Trying Left hand low for putting

[wings02]

I consider myself a good putter. My putting generally is more of a help, not a hindrence in my usual round. I do find a good number  of my putts are off center of the putter face. Although more often than not, the putts do find the bottom of the hole, it's very annoying. I recently purchased a Link 1 and Mezz putter from LAB golf and for those of you that have tried putters from LAB golf, the center hit putts feel amazing and nothing like what I feel with other putters including Scotty's and Odyssey. My biggest problem is my take away. I'm not always on line making a center strike almost impossible. I am trying a left hand low technique but only recently. It does seem to correct my flaw allowing a more center of the putter face contact. It is definitely a work in progress. How many of you have switched to this technique? For those who have, has it made a positive change in your putting, and have you stuck with it?  

[sheepdawg]

I switched..........around the mid to late 70s. Nobody putted cross hand back then except Orville Moody. It was a great move. I still putt lags in the usual fashion but from 25' in left hand low.

[wings02]

Funny you say that because I was thinking of doing the same thing with lag putts. Why do you use that method? Personally, I don't feel I have the power on longer putts to do left hand low. 

[craz-e]

I switched to left hand low about a year a go. I have been a good putter but started to miss more than what I thought was a fair share of short putts.

It has really helped closer in, I sometimes revert back to a traditional grip with ones from long range

[rufus mangler]

I'm left hand low and squared up inside 5'. Conventional with an open stance for longer. Eventually, I'll just stick to LHL for everything.

[wchahn]

I went to left hand low two years ago and have never looked back. This year switched from a center shaft Bettinardi to a MEZZ.1 and it has really helped my putting.  Almost never three putt now.  

[Sankacoffee]

I putted left hand low for about 5 years due to some long putt yips. I would line up the ball on putts and it felt like it rolled perfectly end over end every time. I just never could get any distance control that way and went back to traditional this year since the yips were gone. They've crept back in on anything longer than 20 feet in the last month so I might have to go back. Miserable.

[sheepdawg]

6 hours ago, wings02 said:

Funny you say that because I was thinking of doing the same thing with lag putts. Why do you use that method? Personally, I don't feel I have the power on longer putts to do left hand low. 

It seemed like I was fighting my right hand on shorter putts causing a pull. On the longer putts i needed some right hand to make a longer stroke. There's no method just a feeling I get with the putt. 

I just can't imagine putting in the usual way with a putt I'm trying to make.

 

[Jc0]

6 hours ago, wings02 said:

Funny you say that because I was thinking of doing the same thing with lag putts. Why do you use that method? Personally, I don't feel I have the power on longer putts to do left hand low. 

 

I made the switch a few years ago. A big thing about left hand low is that you can't use your hands as much for longer distances, you have to increase your shoulder turn. If you haven't, I'd go to the putting green a few times and just work on lags. You can take a bigger swing than you think and still be in control.

[Fuscinator]

Going left hand low will give you greater appreciation for your normal grip once you've returned to it.

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

The LAB part complicates things.  From Sam's own videos at the LAB site (they're great; highly recommended) it works better with a considerably further forward ball position, your thumbs off the grip, and as pendulum like a stroke as possible.  If Left-hand Low helps you with all of that, good. 

 

I don't think it will though for the off-center strikes you mention.  Hypothesizing, the strikes might be due to inconsistent ball position, inconsistent setup, and/or not letting the head do its own thing throughout the stroke.  Feeling it wiggle by itself is weird.  I get it.

 

IME, if I try to steer the clubhead on my DF 2.1, I have a bad time. Take it back, let it fall, and it works.  Provided I'm lined up correctly.

 

I would really work with an outside observer on your setup and alignment.  Have that cold. Then see if you're still having strike issues.

Edited September 26, 2023 by Jayjay_theweim_guy

[bakere]

I've always liked a wristy putting stroke but while learning to golf and reading way too much, I always trained to have a traditional stroke with stable wrists. That was never successful, I really struggled with speed control and getting an end over end roll. Last year Tony Finau and Brian Harman's putting stroke caught my eye while watching a tournament on TV. Specifically their practice stroked. Super wristy looking, exactly what I like the feel of. So I went back to being wristy with a traditional grip. My right hand was a little too active doing it that way, so I tried left hand low. I have the same grip on my putter as Harman/Hovland. I basically copied Harman's practice stroke. 

 

Wow did it make a difference. Last year I averaged 2.1 putts per hole (traditional stroke and grip). This year I am averaging 1.8. With the wristy stroke, I read my putt, use a line on the ball for aim, then purely focus on how much energy I need to tap the back of the ball with to get it to go my desired distance.

[Sean124]

I switch back and forth depending on how I feel. Sometimes mid-round. 

[philly2kuk]

I tried it for a few months in a bad patch a year ago but I couldn’t get comfortable and distance control was an issue. So I switched to my dads putting grip as he’s always been a good putter (interlock with right forefinger down grip) with putter head in middle of my stance and I have never looked back. Been nearly twelve months now and I’m making far more.

[Wonderboy]

I switched to left hand low about a year ago.  I was not consistent at all but I also noticed how uneven my shoulders were at set up and a traditional grip forced my right shoulder much lower than I liked which threw off my alignment.  Left hand low definitely helps keep my shoulders aligned and I am much more consistent now.  I do find a pistol grip is very nice for this type a grip but at least that is my opinion. 

[URStillAway]

I switched to left hand low around 2009

 

I was having problems with my right hand being too dominate and the left hand collapsing causing terrible pulls.  
 

It did not take very long for me to adapt and my speed control on long putts was good fairly quickly.  
 

After all these years if I try right hand low the pulls come back.   And it feels very awkward.  

[Sankacoffee]

I'm back to crosshand but with a Jailbird instead of Newport. Still tend to hit it a little firmer than traditional but my speed control is the best its been with that putter and left hand low. The reason I struggle sometimes traditional it seems like I feel the face direction more and then will almost panic flip the club closed or sometimes open right before I hit it. Left hand low almost makes me feel like the back of my hand is leading and the clubface stays where it needs to be.