One-Armed Putting Technique

[foxhole88]

I always used to be a decent-to-good putter. I usually average around 32 putts per round. Sometimes I get down to 28 and up to 34 in a round. I think part of it is that I do not hit too many greens in regulation so it keeps the number of putts down.

Anyway, over the last few weeks I have lost my touch on putts, making way more 3 putts than usual and even a 4 putt and very few 1 putts, while still hitting the same amount of GIR.

I could feel myself pulling/pushing short putts, and not hitting it to the right speed. It felt like my left and right hands were fighting each other on my putting stroke. I spent some extra time on the practice green to try and get my groove back but it seemed like it was getting worse.

After 3-putting 3 of the first 8 holes and missing a bunch of short 1 putts that I used to easily dunk, I had enough. I decided mid round (9th hole) that I was going to just use my right hand to putt for the rest of the round. I figured I couldn't do any worse than I was already doing and I was hoping that it would help to straighten me out. (I have messed around on practice greens using one hand from time to time as a joke and did pretty well.)

So i spent the rest of the day putting one handed (No 3 putts) and the next 3 rounds as well. My putting stroke with one hand is WAY better now, compared with how I was putting over the last few months. My putts are back down to 32 avg range and I am getting more comfortable and confident in my putter each round. At this rate, I may even get back to when I was dropping at least 1-2 40-50ft's a round.

My touch (speed) with the one hand is back to normal now, even on very long putts. While doing this I just need to be extra sure to keep the putter on line so I don't come across the ball and pull/push. I grip down to the bottom of the grip and hold it firmly, but so far so good.

I only intended for this to be a temporary thing so I could get my stroke back but the results have been very, very good for me so far, so I am thinking of sticking with it.

I still don't know if this going to be a long term solution. I don't know if this technique can hold up over a long period but the more I try it the more I am seriously thinking about sticking with it.

Anyone else out there try this while playing a round or 2? Did you see any difference in number of putts, etc?

[DavidFehertysBike]

A guy i played with over the weekend putted one armed. He had his right hand on the club as normal, but his left hand came across his body and gripped his right wrist and not the club. It was very weird to see somebody putting that way. He wasnt doing very good with it.

[Lefty22]

I'd equate this type of thing to taking a few swings with your feet together with a driver to get your timing in sync or get your tempo right. You might take a few swings that way to get the feel back and maybe even hit a few balls but it would probably be better in the long run to take that feel and apply it to the full/"proper" driver setup. Same thing here - I think this has facilitated you getting some of the "feel" back - now (if it were me) I'd try and find that same feel with my normal putting setup. Yes you may have done well in those couple of rounds but how was the wind? Was it raining? In ideal conditions this may work OK but (I think) the goal is a stroke that's consistent no matter what and if you're putting with one hand in a 15mph wind I don't see one doing very well if nothing else than just the balance issue of not having arms/shoulders hanging down square...

[TN94z]

If you are putting well with just your right hand, then that should tell you that the problem is in your left hand. Why don't you try practicing with your left hand only to get your groove back and then go back to two hands and see if this fixes your problem.

[billm408]

It's actually a really good way to get a feel for the speed of greens and controlling your distance on long putts (25' or more). I'll often use this technique on the practice green if it's a course I don't know although I've never used it on the course.

There's only two things I know about putting;
1. There's no right or wrong way as long as the ball goes in the hole.
2. The only reason anyone changes their stroke or their putter is if what they have isn't working.

[Lemay427]

Tiger practiced on the putting green at the PGA with one handed putts (right hand). So if it works for him it might be worth a try...

[TN94z]

Tiger practiced on the putting green at the PGA with one handed putts (right hand). So if it works for him it might be worth a try...

It is good practice but this poster seems to be asking if he should use it during play. I would for sure do it practicing for the reason mentioned above but I don't think I would trust it during a round. I mean how well would it work under pressure, etc...would bother me too much

[Lemay427]

Ya i didnt read it close enough. There is no harm in practicing while playing but I wouldnt recommend switching soley to right hand only.

[shankapotamus]

I'd equate this type of thing to taking a few swings with your feet together with a driver to get your timing in sync or get your tempo right. You might take a few swings that way to get the feel back and maybe even hit a few balls but it would probably be better in the long run to take that feel and apply it to the full/"proper" driver setup. Same thing here - I think this has facilitated you getting some of the "feel" back - now (if it were me) I'd try and find that same feel with my normal putting setup. Yes you may have done well in those couple of rounds but how was the wind? Was it raining? In ideal conditions this may work OK but (I think) the goal is a stroke that's consistent no matter what and if you're putting with one hand in a 15mph wind I don't see one doing very well if nothing else than just the balance issue of not having arms/shoulders hanging down square...

I don't see anybody putting that well in 15mph winds compared to how they normally do.

[DaveLeeNC]

Although I am not using either of these strokes regularly right now, I have in the past used two different "virtual one-handed putting strokes".

1) The first is a variation of the Claw where ONLY the tip of your right hand (for righties) index finger (and your left hand, of course) touch the club. The only purpose of the right hand finger is that (for me) your right shoulder needs some feedback to know what to do. I have putted like this (not much better, definitely not any worse) for extended periods of time.

2) I take a stance pretty much like Nicklaus stance (maybe a tad more open) and just swing the club with my right hand/arm. My left hand is on the grip, but a inch or more above the right hand and really is just along for the ride. This stroke is really like tossing a ball under-handed with your right hand (or that is how it feels to me). I will use this when my normal putting stroke goes haywire or on super fast greens.

dave

[SubPar]

I putt really well with my right hand only. I have thought about why that is and feel with one hand I take the club back and let it swing through without any manipulation. It is pretty much impossible to decelerate or yank the club with only one hand. Sometimes I do it as a drill to get the feel of a smooth back-and-through motion.

SubPar

[Scottydoint]

I was told once by Heath Slocum's Dad/Coach to practice your putting doing a one hand grip with a sand wedge.

[SubPar]

I was told once by Heath Slocum's Dad/Coach to practice your putting doing a one hand grip with a sand wedge.

Oddly, when I am practicing chipping, I use my wedge to knock the balls in the hole and make about 65% from 5-12 feet and 80% from inside 5 feet. I think this is better than with both hands on a putter.

The key is relaxation and confidence. We've all had the experience of making a variety of shots when we are "not really trying". SubPar

[TN94z]

Oddly, when I am practicing chipping, I use my wedge to knock the balls in the hole and make about 65% from 5-12 feet and 80% from inside 5 feet. I think this is better than with both hands on a putter.

That is true. I have walked up many times just messing around and knocked the putt in without a read or even taking my normal stance...usually they drop.

[CarlSpackler]

After I read this yesterday, I remembered a drill that I used to do which was putting with my left hand only (I putt cross handed). I did this on the putting green last night and started dropping 5-8 foot putts pretty reliably.