Are you unsure how to navigate around in all the different types of putter grips?
Here we will give you an overview of what types, shapes and weights are available in the world of modern golf putter grips.
Head on over to our ultimate guide to putter grips, if you’re browsing for a new one for the money stick.
Let’s get into the subject.
Table of Contents
Standard Putter Grips
What is considered a standard putter grip? Mostly what is referred to is the size. Standard putter grips are something like the Pingman grip or the Golf Pride Tour grip.
Usually, they’re made of rubber and there isn’t much fuzz about them.
Most of the traditional putter grips are also pistol-shaped. The “new” trend in the industry is non-tapered grips, but the traditional taper shape has its benefits.
An upside to the standard putter grip is the connection between you and the putter. With it’s thin construction, there isn’t much material between your hands and the shaft. This means that you are able to feel the impact of the ball better.
Mishits are also easier felt, but they are also more damaging to your accuracy, since your wrists will flex more easily with a thin putter grip.
Another added bonus of the standard grip is getting the distance right. Since there isn’t much dampening in the grip and the feedback is optimized, it gives you more ability to judge the distance.
You can fairly easily try this out at your local shop. Try finding two nearly identical putters and do three to five lag putts with each, with closed eyes. See which grip makes it easier for you to judge the distance.
Oversized Putter Grips
Many golfers swear to the oversized putter grips for the added stability and accuracy. This is the key benefit of oversized grips.
When SuperStroke launched their grips in 2009 they radically changed the golf industry with regards to putting grips.
The larger size to the grip means added stability with less wrist movement. It promotes an even grip pressure for both hands and thus lowers overall tension in your hands.
Take a look at our article about oversize grips, if you want to learn more.
Shapes Of Putter Grips
Putter grips comes in so many sizes that it can be hard to navigate through. Each type has its own specific benefits and downsides. If you’re uncertain about which one to go with, bear in mind that you will only lock in on the correct one when you’ve tried it on your preferred putter.
Tapered
With a larger diameter at the butt end, and a smaller diameter at the shaft end, tapered putter grips are the most traditional on the market. They bear a resemblance to the grips for the clubs, and there’s not much innovation about them.
The benefits of tapered grips are that your top hand gets a strong grasp on the putter, with less effort. The bottom hand is the one that releases the club and accepts the most feedback, and it requires less diameter to do that.
The downside of tapered grips are more wrist movement to non-tapered grips.
Straight
The non-traditional grip shape in golf is the straight one. Most manufacturers have straight versions these days, to be competitive. Since the launch of SuperStroke putter grips, golfers around the world have been very into straight grips.
Benefits of straight grips are less overall wrist movement. This leads to increased accuracy. Depending on the size of the grip, wrist movement can be nearly eliminated.
Many amateurs and also pros welcome this change, and it had been quite popular for more than 10 years now.
Pistol
Instead of just being tapered, the pistol shape has an even larger kickback on the back of the grip at the butt end.
This shape to the grip promotes a closed clubface at impact with the golf ball. The pistol grip is therefore especially good for players that have a tendency to push putts to the right.
Paddle Front
Traditionally all putter grips had a flat paddle front to rest the thumbs on. This is also a thing of the past now.
While the flat front is great for alignment, the need for it kind of goes away when the grips get so thick, that you can’t place your hands in a traditional way.
That’s why some manufacturers remove the paddle front totally.
You will still see oversized grips with a flat front, and there’s also the question of preference in it. What the individual golfer is used to, can be hard to change opinion on.
Indents
A new trend in putter grips is making an indent on the butt end of the grip. Lamkins Sink Fit Straight has whan Lamkin calls a parallel shape, where the grip indents, but the last inch or so is parallel to the lower part of the grip.
Golf Pride have also tried a similar approach with their Contour Pro.
It is said to leave more room for the thumb palm, for increased comfort and control.
Weights Of Putter Grips
Before you decide finally on a putter grip, there is another important thing to get into the equation.
Every putter grip is different from the other, in size and shape, and also in weight.
While most people think that grip weight is nothing to be aware of, it can have a big impact on your putting.
Weight of the grip affects swing weight, and determines how easy the putter is to swing. If your grip is too light, the swing weight will decrease, making your putter more lively and less accurate.
If your grip is too heavy then the swing weight increases, and it can be harder to judge distance, because it takes more effort to raise the putter.
That is why it is an important thing, which most people overlook.
If you’re uncertain whether your swing weight is optimal or there’s room for improvement, you can try adding some lead tape at various places. Alternatively some manufacturers make grips with built in weights that can be removed or exchanged to find the optimal swing weight for your game.
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash
