Who here putts with their pointer finger pointing down?

[hunter42]

If there was one right way to putt wouldn't the pros all putt the same way? The pros are searching as well hence all the different styles on display every tournament. To say that sidesaddle, left hand low, claw are fine but 1 finger or 2 finger down the shaft is wrong makes absolutely no sense. Putting is all about feel, comfort, and confidence. If it goes in more often than not, keep doing it. If the ball goes in...call me a hacker. I'll just smile.

[BillyZ2]

If there was one right way to putt wouldn't the pros all putt the same way? The pros are searching as well hence all the different styles on display every tournament. To say that sidesaddle, left hand low, claw are fine but 1 finger or 2 finger down the shaft is wrong makes absolutely no sense. Putting is all about feel, comfort, and confidence. If it goes in more often than not, keep doing it. If the ball goes in...call me a hacker. I'll just smile.

^^^

I like this.

[smeech8000]

If there was one right way to putt wouldn't the pros all putt the same way? The pros are searching as well hence all the different styles on display every tournament. To say that sidesaddle, left hand low, claw are fine but 1 finger or 2 finger down the shaft is wrong makes absolutely no sense. Putting is all about feel, comfort, and confidence. If it goes in more often than not, keep doing it. If the ball goes in...call me a hacker. I'll just smile.

 

True, but the comment on page 1 about how extending the finger down the shaft produces a noticeable amount of tension in the forearm is true - and tension is Public Enemy #1 99.99% of the time.

[A.Princey]

The only tension I see being caused from it is in a complete noob to the game or someone's first-time transition to that grip. Everyone seems to be under the impression that us finger-down putters are flipping the head at the ball and slapping it like a hockey puck. FWIW there is no wrist breakdown in my stroke, whatsoever.

 

I just conducted a small experiment, too regarding forearm tension and gave the Claw a try. Man, trying to hold the fingers out, while slightly cocking my my wrist back to hold the grip really tenses the top forearm muscles. I liken this feeling to a keyboard that is far to upright for your hands and forces you to flip your hands back towards your body to type. Cramp city!!!

 

Give it a try and just feel the tension in your (claw)forearm for yourself. If this isn't tension I don't know what is...

[SilverBullets]

I have putted with my right index finger pointed down the shaft since I was little kid. I have had a couple of putting lessons over time and in both of the lessons the pro pointed it but also said he didn't think it was an issue. I have always been a good putter... until the last 12 months....

 

I may try something new now...

[smeech8000]

The only tension I see being caused from it is in a complete noob to the game or someone's first-time transition to that grip. Everyone seems to be under the impression that us finger-down putters are flipping the head at the ball and slapping it like a hockey puck. FWIW there is no wrist breakdown in my stroke, whatsoever.

 

I just conducted a small experiment, too regarding forearm tension and gave the Claw a try. Man, trying to hold the fingers out, while slightly cocking my my wrist back to hold the grip really tenses the top forearm muscles. I liken this feeling to a keyboard that is far to upright for your hands and forces you to flip your hands back towards your body to type. Cramp city!!!

 

Give it a try and just feel the tension in your (claw)forearm for yourself. If this isn't tension I don't know what is...

 

I agree with your assessment regarding the claw/brush/saw grip incorporating tension into the grip (to the point of discomfort!), but realize that this grip serves a very specific purpose: it all but eliminates wrist movement through the stroke, effectively serving as a cure for the yips among other more trivial putting maladies.

 

I would say that in this case, the tension produced by the grip falls in the good 0.01% :derisive:

 

I'm not blanketing all finger-downers as poor putters, simply saying that it incorporates tension into the grip (with no offsetting virtues as with in the claw) and, as a general rule tension is bad.

[scagnetti]

One her way to a 26-putt 7-under 65, here's Michelle Wie in Phoenix:

 

 

[OverdoseofSatisfaction]

Yuck. But to each their own, whatever gets the round thing in the circle.

[nospeedcbr]

I have no idea when I started doing it but I've always had both my index fingers pointed down the shaft. I believe I started doing it cause my stroke was getting "wristy" and this made my grip longer affectively minimizing wrist input.

 

I also went with a left hand low to keep my arc from getting too wild. I've been told by a number of golfers (some inappropriately during a round) that I shouldn't putt this way.

 

Am I putting 26 putts every round??? oh definitely not. I lack confidence (green reading, the 4fts, the lag) and I'm working hard this year on the short game but having a constant grip / feel / stroke should be important no matter what club is in your hand whether it's text book perfect or your own.

[95124hacker]

I putt left hand low with the index finger of my left hand pointing down the grip

[TollBros]

Michelle Wie and Nancy Lopez.

[A.Princey]

Add Brooks koepka, coleader of the us open...

[dcfas]

I've heard that called "whiskey finger." Lol.

[joker21]

I do and will not change

[aleph]

My left index finger points down the side of the grip over the flats on my right pinky and ring fingers. It helps me to reduce wrist and hand action and that my shoulders are doing most of the work.

[Scottie68]

I do, plus just started putting index and middle finger down, as I prefer the feel of the right hand "rolling the ball".

 

Has been working well so far.

[Sean2]

I do.

[A.Princey]

Ye olde whiskey finger wins the US Open!!! My putting style is validated!!!

[eric6624]

Ye olde whiskey finger wins the US Open!!! My putting style is validated!!!

 

 

+1

['Noles2013]

This is funny, cuz when i see somebody with their index finger down I automatically assume they're terrible haha

 

So you'd assume Brooks Koepka is terrible?

[wfrogge1]

I can't do it. For me it feels like increased tension in my hands and I do not need any more :)

[dlam]

Brooks Koepka making birdies in the final 9 with that grip.

Or maybe it's that obsessive wiping of the blade that is the reason?

Someone create a thread about that.

 

[granite45]

Thanks, I've never even thought about it until now. And now it has a name: whiskey finger. I like whiskey. Win win.

[avguy]

My putting grip is uniquely different from the the rest of the bag grip. My right index finger is pointing down the grip/shaft, and it's an interlock.

 

All other clubs - no interlock, 10-finger baseball style.

 

With the existence of such thread, it got me thinkings to try to use the same grip as those other clubs into putter = no more index finger pointing down & interlock. But I'm not that horrid of a putter, don't really know how long or why I putt with such method! :wacko:

 

That is my tepid contribution to this thread :tongue: .

[Sean289]

I can't do it. For me it feels like increased tension in my hands and I do not need any more :)

 

+1 on this. I get increased intension in my hands as well when I try this. This a major no no.

[smeech8000]

Add Brooks koepka, coleader of the us open...

 

Noticed this yesterday and immediately thought of this topic! TY for posting! :fan_1:

[A.Princey]

Wouldn't it be funny if mcilroy started this too?!?! I could see it happening

[High Plains Driver]

I did this for years, and at the time (as a 5 index), putting was the best part of my game.

If you trace the putting line with the index finger, you won't have the urge to flip or hit at the putt.

[1puttTUT]

Thanks, I've never even thought about it until now. And now it has a name: whiskey finger. I like whiskey. Win win.

 

A pull out of my flask after every green I 1-putt is a new rule!

[ThinkingPlus]

I use a variation of a claw grip. I recently changed my left hand (right handed) grip to thumb on top with left index finger pointed down the front side. This helps lock the wrist angle throughout the stroke stabilizing the putter face angle. I have also changed right hand grip also well by laying my index finger down the front of the grip and thumb underneath lightly pinching the grip. My line and distance control has never been better. Now if I can just figure out a way to read the greens better...