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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