Who here putts with their pointer finger pointing down?

[whiteout73]

I putted like that when I was a beginner, and I think all the way through high school. I have no idea when I stopped, or why.

[A.Princey]

For SBST putters like myself, it's fantastic for maintaining shaft-lean angle through impact. I impose a fair amount of forward press at address and putt with the ball more forward in my stance. The finger down just makes take away and constant-wrist-angle effortless. Otherwise the putter head seems to dictate motion and induces a wobbling through the stroke. Almost as if the grip is rocking in my hands. If I putted with stroke length as a pace determining factor, or if I had an arcing stroke, then I would consider losing the 'whiskey finger', but not til then!

[Tex1986]

I forward press with an anser style putter and use this grip. I hunch over so my fingertip is actually touching the steel on the shaft.

 

I'm naturally left handed but play right handed so my stroke feels like my left forearm is dragging everything through. My right hand seems like it's just along for the ride.

 

Anyways, I make my fair share of 10-15 footers and only 3 putt once a round if at all.

[tdk8180]

That finger for me is placed on the grip like a trigger finger

[MrFlapjack]

For SBST putters like myself, it's fantastic for maintaining shaft-lean angle through impact. I impose a fair amount of forward press at address and putt with the ball more forward in my stance. The finger down just makes take away and constant-wrist-angle effortless. Otherwise the putter head seems to dictate motion and induces a wobbling through the stroke. Almost as if the grip is rocking in my hands. If I putted with stroke length as a pace determining factor, or if I had an arcing stroke, then I would consider losing the 'whiskey finger', but not til then!

 

Agreed 100%

[scagnetti]

For SBST putters like myself, it's fantastic for maintaining shaft-lean angle through impact. I impose a fair amount of forward press at address and putt with the ball more forward in my stance. The finger down just makes take away and constant-wrist-angle effortless. Otherwise the putter head seems to dictate motion and induces a wobbling through the stroke. Almost as if the grip is rocking in my hands. If I putted with stroke length as a pace determining factor, or if I had an arcing stroke, then I would consider losing the 'whiskey finger', but not til then!

 

^^^^^

THIS BY ABOUT 10,000%

 

I've been working the last several days on new grips (thank you WRX forums for questioning my sanity and 'feel'), I have done research and watched videos and spent about a collective 4-5 hours on the putting greens the last week truly trying to find the feel I require on the flat stick...

 

went straight back to my old 'fingers-down/reverse underlap' kinda weirdo grip and I swear it was if I were returning home after a four-month vacation...

 

you know what that's like, how its nice to get away from home, you go abroad swim, surf, pay for sex on your birthday, rob a bank and get deported... and then you step in your front door, and if you haven't let it to your pothead nephew, you're relieved to find that familiar feel in the entry-way, that familiar and comfortable smell and atmosphere, especially if yer ol' lady is there waiting for you in short shorts with a full pot of chicken afritada...

 

same. ducking. thing.... as soon as I went back to MY grip with MY fingers down... had 36 putts yesterday with only 8 GIR hit, and if you know what that's like, a lot of 30-40 footers that I still managed to hole-out in two...

 

works for me and a lot of other people.

[jslane57]

Here's a thought: Why do golfers want to copy the pros with the things they can't do (ball flight, clubs, swing positions), but then when they get to the one part of the game that is simple enough that you really can do what the pros do (putting), it gets tossed out the window? Anyhow, swing your swing...

[A.Princey]

Here's a thought: Why do golfers want to copy the pros with the things they can't do (ball flight, clubs, swing positions), but then when they get to the one part of the game that is simple enough that you really can do what the pros do (putting), it gets tossed out the window? Anyhow, swing your swing...

I will agree that it's quite ODD that the one thing avg Joe's can do like pros is putting, but many still choose to pave their own path/method. However, there are MANY who can all do these other facets of the game well too, like the pros, but the main factor missing in the mainstream world is repeatability. Consistency is what makes a pro and their ability to repeat every swing, every putt, every move. Precision is key and 99% of tour players' games are on the mark, all the time. But even still, being able to do what a pro does, if only 90% of the time, will still be a glaring example of what separates even the best non-tour players from those pros.

[SlickT73]

I learned to putt with an adult-sized putter as a kid, and as such tucked it under my front shoulder. This led to a different sort of grip where my left index finger runs down the shaft - but on the front, not the side. My right hand cups the underside and sides of the grip. Have never changed as even now the grip serves me well despite the lack of a shoulder tuck.

[Sean289]

I've been doing this forever but on my right hand only. I have zero feel on putts if I don't do this.

[BillyZ2]

I've been doing this forever but on my right hand only. I have zero feel on putts if I don't do this.

same with me. I tried "no fingers down" but putting went to heck.

[Sean289]

I have seen this technique used a lot on the seniors tour but rarely on the PGA tour or European tour which confuses me considering that I'm 26 years old

[DavePelz4]

If you're in the southern hemisphere is your finger pointing up?

[MYounginer]

Me, and don't plan on changing

[2bGood]

I put this way - and I am good putter

[Mcgeeno]

I used to and it felt great.

 

Then I was practicing putting on the green as an up and coming junior at my club and the pro came out and said "dont put your finger down the shaft! Only old men and hackers do that!"

 

So I stopped and havent done it since, LOL.

[RCorsa]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

[scagnetti]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

 

Mic drop

End thread

[jslane57]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

 

Mic drop

End thread

Haha! I bet if golf professionals were trying to keep their hands stable at 60x magnification and doing neurosurgery, they would do exactly as the doctor says. After all, he's the expert. Doc, copy the golf pros when it comes to golf, your game will improve...

[Chip Out Sideways]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

 

Mic drop

End thread

Haha! I bet if golf professionals were trying to keep their hands stable at 60x magnification and doing neurosurgery, they would do exactly as the doctor says. After all, he's the expert. Doc, copy the golf pros when it comes to golf, your game will improve...

 

As I said earlier in the thread each to their own, particularly when it comes to putting. I really don't understand the hostility to this method. It works well for many amateurs and has done so for professionals. I have litteralkly just looked up while typing this (watching Dubai highlights) and first put I saw was Jansen with right finger down. If copying the pro's for a golf swing, putter grip etc. which one do I copy???!!!????

[jslane57]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

 

Mic drop

End thread

Haha! I bet if golf professionals were trying to keep their hands stable at 60x magnification and doing neurosurgery, they would do exactly as the doctor says. After all, he's the expert. Doc, copy the golf pros when it comes to golf, your game will improve...

 

As I said earlier in the thread each to their own, particularly when it comes to putting. I really don't understand the hostility to this method. It works well for many amateurs and has done so for professionals. I have litteralkly just looked up while typing this (watching Dubai highlights) and first put I saw was Jansen with right finger down. If copying the pro's for a golf swing, putter grip etc. which one do I copy???!!!????

No hostility. Those of us arguing against the finger really are trying to help. Copy the majority of the pros. The main thing is to treat putting like the rest of your game. If people did what "felt good" in the rest of their games rather than copy the pros, many would be happy setting up way closed, straight legs, grip in palms, hands high, and achieve no wrist set. This wouldn't help your long game either. My ultimate point, and maybe I should have started and [i will] ended here: The solid/sure feel you're getting from the finger down the shaft is not helping your putting. Quite the contrary, it is keeping your from learning how good putting truly feels...

[Chip Out Sideways]

Putting it the best part of my game and I putt this way as well. I'm also a neurosurgeon as my day job and can say that your index index finger is great at stabilizIng your hands and wrists so I laugh a little at being wristy or whiskey fingered. If you dont believe me, Try keeping your hands stable at 60x magnification and sewing a blood vessel in the brain with something finer that hair.

 

Mic drop

End thread

Haha! I bet if golf professionals were trying to keep their hands stable at 60x magnification and doing neurosurgery, they would do exactly as the doctor says. After all, he's the expert. Doc, copy the golf pros when it comes to golf, your game will improve...

 

As I said earlier in the thread each to their own, particularly when it comes to putting. I really don't understand the hostility to this method. It works well for many amateurs and has done so for professionals. I have litteralkly just looked up while typing this (watching Dubai highlights) and first put I saw was Jansen with right finger down. If copying the pro's for a golf swing, putter grip etc. which one do I copy???!!!????

No hostility. Those of us arguing against the finger really are trying to help. Copy the majority of the pros. The main thing is to treat putting like the rest of your game. If people did what "felt good" in the rest of their games rather than copy the pros, many would be happy setting up way closed, straight legs, grip in palms, hands high, and achieve no wrist set. This wouldn't help your long game either. My ultimate point, and maybe I should have started and [i will] ended here: The solid/sure feel you're getting from the finger down the shaft is not helping your putting. Quite the contrary, it is keeping your from learning how good putting truly feels...

 

I respectfully agree to disagree. Your posts and your preferred method might work for you but after 35 years playing, being a better than average to good putter and having experimented lots the finger down the shaft works for me. I believe people should experiment. Which method do you advocate? A few years ago no-one would have advocated the 'pencil', even left below right (for right handers) but these are now seen as just another method. The biggest issue most have wit putting is not their grip per se (although too tight is a problem), it is not understanding their stroke and therefore which type of putter fits best.

[jslane57]

I recommend practicing dozens of putts with just the left hand, then practicing dozens of putts with just the right hand, then practicing dozens of putts with both hands. Cross handed, standard grip, or reverse overlap (my choice) all fine. As you mentioned, tension is the problem, and the finger down the shaft simply adds tension. IMO, the irony here is the people enjoying the over 40 finger want the tension, and believe that tension adds to control. Unfortunately, adding stress to tension, and this grip is a yip machine IMO. But really, if we were golfing buddies and you putted great with the finger on the shaft, I'd never say anything, just enjoy watching you make putts.

Any grip for any swing is an interesting discussion. Do you fix a grip before working on the swing? Or do you work on the swing and work on the grip later. I guess I'd be a grip first, as the grip influences everything else...

[Chip Out Sideways]

Agree on much you post here, including the routine you mention (I use a similar one for both putting and long game occasionally) but I still like fingers down, but not fully extended/tense. No pro has ever tried to change my putting grip, in fact normally praised my putting. I really see putting as 'natural' but if this is not an oxymoron there are fundamentals and you do need to practice. I have 2 Bob Rotella books on putting the Ken Brown (one of the best putters Europe has ever seen) books and both effectively say 'mental' before physical and although there are fundamentals to the physical they can look quite different (Ken Brown putting style looked odd but actually had all the fundamentals - Ken was one of the few Seve listed too about putting).

 

For the game overall grip first for me also, particularly on the long game. Putting I think is more experimental - even allowing for all the different swings and theories out there putting is a game within a game.

[A.Princey]

Agree on much you post here, including the routine you mention (I use a similar one for both putting and long game occasionally) but I still like fingers down, but not fully extended/tense. No pro has ever tried to change my putting grip, in fact normally praised my putting. I really see putting as 'natural' but if this is not an oxymoron there are fundamentals and you do need to practice. I have 2 Bob Rotella books on putting the Ken Brown (one of the best putters Europe has ever seen) books and both effectively say 'mental' before physical and although there are fundamentals to the physical they can look quite different (Ken Brown putting style looked odd but actually had all the fundamentals - Ken was one of the few Seve listed too about putting).

 

For the game overall grip first for me also, particularly on the long game. Putting I think is more experimental - even allowing for all the different swings and theories out there putting is a game within a game.

 

I definitely agree about the game within a game sentiment, as putting is all about feel and confidence. Putting well is all about having a putter that is properly fitted to your stroke and being able to deliver the putter face at the right loft and AoA to give the ball the best possible forward roll. Once these 3 things are achieved, regardless of grip, maintaining consistency of the stroke is the most important. I don't know about anyone else, but to achieve this all in balance I need to be comfortable over the ball, and choosing the most natural grip over the recommended one is the only possible way to instill confidence. Let's be honest, the putting motion is a simple one, and we all just need to find the right setup and motion to achieve optimal results. It clear that there's more than one way to putt well, as evidence on tour by the claw, LHL, pencil, side saddle, reverse overlap, etc. Not only that, but some pros putt very well interchangeably, ie Phil. We're not talking major swing mechanics here like on the full swing... Grip your putter however you like, cause the stroke/motion is the most important factor in putting well. Confidence/comfort is a very close second. Poor putting is just that, and changing to a more widely accepted grip is not likely to address the key issues and magically make things better...

[lowheel]

I've been doing this forever but on my right hand only. I have zero feel on putts if I don't do this.

 

Same here, its so comforting and feels easier to release the stroke on putts above 15 feet.

[golfpro44]

I have been putting with my index pointing down my whole life. Always worked for me and it is what is comfortable. Whatever works and is comfortable.

[Sean289]

For anyone who is feeling that their stroke is too wristy, I would definitely recommend trying putting this way.

[MrFlapjack]

For anyone who is feeling that their stroke is too wristy, I would definitely recommend trying putting this way.

 

Yup, agreed

[hahanice]

i just switched to LHL putting.

 

so my right pointer finger is extended out down the shaft. helps me control tempo