wristy putting stroke anyone?

Louis_Posture · January 24

I've had some of my best putting rounds using more of wrist-powered putting stroke than a shoulder powered one. Does anybody here have a wristy putting stroke?

Sp4zRX · January 24

Used to. I’ve been working this winter to rid myself of it for good.

I would have days where I could putt lights out. Everything felt very athletic. The only problem was it was very streaky and my bad days were, well… BAD. While the good times were great and the wristy stroke felt too easy when things were good, it just wasn’t consistent enough over the long term.

I have been experimenting with different grips that quite down my wrists which does take away some of that athleticism but to counter that I have incorporated some tempo training into my putting practice which seems to help add the athleticism back in without the wristy motions.

Louis_Posture · January 24

11 hours ago, Sp4zRX said:

Used to. I’ve been working this winter to rid myself of it for good.

I would have days where I could putt lights out. Everything felt very athletic. The only problem was it was very streaky and my bad days were, well… BAD. While the good times were great and the wristy stroke felt too easy when things were good, it just wasn’t consistent enough over the long term.

I have been experimenting with different grips that quite down my wrists which does take away some of that athleticism but to counter that I have incorporated some tempo training into my putting practice which seems to help add the athleticism back in without the wristy motions.

Thanks for your reply. My take is that maintaining a steady head throughout the putting stroke is easier with a wrist powered stroke than it is with a shoulder powered stroke.

That's my observation of myself and other players.

Also, I like your use of the word athleticism. Whether for putting , chipping, pitching, or full golf shots I believe engaging the hands and wrists helps greatly to produce an athletic motion.

AkingofA · January 28

When I was a young golfer I was a good putter with a wristy putting stroke. Then I found out it was considered wrong to do and started putting with shoulders and taking wrist out of it. Struggled for decades with my putting.

Now I’m 62 and back to putting with my wrists and have feel and distance control again.

badpokerbadgolf · January 28

100% agree. It feels way more natural and athletic, and much easier to control speed using the hands imo.

mikezalisgolf · January 28

Used to really struggle with conventional putting. I work in golf retail and was just putting around on my break. One of the club fitters walked by and said he thought he was watching a hockey player hit slapshots. I didn't get what he meant but I then realized how I'd been putting was very wristy. I tried the claw grip to a little success, I just quit because I'm a traditionalist and it felt I was in search of a style to help bad putting. So I adapted to left hand low, absolute game changer. (Right handed) Right index finger overlaps between left pinky and ring fingers, left index finger extended down the grip (my preference, you can tuck it if thats yours), add a little pressure with your right pinky and ring fingers, and make your putting stroke with the back of your left hand, boom, ball's in.

PedronNiall · January 28

Curious as to what kind of weight the putters you're playing around with are. I'd think something old school would be a lot more accommodating for it as heavy, high MOI modern putters wouldn't play too nicely when trying to flick the wrists at the speeds needed for longer putts. I could see them keeping deviation to a minimum and letting a wristy stroke get away with some things, though. Just wondering what works.

Louis_Posture · January 28

4 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

Curious as to what kind of weight the putters you're playing around with are. I'd think something old school would be a lot more accommodating for it as heavy, high MOI modern putters wouldn't play too nicely when trying to flick the wrists at the speeds needed for longer putts. I could see them keeping deviation to a minimum and letting a wristy stroke get away with some things, though. Just wondering what works.

Good point about head weight. I've tried a wristy putting stroke with a 350 gram putter head and also a 325 gram putter head. My preference is definitely the 325 gram putter head weight.

badpokerbadgolf · January 28

Same concept applies for bump n run chips. Easier to do it wristy with a 5 wood or 7 wood with the light club than with a heavier iron. Shorter stroke too because of the hot face

naval2006 · January 29

8 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

Curious as to what kind of weight the putters you're playing around with are. I'd think something old school would be a lot more accommodating for it as heavy, high MOI modern putters wouldn't play too nicely when trying to flick the wrists at the speeds needed for longer putts. I could see them keeping deviation to a minimum and letting a wristy stroke get away with some things, though. Just wondering what works.

Lol old putters had no punch, they were too light and you had to find the sweetspot with the good ol’ tee method. Thank goodness Ping was invented.

Louis_Posture · January 29

3 hours ago, naval2006 said:

Lol old putters had no punch, they were too light and you had to find the sweetspot with the good ol’ tee method. Thank goodness Ping was invented.

The tournament winning putter vault at Ping is filled with putters that have 305 to 320 gram head weights.

naval2006 · January 29

6 hours ago, Louis_Posture said:

The tournament winning putter vault at Ping is filled with putters that have 305 to 320 gram head weights.

But Ping's revolution was about perimeter weighting and how it finally influenced the putting industry. You still see old Ansers with the sole slit: lightweight and no hitting at all, but this was the future already.

jumboross · January 29

Was listening to Faxon commentating on some tournament or other on TV last year. He mentioned that he often hears people talking about taking the hands out of putting and short game. He felt that you wanted some hands involved as that's where all your feel is. He could roll it too as I recall.