Do you struggle to sink putts? Did you know that a simple grip change can help you get more comfortable on the greens and sink more birdies? 

The claw style putting grip has risen in popularity in recent years, both on the PGA Tour and with amateur golfers.

Most golfers use the Vardon grip to putt, but can the Claw Grip help you improve your game? Learn more about this putting grip style to see if it makes sense for you.

What is The Claw Grip for Putting?

The Claw Grip (also known as the pencil grip or prayer grip) is a different way of holding the putter and is considered unconventional by most golf instructors. With the claw putting grip, the left hand (aka the lead hand) holds the putter in the same way as any other putting grip. The thumb sits on top of the shaft and the forefinger points straight down the side or curls around the club.

The right hand (or trail hand) is where things get interesting with the Claw Grip. Instead of taking a normal grip like the left hand, the right hand (for a right-handed golfer) forms a claw. Both the index finger and the middle finger rest on top of the shaft as the rest of the putter fits right into the “V” of the right hand.

Why Some Golfers Use This Putting Grip Style

Golfers switch to the claw grip for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common.

1. Golfers Who Want to Limit Wrist Action

Lots of golfers suffer from using too much wrist movement while putting. This usually leads to either not enough ball speed or too much ball speed. No matter which way you slice it, having a pace problem on the green is an awful feeling.

Coming up five feet short is super frustrating on the green and so is watching your ball fly past the hole. The claw putting grip helps the golfer control the speed of their putts.

The Claw Grip helps take the hands out of the putting stroke by decreasing the amount of wrist action. This leads to better form and more action from the shoulders. Allowing the shoulders to lead the putting stroke leads to more consistency on the green. 

2. Golfers Who Are Fighting the Yips

Have you ever heard of golfers getting the yips? It’s one of the most dreaded terms in golf because it severely affects a golfer’s ability to sink even short putts. When a golfer gets the yips, their wrist muscles convulse and move involuntarily.

The jury is still out on what causes the yips. Many sports psychologists feel that the yips are caused by too much stress or performance anxiety. Other medical professionals believe that the yips are caused by a certain neurological condition called focal dystonia.

Thankfully, lots of golfers have been able to cure the yips by making a dramatic change in their putting stroke, such as switching to the claw grip. Many top-level golf instructors believe that making the change to the claw grip is one of the most effective ways to cure the yips.

3. Comfort

Some golfers simply are not comfortable with a conventional putting grip. Many of these folks find that the claw grip is more comfortable. This increased level of comfort allows the golfer to make a more consistent stroke.

4. Golfers Who Want More Control of the Clubface

Is your clubface constantly flying open or snapping closed while putting? If so, the claw grip could help you keep the clubface straight. Again, this is because the claw grip keeps you from getting too handsy with your putting stroke.

The key to sinking more putts is to find an accurate putting style that allows you to make a full swing toward your target line. Switching to a claw putter grip allows many golfers to do this. It also makes it easier for golfers to lighten their grip pressure on the putter, which increases accuracy.

Pro Golfers Who Use the Claw Grip

Lots of professional golfers on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour use the claw grip. Here is a brief list of some of those players.

Phil Mickelson

We had to put “Lefty” on our list, as he’s one of the most popular players in the world and is a big believer in the claw grip. Mickelson does switch back and forth quite a bit between the claw grip and a conventional grip. 

The six-time major champion says that the claw grip helps put him in a better position while addressing the golf ball while putting.

Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood has yet to win on the PGA Tour but he’s won five times on the European Tour. The 30-year old Englishman said he switched to the claw grip because the clubface of his putter was constantly flying open or slamming shut. 

Fleetwood claims the claw grip helps him use his shoulders more during his putting stroke. With Fleetwood’s version of the claw grip, he prefers to keep his right hand more toward the side of the shaft instead of on top of it.

Justin Rose

“Rosie” made the switch to the claw grip back in 2016 and it has served him incredibly well. Shortly after making the switch, Rose became the #1 player in the world. 

Rose feels that switching to the claw grip has simplified his putting mechanics. It’s hard to argue with the results Rose has had since adopting the claw grip.

Sergio Garcia

Garcia started using the claw grip back in 2011 after trying several different putting grip styles, including the cross-handed technique. After adopting the claw grip, Garcia went from one of the worst putters on Tour to one of the best.

Garcia is one of the best Ryder Cup players of all time. He also won his first major by capturing the coveted Masters Tournament title in 2017.

Other Common Putting Grips

Saw Grip

The saw grip is eerily similar to the claw grip and some folks even use the two terms interchangeably. With the saw grip, the left-hand remains in the neutral, or conventional, position. 

The right-hand forms into a saw shape, instead of the cupped claw shape. The putter rests in the palm of the right hand with the right thumb grasping the underside of the grip. Two-time major champion Mark O’Meara was the one that made the saw grip famous.

Vardon Grip

One of the most common putting grips is the Vardon grip or overlapping grip. With the Vardon grip, both thumbs rest on the putter’s shaft and this gives the golfer good control of the clubface. The pinky of the right hand sits on top of the index finger of the left hand.

Cross-Handed Grip

This one is also known as the “left-hand low” grip by some golfers. Instead of having your right hand in the lower position, swap hands and make your left hand the lower hand. That’s how you use the cross-handed putting grip.

PGA Tour phenom Rickie Fowler switches over to the cross-handed grip whenever he’s in the midst of a rare putting slump. Fowler claims this grip helps him regain his feel on the greens by helping him keep the clubface level at impact.

Reverse Overlap Grip

This is another common putting grip. Both the left hand and right hand are in a neutral position on the putter. With this conventional grip, the right hand is the lowest one on the putter.

Take the left index finger and lap it over the right pinky. That’s the reverse overlap 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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3-putts are the bane of an amateur’s existence. Even with accurate approach shots, the putting green is where it falls apart for casual golfers.

This is due to poor alignment and speed control. This issue prompted me to compile a list of practical lag putting drills to improve your putts per round record.

The drills listed below are ideal for successfully navigating enormous greens. This allows you to confidently get your ball to within a few feet for a 2-putt tap-in. If you hit the green in regulation, that gives you an easy par.

In addition, these exercises improve your alignment to help you judge breaks on longer putts.

1. Measuring Tape (The longer the putt, the longer the backstroke)

When I started playing golf, I was told that the strength of my putt depended on my follow-through and not the backswing. As a result, I took the putter back the same distance for every putt, causing me to leave longer putts short of the cup.

It did not take me long to recognize this flaw, and I adjusted the backstroke accordingly. My coach employed a measuring tape and helped me mark the required backswing length for each distance. Over time, it became like second nature to send the putter head back the desired span for a 5, 10, 20, or even 40-foot putt.

How To Do The Measuring Tape Drill

Pick a target, and set up three balls each 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 feet from the cup. Next, extend the measuring tape to 30-inches, and lock it. This measurement covers the length of your stroke for the different distances.

Roll putts from 5 feet, and get a friend to mark the top of your back putting-stroke on the measuring tape. Record the distance for future reference. Proceed to strike 10-footers and follow the same procedure. Follow this up with 20, 40, and 60-feet putts.

Once your backstroke lengths are determined, return to the 20-foot marker, and take out the measuring tape again. Lock it on the measurement of your backstroke to guide you. This helps you produce the required launch on your takeaway for optimal distance control.

2. Feel The Speed

I saw Phil Mickelson run through this putting drill, which helps you gain a better feel for long putts. This trains you to induce a desirable backstroke length and optimal power on the downstroke for improved speed control:

Phil suggests that you produce the same quantity of energy on your follow-through for each shot. This adds an element of consistency to your strokes. The only variable is the length of your backstroke.

How To Do The Feel The Speed Drill

Lefty does this drill from 40, 50, and 60 feet. Now, as a professional, the greens he putts on are substantially longer than the ones you and I are accustomed to. Therefore, I suggest starting at 20 feet before progressing to 40 and 50 feet.

Place 5 balls at each distance mark, and hit putts to your target. I recommend identifying a spot on the green rather than a specific hole for this exercise. Repeat the task from that range if you do not card a 100% success rate. After succeeding from 20 feet, move on to 40 and finally, 50 feet.

3. Manilla Folder

Long straight putts are difficult to judge as is. However, it enhances the challenge of speed control when you add a downhill slope to the equation. Insufficient pace leaves you with a downhill second putt, risking a bogey.

Conversely, the excess pace could send your ball hurtling to the fringe of the green. You want the ball to trickle down to the cup, leaving you with a simple tap-in for par. The manilla folder drill helps you judge speed precisely.

The idea is to stop the ball on the folder as if it were the top of a slope. Gravity takes over from this point and guides the ball towards the flagstick.

How To Do The Manilla Folder Drill

Identify a point on the green to place the folder, and then measure at 20, 40, and 50-feet intervals. Set 5 balls up on each mark and commence from 20 feet away. Produce 5 successful lag putts that stop on the folder before moving onto the 40-foot setup.

4. Gate Putting Drill (Accuracy)

The first 3 drills revolved around vital speed control. But, if your putter face is not square through impact, it sends your ball off line from the beginning. Therefore, you stand no chance of sinking your putt. The gate putting drill encourages you to square the putter face up at contact to send your ball on your intended line.

Tiger Woods applied this drill to his warm-up routine on the practice green. He placed two tees parallel to each other, approximately 2-inches in front, forming a gate marginally wider than his putter head. He aimed to send the ball through the gate to induce a straight roll.

As a right-hand golfer, he would pull the ball left of the cup if his putter face was closed at impact. On the contrary, his ball would miss right if he left the face open at contact.

How To Do The Gate Putting Drill

Insert two tees into the ground 2 inches ahead of your golf ball. The tees should sit parallel to one another, forming a gate structure. Employ this practice routine 20, 40, and 50 feet away from the hole, working on your accuracy from that distance.

Your mission is to get the ball to within a radius of 3 feet of the hole, ensuring a tap-in 2-putt.

5. Judge The Speed Of The Greens

The challenge amateurs have with lag putting is determining the quantity of force to strike the golf ball with. I recommend employing this putting practice drill in your pre-round preparation. It gives you a feel for the layout of the greens and what you can expect for that day.

Instead of picking a specific hole on the green, putt from one end to the other, watching the break and speed of your roll. If your ball flies off the other side of the green, you need to dial the pace down. Contrarily, short putts require extra oomph to get the ball across the dancefloor.

How To Do The Judge The Speed Drill

Place 5 golf balls on one end of the green, and putt the ball to a designated target on the other side. Stroke the 5 balls and pay attention to the consistency of the roll and the break. The aim is to stop the ball within a 3-feet radius of your target for optimal distance control.

6. In The Zone

In the Zone is one of my best putting drills that adds purpose to your training routine. It gets you into the mindset of stopping your first putts within a 3-feet radius around the cup. However, it also encourages a confident stroke to reduce your risk of leaving a putt short.

I like this drill because it helps you determine your progress by scoring each putt. Your overall mission is to score as many strokes under par as possible, putting from different distances.

Ultimately, this exercise is built to promote confident putts that roll past the hole rather than being left short.

How To Do In The Zone

Grab an alignment stick and position it 3 feet past the hole, then measure intervals of 20, 40, and 50 feet from the flag. Next, place 5 balls at each interval, and prepare to putt.

Start with the closest 5-balls. Every time you sink a putt, it counts as a birdie. But, if you leave it short or blast it further than 3-feet past the cup, it results in a bogey. Tally up your score from the first distance and proceed to the 40-foot mark, and finally, try your luck from 50 feet out.

Once you have putt all your balls, count your overall score. Then repeat the drill to try to improve your personal best score.

7. Leave It Below The Hole

As an amateur, you never want to leave yourself a downhill tester for par. There are too many factors to consider that can cause you to miss the putt and card a bogey. That is why you want your second putt uphill whenever possible.

It is easier to hit a firm, uphill putt than judge the distance of a rapid downhill roll. The leave it below the hole drill helps you judge your strikes to perfection to trickle the ball down to the hole for an easy tap-in.

How To Do Leave It Below The Hole

Hire the services of your trusted alignment stick and place it 3-feet past the cup. Sit 5 balls down on the green at the 20, 40, and 50-foot mark, and stroke the ball. The idea is to stop your golf ball between the cup and the alignment stick, encouraging an easy 2-putt from far out.

You must not progress to the 40-foot mark until all 5-balls are 3-feet below the cup. You must possess a perfect record before continuing.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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