Golf's Short Game For Dummies
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Not all putting grips are the same — not even the ones for which you place your right hand below the left in conventional fashion. But what all putting grips have in common is that the palms of both hands face each other so your hands can work together. The last thing you want is your hands fighting one another. Too much of either hand, and your ball has a bad experience.

Grip the putter in the palm of your hands to reduce the amount of movement your hands make. Unless you have incredible touch, your wrists aren't very reliable when you need to hit the ball short distances. You’re far better off relying on the rocking of your shoulders to create momentum in the putterhead.

Start by placing the palms of your hands on either side of the club’s grip.

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Slide your right hand down a little so that you can place both hands on the club. Then, do one of the following, depending on which grip you prefer:

  • Reverse overlap: Place your left index finger over the little finger of your right hand.

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  • Extended reverse overlap: Extend your left index finger past the fingers of your right hand until the tip touches your right index finger. The left index finger, when extended, provides stability to the putting stroke.

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  • Left hand low: This method is commonly referred to as cross-handed. The left hand hangs below the right with the putter (or vice versa if you’re a lefty). Many players use this method today because it helps keep the lead hand (the left, in this case) from bending at the wrist when you hit the ball.

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  • The claw: To try this weird-looking grip, start with a standard putting grip. Turn your right palm toward you and bring it to the putter’s handle so that the handle touches the spot between your thumb and index finger. Now bring your index and middle fingers to the shaft, leaving your ring finger and pinkie off.

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