For those who putt with the lead hand low.

[Golfbeat]

After getting tired of looking at my bad putting statistics and again having a 3-putt during my last round I decided to change my conventional grip and try to putt with my left hand low, mid-round. Putting immediately improved! Much easier to keep it on-line. Made a few 5 footers that felt really easy. Distance control also was better because somehow I felt that I put a better roll on the ball.

 

Hopefully, this is not a temporary issue. I have the feeling that it is not. Anybody else who changed and started to putt better? Did it last?

[Kuuuch]

I changed 2 years ago, results were fantastic as soon as I switched. 5-10 footer make % went up but lagging putts was hard. I gave it an honest try, maybe a little over a year and a half but couldn't get comfortable lag putting and in tournaments or money games I couldn't get it to hold up during pressure.

 

However my playing partner switched 3 months ago after being conventional for 30+ years and he went from an average putter to very good. He does say he has to practice quite often to keep the feel fresh for lag putts.

[dlam]

Had some good putting rounds with this method Good lag putts Reasonable good short putting. Only thing is tendency to pull some short downhill draw putts and occasionally push short uphill fade putts

[Mcgeeno]

I'm about two years from switching.

 

I'm now a good putter but that was mostly from relentless practice on the greens.

 

I did notice lead hand low helped square my shoulders instantly though. Aiming better lead to a more true and online stroke.

[95124hacker]

Over 10 years for me. Tried conventional for a few rounds last year. Quickly went back to LHL

[skraly]

After getting tired of looking at my bad putting statistics and again having a 3-putt during my last round I decided to change my conventional grip and try to putt with my left hand low, mid-round. Putting immediately improved! Much easier to keep it on-line. Made a few 5 footers that felt really easy. Distance control also was better because somehow I felt that I put a better roll on the ball.

 

Hopefully, this is not a temporary issue. I have the feeling that it is not. Anybody else who changed and started to putt better? Did it last?

After watching Lydia Ko and Jordan Spieth I decided to try lead hand low after 40 years of putting conventionally. Previously I had some wonderful putting rounds and always considered myself a better than average putter. I rarely 3 putted but I have always thought I was streakier on the mid to short range putts than I liked. I have been putting lead hand low for about 3 weeks now. I'm still not completely comfortable with the new style but I have seen some very promising results. My 3 putt rate has not increased and I've made some very nice mid range putts. I'm sure the new grip will become more comfortable with time. My courses greens have taken a beating with the much hotter and more humid weather we have had this summer so putting is a bit of a crap shoot. I will need to wait until later in the season, probably after the fall aeration, to really get a handle on whether I will continue with this.

[kencanuck]

I'm about two years from switching.

 

I'm now a good putter but that was mostly from relentless practice on the greens.

 

I did notice lead hand low helped square my shoulders instantly though. Aiming better lead to a more true and online stroke.

 

I had the exact same experience...still going strong. If there is a tendency with the lead hand low it is I pull really short downhill putts...I practice those a lot to ensure I keep the stroke online.

[MakAttack]

I'm 9 months in now. Can't really foresee going back to conventional. For me, lag putting has improved dramatically along with 5 feet and in seemingly getting better too. Used to three putt once every 19 holes. Now it's down to once every 27 holes. Learned a ton from David Orr website about lead hand low stroke and speed control in general.

[spetzle]

22 years and haven't looked back :busted_cop:

[Golfbeat]

I'm 9 months in now. Can't really foresee going back to conventional. For me, lag putting has improved dramatically along with 5 feet and in seemingly getting better too. Used to three putt once every 19 holes. Now it's down to once every 27 holes. Learned a ton from David Orr website about lead hand low stroke and speed control in general.

 

Can you tell what differences in stroke Orr prescribes for LHL?

[harolease]

Using cross handed most of the season and getting more consistent

I switch over to conventional when Im off the green and slightly different routine where I will lay the face of the putter on the ground rather than the back.

[MakAttack]

A couple of keys are to make sure the shoulders are level to slightly right below left and making sure the lest arm doesn't get to straight inviting too much face rotation.

[bruinsPATSirish]

After getting tired of looking at my bad putting statistics and again having a 3-putt during my last round I decided to change my conventional grip and try to putt with my left hand low, mid-round. Putting immediately improved! Much easier to keep it on-line. Made a few 5 footers that felt really easy. Distance control also was better because somehow I felt that I put a better roll on the ball.

 

Hopefully, this is not a temporary issue. I have the feeling that it is not. Anybody else who changed and started to putt better? Did it last?

 

Left hand low helped my putting consistency from 10 feet and in a lot. At first I had some struggles with the longer lag putts but after some time I got it down. I switched back in April and haven't looked back.

[rcain1us]

I interlock the pinky and ring finger of my left hand with the index and middle finger of my right. Never putted better

[lighter_866]

I switched a couple of years back. It took the wrists out of the equation immediately, especially from 2 meters and shorter than that. I struggled a bit the first season with getting the longer putts up near to the hole so I used the old grip for those strokes. And I sometimes still put the right hand lower on longer uphill putts, or if the ball is off the green and needs a bit of extra juice with the putter. I also switched to a thicker grip after a couple of months. That felt like it was meant to be from day one.

 

I had a practice session this summer from 2 meters (approx. 6 1/2 feet) with aiming sticks on each side of the putter head pointing the way, and a straight slight uphill lie. Just to get the posture, aim and mechanics in order. I stood for 90 minutes+ without missing a putt!

The wrist just do not turn out of order for me with the leading hand low. They used to to that before. So I'm never going back. The feeling for longer distances are improving all the time as well.

[stickner]

After getting tired of looking at my bad putting statistics and again having a 3-putt during my last round I decided to change my conventional grip and try to putt with my left hand low, mid-round. Putting immediately improved! Much easier to keep it on-line. Made a few 5 footers that felt really easy. Distance control also was better because somehow I felt that I put a better roll on the ball.

 

Hopefully, this is not a temporary issue. I have the feeling that it is not. Anybody else who changed and started to putt better? Did it last?

 

No matter what you do, if you are practicing your putting to the tune of 500-1000 putts per week, you will get better. No substitute for lots and lots of practice!

[Kuuuch]

Posting again because I ended up switching....again. Wasn't putting good and was on SAM lab, stroke was substantially better with LHL so my putting instructor said why wouldn't you switch and just practice often so you are able to perform when pressure is on even though it doesn't feel natural. I played on Saturday and inside 10 feet I was either making it or hitting the hole. I 100% start the ball on line so much better with LHL. Lag putting is tough, but with practice it should come along.

[moehogan]

35 year LHL vet here ... have never considered switching back to conventional. At first, experimented with several different grips but quickly settled on left pinkie overlap with it resting between the right index and middle fingers..

[Golfbeat]

Putting better than ever and lag putting is also much better. I had no 3 putts in my last 2 rounds which is a novelty.

[MPStrat]

I switched to lead hand low at the beginning of this year and my putting has improved a ton. Feels more natural and get center face contact most of the time. My misses are now usually from bad reads, when before I had bad reads and intermittent poor contact to deal with.

[NoHipMove]

I switched to LHL about 2 years ago. It was tough lag putting at first, but now I'm pretty decent even from long distances. Really leads me to putts using a rocking motion of my shoulders and no use of the hands which really got me to be consistent with results.

[Kuuuch]

I switched to LHL about 2 years ago. It was tough lag putting at first, but now I'm pretty decent even from long distances. Really leads me to putts using a rocking motion of my shoulders and no use of the hands which really got me to be consistent with results.

 

I agree, encourages a little rock of the shoulders. Probably why the short putts are $$$

[aabcuue]

Putting better than ever and lag putting is also much better. I had no 3 putts in my last 2 rounds which is a novelty.

good to hear. Keep @fundamentals & consistently check your setup.

 

I am a many decades LHL setup.

For everyone having lag issues, LHL wasn't meant to be a long put setup. Many LHL users often switch to std position beyond the 20-30ft range for more power & natural stroke.

 

Fyi, if your front eye is dominant then you'll want to setup w/ ball closer to the hole vs. std setups.

[Hatchmanss76]

Changed to LHL mid round on the 8th hole around 20 years ago.

Was immediately more accurate from long range. Distance control only took 2-3 games to get the hang of. Was going long in the early days.

[PapaJohick]

22 years and haven't looked back :busted_cop:

 

Spieth is that you?

[PapaJohick]

been doing it for about 6-7 years now

just feels more natural

[Roadking_6]

I started LHL in 1999. After high school didn't play for 10 years and started again. LHL felt off so I went back to conventional. Recently made the switch back to LHL and my putts inside 15 feet are much better. Lag putting I feel like I am happy to get it inside 10 feet. I need a ton more practice to get that lag feel back but stroke really feels more steady on the shorter ones.

[dbleag]

Is there any consensus on ball position for the LHL style?

[robrey85]

I changed to left hand low after I read "The Putting Prescription". My putting stats improved a ton. I kept this putting style for a long time. Two years or so until I recently got my new Edel putter which was significantly heavier head weight than my old Cleveland Classic. (370 vs 340) For some reason when I switched to this heavier head, I just could not control the weight well. I tried for about a month and then decided to go to a more conventional grip although it's slightly different. I sit my right palm on top of my left hands fingers so it feels like I only have one hand and it's wrapped around my putting grip.

 

With this change, I control the head so much better.

 

It's crazy how much of a difference it made.

[Armour248]

I switch back and forth every few months. It may seem counterproductive but I think the switch makes me concentrate a bit more...keeps my head down, makes me focus on the line/speed, etc. The first few rounds after I switch grips always seem to be great and then it slowly fades back to mediocre.

 

I was going to start a new topic but I might as well just get some thoughts here. Has anyone ever putted with lead hand low and in a claw grip? I was messing with this yesterday and I was rolling the ball incredibly well...speed was good from all distances and made 15 straight from 6-7 feet. I'm RH so my setup was right hand on the top of the grip, left hand low with three fingers on the topside, thumb on the bottomside and pinkie just kind of resting. Those fingers would be pointing away from the hole. I've always putted relatively well one handed, using only my dominant right hand, so I think this is a variation of that...just using my left hand to provide the needed stability. It's definitely different and there doesn't seem to be a lot of feedback or info out there on this putting grip, but it felt pretty good to me.