip. However, the cross-handed term can be used for both right-handed and left-handed golfers. With the cross-handed grip, the golfer simply switches the positions of his hands on the putter.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Are you constantly hitting a snap hook off the tee? 

Do your iron shots miss to the left also? 

If so, you may be suffering the effects of a left hand golf grip that is too strong.

If your left hand is gripping the golf club too strong, it can cause issues with your golf game. Learn more about what causes this problem and how to fix it. Having a good grip is essential if you want to improve as a golfer.

What is a Strong Left Handed Golf Grip?

There is an easy way to tell if you have a strong left handed golf grip. Take your normal grip on the golf club and line up like you are about to take a full golf swing. While in the address position, count how many knuckles you can see on your left hand.

If you can see three knuckles or more on your left hand, you have a strong left hand golf grip. Beginner golfers are often taught by golf instructors to employ a strong left hand grip with the hopes that it will help them avoid a slice. To make a strong left-hand grip work, the golfer must use a ton of body rotation.

How a Strong Left Hand Grip Can be Problematic

Though there are several pro golfers on the PGA Tour that use a strong left hand grip, it won’t work well for the majority of beginner golfers. Here is why a strong left hand grip can be problematic.

1. It Can Cause Golfers to Hook the Golf Ball

Probably the most common problem of using a left hand grip that is too strong is hooking the ball. Why does this happen?

When a strong grip is used, the left wrist often snaps the clubface shut just before making contact with the golf ball. This causes the ball to go left most of the time and results in inaccurate shots and lots of frustration.

2. Lower Ball Flight

Golfers who prefer stronger grips often hit the ball much lower than folks who use a neutral grip or a weak grip. This happens because a strong grip delofts the golf club, which naturally causes a much lower ball flight.

A lower ball flight may not sound like that big of a deal, especially when talking about the larger golf clubs like the driver and fairway woods. However, a lower ball flight can impede a golfer’s ability to hit accurate iron shots. This is especially true with the wedge shots that are close to the green.

3. Short Game Problems

Another huge problem that a strong golf grip can cause has to do with the golfer’s short game. Many golfers who use a strong left hand grip have a hard time hitting accurate chip and pitch shots. It’s tough to generate enough spin on all short game shots when using a strong grip.

As with a full golf swing, the wrist position with a strong grip delofts the club. This makes it difficult to hit any type of high chip shot. A strong grip also makes the clubface harder to control which is very detrimental to the short game.

How to Fix It

If you are hitting the golf ball just fine with a strong left hand grip and shooting low scores, don’t mess with what you are doing. There is no reason to fix something that is working well for you. 

However, if you’re fighting a hook, hitting the ball too low, or struggling with your chipping, here’s how to fix your grip.

1. Put the Left-Hand Knuckles in Neutral Position

Instead of having three or more knuckles on the left hand visible at address, try weakening your grip slightly so that only two knuckles can be seen. If you can see two to two and a half knuckles at address, this is a neutral left-hand grip, which is our goal.

With a strong left hand grip, you won’t be able to see your left thumb because it is tucked on the other side of the shaft. However, with a neutral left-hand grip, you should be able to see your left thumb.

2. Use the Correct Right-Hand Grip

Instead of seeing no knuckles on the right hand like with a strong grip, you should see one or one and a half knuckles when moving to a neutral grip. This will make it much easier to use either an interlocking grip or an overlap grip style.

3. Check the V’s

When working on a grip change, it’s vitally important to check which way your V’s are pointing. Not sure what we mean by V’s?

When gripping the golf club, each index finger and thumb form a V shape. If your hands are in a truly neutral position, the V of both hands will point at your right shoulder.

4. Practice, Practice, PRACTICE!

Undergoing a grip change is a tremendous challenge, especially if you have been using the same type of grip for years. The best way to get comfortable with a new grip is to spend more time at the driving range.

PGA Tour legends like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods all went through grip changes at various points in their illustrious careers. You can bet they each spent countless hours on the practice range while getting used to their new grip.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Danny Willett three-putted the 18th green from inside four feet after watching Max Homa hole a chip as the 34-year-old Yorkshireman missed out on the PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship title by a shot.

“It was obviously a disappointing way to finish, but you know, it was the first event of the season, so to be in contention shows that my overall game is in a good place. We’ll live to fight another day,” said Willett, who shot a closing 69 to finish on 15 under.

On Homa’s chip-in birdie from below the green, he added: “I expected him to do it, but then it’s still a bit of a shock when it happens.”

The late turnaround means Willett remains in search of a first PGA Tour title since his 2016 Masters victory.

“It was kind of a wild finish,” said Homa, who carded a final-round 68 at Silverado Resort in California. “The last three minutes are kind of a blur. But I played really good golf. I played solid.”

American Taylor Montgomery, making his fifth tour start, shot the best round of the day with an eight-birdie 64 to surge up the leaderboard and finish third. Rickie Fowler showed signs he is returning to form with a share of sixth place after a closing 69, while Belgium’s Thomas Detry continued to impress as he finished joint 12th.

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