Rory Switches to Left Hand Low Grip

[saevel25]

http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/rory-mcilroy-switches-left-hand-low-putting-grip-after-woes-greens?cid=pgacomsocial_fb_sf21883817

Quote

"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," he said. "I really do feel like it helps me put a stroke on it that I want to. It's a great feeling. I feel like it gives my putting stroke a bit more of a better rhythm, as well, a better flow. Look, if it doesn't work right from the get-go tomorrow, you're not going to see me on Friday morning putting conventional again. It's something I'm going to stick with for a while."

I think this is important. If he pulls a Phil and starts switching grips every few weeks I think he would struggle much more than just seeing where the left hand low grip takes him. 

On a side note, I wonder how many people are worried about their Rory picks here, 

 

Is it just me or does he take that putting path left a lot after impact and then tries to hold the face to keep from pulling them? 

Maybe he needs to get fitted for an Edel putter 

 

[rkim291968]

I tried experimenting with the left hand low putting grip.   So far, I am finding that I can square my club at impact better.   With right hand on top, my back swing tends to drift toward toe instead of making a nice small arc.   With left hand low putting grip, making a small arc on back swing came more naturally.    I am going to practice this more and try it in field.   

[billchao]

I heard on the broadcast yesterday that he hesitated to switch because people would say he was copying Spieth. It just made me think he should be less concerned about what people say about him and more about being the best golfer he can be.

On 3/3/2016 at 4:03 PM, saevel25 said:

Is it just me or does he take that putting path left a lot after impact and then tries to hold the face to keep from pulling them? 

The camera angle is off if you want to look at the path of the putter so that may cause some distortion. It looks to me the left move happens after impact as he pulls the clubhead up off the ground.

[dchoye]

Looks like he has a longer follow through now . Before he had more tapping motion and abruptly shorter finish 

[saevel25]

Left hand low just feels weird. My grip is a double overlap, so closer to no hand low. 

[rkim291968]

12 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Left hand low just feels weird. My grip is a double overlap, so closer to no hand low. 

It felt weird for me, too.  But after 2 days of practice, I got it to where I felt comfortable enough to take it to the field today.   I am happy with the result.  I can square the club without much effort.   I am going to copy Spieth & Rory for now.   

[iacas]

On March 6, 2016 at 10:51 AM, dchoye said:

Looks like he has a longer follow through now . Before he had more tapping motion and abruptly shorter finish 

I don't think so. His follow through was barely shorter than his backswing.

[Ernest Jones]

I putted cack-hand for years. It really does help quiet everything down. Easy to keep face square at impact and virtually impossible to be flippy/wristy at impact. 

I went back to conventional because my speed is far better with conventional and, for me at least, speed is King in terms of having a good day with the flat stick. 

Edit* of course this was years before Erik helped me find the right putter for my eye and stroke. Maybe I'll experiment with it again this year if I struggle at any point. 

[Jakester23]

8 hours ago, iacas said:

I don't think so. His follow through was barely shorter than his backswing.

How do you feel about guys switching their grip?  I always wondered if it was just to build some confidence. Given enough time I would think most people could make any style work.

[iacas]

On March 11, 2016 at 7:14 AM, Jakester23 said:

How do you feel about guys switching their grip?  I always wondered if it was just to build some confidence. Given enough time I would think most people could make any style work.

I think for many it's just a way of rebooting the system.

[colin007]

I've been putting left-hand-low for probably 8 or 9 years now. I could never go back. My speed control is what made it necessary to change, I was hitting putts like I hit my driver, blasting by the hole.

[mvmac]

 

Here's a good look at Rory's stroke from today. @nikegolf #DellMatchPlay

A video posted by Jeff Smith (@radargolfpro) on Mar 22, 2016 at 2:44pm PDT

[saevel25]

Rory switched back to right hand low at the Memorial. He claims it to prepare for the fast greens at Oakmont. That right hand low lets him control distance better. 

Though Spieth, who putts left hand low, routinely putts better on fast sloped greens. He's one of the best lag putters on tour. 

It sounds like he's been bouncing all over the place with his putting. Going back to using an alignment line on his ball. Switching to right hand low. Trying to make sure he's line up perfect over the ball. I know the feeling Rory. 

 

[mvmac]

6 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Going back to using an alignment line on his ball.

I think that's rarely a good strategy. It's really to tough to line it up properly and can take a lot of time. Also think it gets you too caught up in "line" and not rolling the ball to your spot.

[saevel25]

23 minutes ago, mvmac said:

I think that's rarely a good strategy. It's really to tough to line it up properly and can take a lot of time. Also think it gets you too caught up in "line" and not rolling the ball to your spot.

I agree. I use to do that until I realized that I couldn't keep the damn ball from rolling slightly offline. 

[boogielicious]

15 hours ago, mvmac said:

I think that's rarely a good strategy. It's really to tough to line it up properly and can take a lot of time. Also think it gets you too caught up in "line" and not rolling the ball to your spot.

 

15 hours ago, saevel25 said:

I agree. I use to do that until I realized that I couldn't keep the damn ball from rolling slightly offline. 

When I first got into golf in 2009, I tried using a line on the ball. I did not work at all. I got obsessed with the line and not the putt. I ditched it after that season.

I do have a routine like Rory's, which is a Stockton routine with no practice motion and no look back up. I would love Rory to become very successful again with it as he did a couple of years ago as an example to amateurs. It is a fast way to putt.

[newtogolf]

4 hours ago, boogielicious said:

 

When I first got into golf in 2009, I tried using a line on the ball. I did not work at all. I got obsessed with the line and not the putt. I ditched it after that season.

I do have a routine like Rory's, which is a Stockton routine with no practice motion and no look back up. I would love Rory to become very successful again with it as he did a couple of years ago as an example to amateurs. It is a fast way to putt.

I use the Stockton routine as well.  I tried the practice motion but felt like I was just doing it to do it, I didn't feel like I gained any benefit from it.  On short putts (3 feet or less) I look at the hole.

Rory seems to still be searching for a putting routine that works and he's comfortable with.