Symple
Putting
Grips and
the Symple
Putter
When I
originally
started
Symple
Putting I
experimented
with a
number of
putting
grips
variations
to see
which is
the most
effective
grip for
Symple
Putting
especially
when using
the Symple
Putter.
What I
found out
was very
interesting.
First a
little
background
information.
There are
two ways to
putt in
Symple
Putting.
There is a
lead hand
(top hand)
dominate
method and
a trail
hand
(bottom
hand)
dominate
method.
Mike
O'Leary my
partner and
Simple
Golf's
Director of
Instruction
has always
been a
proponent
of the lead
hand (left
hand for
right
handed
golfers)
method.
When I
first
started
Symple
Putting I
originally
preferred
the bottom
hand (right
hand)
dominate
method.
Both method
do work
although
one method
has proven
to work
better than
the other.
I've been
hitting
putts with
my right
hand
(bottom
hand) for
45+ years
and that's
what I was
"comfortable"
with. As
good as I
was I did
realize
Mike was an
even better
putter.
So after a
while I
decided to
give lead
hand (top
hand)
dominate
method
another
try. I
discussed
grip
techniques
with Mike
and then
the light
bulb went
on and I
finally
realized
why I
originally
had some
trouble
with the
lead hand
dominate
method.
The trouble
was with my
trail hand
grip (I'm
right
handed so
I'm talking
about how I
grip the
club with
my right
hand, which
is my
bottom
hand).
Discussing
the right
hand grip
with Mike
he
explained
how you
should
always keep
a SPACE
between the
palm of
your right
hand and
the shaft
(or your
left thumb
depending
on your
overlap).
That helps
you keep
your bottom
hand
LOOSELY on
the
grip
I had been
using a
right hand
grip where
the palm of
my right
hand was
touching my
left thumb
and the
shaft. With
my right
hand in
this
position I
felt strong
and could
make a
pretty good
right hand
popping
stroke with
the putter
however I
could not
bring the
putter back
very far in
the
backstroke.
When I did
bring it
back it
came back
in more of
an arc than
Mike's
method of
putting. I
putted
quite well
this way
but it was
more of a
popping
stroke
which
wasn't as
effective
as I
wanted outside
of 20-25
feet.
Loosening
up the
right hand
and moving
the palm
away from
my left
thumb and
the shaft
(I'm
talking
about 1/2
inch to an
inch of
space.)
suddenly
allowed me
to make a
longer
backstroke
much easier
which made
longer
putts much
easier. I
also
noticed
that the
putter was
coming more
straight
back and
straight
through
(less of an
arc).
I had been
using a
standard
left thumb
down the
top of the
shaft grip.
I
experimented
with moving
my left
thumb more
to the
left. I
moved my
thumb over
to about
the 11
o'clock
position
and past
that. I
even
experimented
moving the
thumb over
toward 1 or
2 o'clock
and past
that. It
turns out
the 12
o'clock
position
definitely
gave me the
most
consistency
and
control.
So now with
the "space"
and the
looser
bottom hand
grip I
could make
a longer
backswing
when
necessary
and my
right hand
was less of
a factor. I
started
rolling
putts in
from all
over using
the lead
hand (left
hand)
dominate
method. It
felt like
it was a
much smooth
stroke than
my trail
hand (right
hand)
dominate
method of
pop
putting.
There was
not
twisting of
the head
off square
I just hit
everything
straight.
Well that
is how Mike
O'Leary
putts and
how he
teaches it
and now I
could
really
understand
why. I was
making
everything.
HOWEVER, it
only took
about 20
minutes for
my right
hand to get
really
peeved
about being
left out of
the process
and it
immediately
started
sneaking
back into
the act.
When the
bottom hand
gets in the
act in can
add some
power BUT
the big
problem is
that it
also tends
to twist
the putter
face off
square.
Most often
it closes
the face
and you
start
missing
left (for
right
handers). That
was exactly
what was
happening
to
me.
Recent
research in
putting has
shown that
front side
dominate
putting is
superior to
trail side
dominate
putting so
I knew I
wanted to
get the
trail hand
out of the
stroke.
That
started me
experimenting
with bottom
hand grips
that would
prevent the
bottom hand
from
screwing
things
up.
The
Bow String
Grip
Long
story
short, I
finally
came up
with a
trail hand
grip that
prevented
my right
hand from
taking
over. I
call it the
Bow String
Grip.
I take my
left hand
grip and
then I put
my right
hand under
the putter
grip palm
up and
extend the
fingers of
my right
hand toward
the target
so my palm
is flat.
The slant
of my palm
equal the
slant of
the putter
shaft
meaning my
thumb is
lower than
my pinky
finger. I
think curl
the tips of
my fingers
like I
would if I
was
shooting an
arrow and
pulling the
bow string
back. My
fingers are
curled but
the rest of
my palm is
flat. I
then pull
my hand
back (away
from the
hole) so my
curled
fingers
contact the
front of
the putter
grip.
In this
position I
can help
pull the
club back
with my
right hand
but it's
impossible
(almost
anyways) to
push
forward
with the
right hand
on the down
stroke of
the putter
and twist
the club
off line.
(None of my
bottom hand
is touching
the back of
the putter
so I can't
push with
the bottom
hand) The
right hand
is
prevented
from
screwing up
the stroke
by twisting
the putter
off line.
With this
grip I can
make very
long
backswings
with ease
so putting
from longer
distances
becomes
easy.
Note that
the thumb
is resting
on the tip
of the
middle
finger.
It's
important
to put the
thumb
somewhere
where it
won't allow
the bottom
hand grip
to tighten
up. I found
if I put
the thumb
on the
index
finger or
on the club
I would
start to
tighten my
grip.
Keeping my
thumb on
the tip of
the middle
finger
prevented
any
tightening
of the
grip.
With this
grip it
feels like
I am
pulling the
club back
with my
left hand
(with a
little help
on the way
back from
my right
hand) and
then I
almost just
let the
putter
swing free
back
through the
ball. I
know I'm
powering
the down
stroke
somewhat
with my
lead hand
but it
almost
feels like
it's
swinging
free.
See
pictures of
the
Bowstring
Grip
below.
The
Benefits Of
The Bow
String
Grip
Using this
method (or
most any
lead hand
dominate
grip) the
swing arc
is gentler
meaning the
stroke is
more
straight
back
straight
through.
With the
trail hand
not in a
position to
twist the
club face
the putter
face just
comes
through
square. The
Bowstring
grip also
allows a
much longer
backswing
which then
gives
you all
the power
you'll need
for even
the longest
putts.
The
Bowstring
grip allows
you to
swing the
putter
through
where the
ball
happens to
be rather
than trying
to hit at
the
ball. This
grip dramatically
reduces any
twisting of
the shaft
pretty much
guaranteeing
a square
club face
at
impact.
I've been
playing
golf since
the early
sixties and
I've tested
most all
the putting
methods
(including
croquet
style, side
saddle,
belly
putting,
long
putting,
etc.) that
have some
down the
pike.
Symple
Putting
especially
with the
Symple
Putter is
the most
accurate,
most
consistent
method I've
ever tested
by a large
amount. The
heavier
weight of
the Symple
Putter
combined
with the
flatter lie
angle just
enhances
the method.
I believe
this method
is YIP
proof. It
certainly
makes short
putts a lot
less
stressful.
You can
tell you're
getting
better and
better with
Symple
Putting
when your
opponents
start
conceding
longer and
longer
putts to
you.
Now Mike
O'Leary and
many of you
are so good
keeping
your lower
hands out
of the
stroke that
you don't
have to use
the Bow
String
Grip. Some
folks just
don't have
that
tendency to
get their
bottom hand
too active
in the
stroke.
Unfortunately
I do and I
know a
bunch of
you out
there do
too. My
right hand
tries to
get in
every shot
so the Bow
String Grip
really
helps me.
Maybe
someday my
right hand
will learn
to stay out
of the
stroke but
until then
I'll use
the Bow
String
Grip.
Joe
Davidson
Joe@SimpleGolf.com
www.SimpleGolf.com
203-794-4900
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