Jordan Speith's "cross-handed" left-hand-low putting technique

[sheldonjhacker]

Jordan Spieth details in Golf Magazine how his putting style that he switched to 6 years ago has really helped his stats. I've heard that Jack Nicklaus said that if he started over, he'd putt left-hand-low. Anyone else find this effective? Why don't more pros putt this way?

[KrazyTrain18]

I'm considering trying it out.

[sheldonjhacker]

I tried it on a carpet today and it really rolls the ball straight and true…the best roll according to Jordan. Just watched today's Hero tourney on my DVR and in a interview Tiger commented on Jordan's technique and was impressed that Jordan "is the only left-hand-low golfer who releases the putter face on the putt…the rest block it" with the technique. Interesting.

[Exist]

I've been doing this for 15+ years and would never consider going back to a conventional putter grip. Simply much less to go wrong and I think you'd be surprised how many tour players use this.

[pochen23]

It is more natural to want to full extend left arm. You notice when kids start golf they are almost all crosshand if you don't tell them what's supposed to be. The only downside of a crosshand grip is you lose distance but no such concern on short game or putting.

[Thug Hunter]

I hadn't really paid attention to Spieth's putting stroke/grip until this weekend. He's more left hand even as he overlaps a few fingers than left hand low from what I could tell. It's a very unusual grip from my observations, but the kid can putt lights out.

[hoganfan924]

Been putting that way since before Jordan was born!

[mantan]

I've always been a left hand low putter. I learned that way and never switched. The plus is that you have a very straight stroke without a lot of arc. But if you do it, you absolutely need to use a 'face balanced' putter. If I use a toe balanced putter it feels like I'm fighting it the entire stroke.

[ppjn348]

It was Gary Player who would put left hand low if he could go back... I switched screw years bavk and putting has become the only consistent part of my game.

[KYMAR]

Anyone do this with a long counter balanced putter? I use a 38" DLL and really like it, my miss tends to be a pull.

[RBImGuy]

[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1417992856' post='10558933']
Anyone else find this effective? Why don't more pros putt this way?
[/quote]

Called magical thinking.
If someone wins suddenly people think its due to their technique, swing or such
right hand below is superior.

[CHRIS509]

[quote name='RBImGuy' timestamp='1418033231' post='10560981']
[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1417992856' post='10558933']
Anyone else find this effective? Why don't more pros putt this way?
[/quote]

Called magical thinking.
If someone wins suddenly people think its due to their technique, swing or such
right hand below is superior.
[/quote]

I think superior is a little strong a word, this its just a different technique.

Why people like this method including me, is it squares your shoulders up to your target line and helps to eliminate the chances of left wrist break down.
Also as mention above, it reduces your arc shape, this in turn helps keep your putter face under control and widen your tolerance's.
When you use this technique the ball does "seem" to roll the ball straighter. This is only a perception but a good one for confidence.
The only slight down side I've found is distance control on 30ft + putts, is not major, just a little work and an awareness of your pace of stroke.

As a side note, don't be afraid to experiment, its how we learn, what's the worst that can happen?

[scratchswinger]

Using it for about 8 years now, never even think of hitting even a practice putt the other way.

[Itsjustagame]

I switched to a counter balanced putter this summer and found left hand low to be very effective.

[gringosurfer]

A couple years ago in the middle of a round that I was struggling with the putter my buddy said "try to switch your hands up" so I went on to make a long putt trying it and I haven't gone back to the conventional way since.

[rcain1us]

I have been putting with both hands together with maybe a finger or two low on the left hand.

Been doing it for quite some time, and actually got the idea from a Jack comment I read somewhere.

I also use a 35" counter balanced putter gripping down the shaft about 3-4 inches

[sheldonjhacker]

[quote name='mantan' timestamp='1418011500' post='10560385']
I've always been a left hand low putter. I learned that way and never switched. The plus is that you have a very straight stroke without a lot of arc. But if you do it, you absolutely need to use a 'face balanced' putter. If I use a toe balanced putter it feels like I'm fighting it the entire stroke.
[/quote]

Is Jordan's Scotty putter face balanced?

[nova6868]

[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1418043698' post='10561203']
[quote name='mantan' timestamp='1418011500' post='10560385']
I've always been a left hand low putter. I learned that way and never switched. The plus is that you have a very straight stroke without a lot of arc. But if you do it, you absolutely need to use a 'face balanced' putter. If I use a toe balanced putter it feels like I'm fighting it the entire stroke.
[/quote]

Is Jordan's Scotty putter face balanced?
[/quote]

No, but he has a face balanced Scotty that he uses on the practice green from time to time.

[RWEEKS]

The PGA pro I was taking lessons from had me switch to lead hand low 10yrs ago, and like most people, I have not wanted to switch back. He originally did this to take some of the "hit" out of my stroke, and said it will keep my shoulders level. The one thought he gave me was to think about extending the back of my lead (low) hand towards my target...
It has been the one constant in my game.

[CrabDaddy]

[quote name='KYMAR' timestamp='1418011942' post='10560411']
Anyone do this with a long counter balanced putter? I use a 38" DLL and really like it, my miss tends to be a pull.
[/quote]

Not quite the same thing, but left hand low was, by far, best for me with a belly putter. Played a Rossie, using a claw grip this past season. Just picked up a counter-balanced putter, and am trying to get used to it. At first, I thought LHL might beat out the claw grip, but, over all situations (uphill, downhill, long, short, etc..), I can't seem to do better than the claw with a non-belly putter - must be a crab thing. With LHL, I found that the feeling of leading with the back of the left hand/wrist helped a lot on shorter putts.

[Dave D]

[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1418003597' post='10559817']
I tried it on a carpet today and it really rolls the ball straight and true…the best roll according to Jordan. Just watched today's Hero tourney on my DVR and in a interview Tiger commented on Jordan's technique and was impressed that Jordan [color=#FF0000][b][size=5]"is the only left-hand-low golfer who releases the putter face on the putt…the rest block it"[/size][/b][/color] with the technique. Interesting.
[/quote]
Now this is really interesting, I agree when I have putted lhl in the past it feels a very blocked off release similar to the Stockton style.

[scratchswinger]

If Jordan continues to play like he has and becomes more of a household name, it will be interesting to see how many people start doing this.

[Your-away!]

i have tried this and getting the ball online is so much easier, stopped doing it though as my distance control was awful

[mukster]

Switched to left hand low several years ago, my putting has improved tremendously. I have needed to play around with my grip length, grip size and ball position over the past few years, but couldn't putt with a regular grip now, even if I tried.

[golfortennis]

I'm trying to figure out why people are so afraid to say cross-handed. It's not the s word. "LeftHand low" just sound slike on of those "we prefer the term...." things because someone feelings got hurt once.

I've putted crosshanded for 15 years now. I'm not going back unless a physical condition forces me.

[bosoxfan]

I couldn't find the article online, anyone have the link for it?

I putted cross handed/left hand low pretty much all this season and I really liked it. In the past, I've found it to be an unnatural feel, but now it has become the way I naturally put my hands on the putter, for me, it feels really good with the smaller flatso grip from SuperStroke.
K

[TheCityGame]

The thing is. . .I just don't believe there's a pro out there who can't basically start a putt on his intended line at his intended pace no matter what grip he uses.

I just figure Jordan -- right now -- is better at [i]identifying [/i]the right line and right speed to hit a putt. And his grip doesn't have anything to do with that.

Pretty much the whole top 15 in strokes gained putting are conventional grip, with a conventional putter. That doesn't necessarily mean it's better (1 in the top 15 is good if only 1 out of 30 pros use cross-handed).

Snedeker and Luke Donald and Stricker and Greg Chalmers have been great putters for years now. All conventional.

I'm not trying to talk anyone into it. If a putting grip works for you, that's the best one. I'm just saying that watching a guy with a couple tournaments with a hot flat stick is no reason to try to mimic him.

[BdaGolfer]

[quote name='pochen23' timestamp='1418005317' post='10559975']
It is more natural to want to full extend left arm. You notice when kids start golf they are almost all crosshand if you don't tell them what's supposed to be. [b]The only downside of a crosshand grip is you lose distance [/b]but no such concern on short game or putting.
[/quote]

Disagree. Bad swings lose distance. Being crosshanded myself, having played with many others and from the stories I have been told by people who have played with others, I would say we're no different as a group than conventional golfers. Personally I find the grip to be a very easy way to naturally create lag, so the distance potential is certainly there, all else being equal.

Alan

[Golf_ml16]

[quote name='KYMAR' timestamp='1418011942' post='10560411']
Anyone do this with a long counter balanced putter? I use a 38" DLL and really like it, my miss tends to be a pull.
[/quote]
Yep. I have a 35 inch DLL. I switched to left hand low after I watched Spieth on TV two years ago. It's generally consistent, no real bad days. Feels really natural.

[gators78]

[quote name='CHRIS509' timestamp='1418036184' post='10561019']
[quote name='RBImGuy' timestamp='1418033231' post='10560981']
[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1417992856' post='10558933']
Anyone else find this effective? Why don't more pros putt this way?
[/quote]

Called magical thinking.
If someone wins suddenly people think its due to their technique, swing or such
right hand below is superior.
[/quote]

I think superior is a little strong a word, this its just a different technique.

Why people like this method including me, is it squares your shoulders up to your target line and helps to eliminate the chances of left wrist break down.
Also as mention above,[b] it reduces your arc shape[/b], this in turn helps keep your putter face under control and widen your tolerance's.
When you use this technique the ball does "seem" to roll the ball straighter. This is only a perception but a good one for confidence.
The only slight down side I've found is distance control on 30ft + putts, is not major, just a little work and an awareness of your pace of stroke.

As a side note, don't be afraid to experiment, its how we learn, what's the worst that can happen?
[/quote]

Not to totally throw gas on the fire, but after the Hero yesterday they interviewed Jordan and he said he met with his coach in Australia and they added in more arc to his stroke because that's how he's always putted his best.

The left hand low with release, as mentioned above, is the most interesting part of Jordan's putting. Pretty much him and Jim Furyk putt that way, the rest of the dudes kind of block it out there a la Billy Horschel.