Rory McIlroy recently announced he’s joining the likes of other tour pros by switching to a left-hand low putting grip
Colorado AvidGolfer
Rory McIlroy announced during the practice rounds prior to the recent World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship that he would be changing his putting grip to a crosshanded or “left hand low” grip. With the switch, he joins the likes of Jordan Spieth and other players who also putt with that method. With the top players in the world putting crosshanded it begs the question, “is it right for you?”
“I felt like over the past few weeks, my right hand was becoming a little bit too dominant,” McIlroy said before the event. “I practiced over the weekend just with left below right and it felt really, really good. I'm going to give it a try this week and see where we go with it.”
Trying to keep the right hand (for a right-handed golfer) being too dominant is one of the primary reasons players switch to the crosshanded grip. Another is that it forces the shoulders to be more level during the putting stroke allowing a relaxed stroke closer to that of a pendulum.
PGA Professional Todd Kolb shows the crosshanded putting grip (above) and explains its possible benefits in the video (below)
The move for McIlroy wasn't all that unfamiliar as he putted crosshanded during his rookie year on the tour. Other pros such as Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia have also experimented and switched between multiple putting grips.
“I feel like it's something I'm going to stick with regardless of what the outcome is tomorrow or this week or next week,” McIlroy said before finishing in fourth place over the weekend.
Time will tell whether his switch will be permanent or perhaps just a short-term confidence boost. If you've never tried the crosshand grip, watch PGA Professional Todd Kolb explain the grip in the video below and give it a try the next time you're at the putting green. Until then, us amateurs can still take solace in the fact that even the best players in the world still search for ways to shake things up as much as we often do.
The crosshanded putting grip has worked for Jordan Spieth
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