Putting Grip Poll - Finger Down the Shaft?

[Vinny Cap]

This came up in a different thread so lets see if you do putt with a finger pointed down the shaft, if you did putt with a finger down the shaft or you use a different grip all together.

If you select other, you can tell us your grip style.

[saevel25]

I use to, but for me it inhibited my distance control by locking up my wrists too much. 

[dennyjones]

I do put my right index finger down the grip because of habit.   I don't know if it's right or wrong for me, I just do.   I believe I started when I was trying to control a pushed putt.  I've see better golfers putt w/o a finger down the shaft but actually I've never tried it.    

[iacas]

Ugh. No.

[Hatchman]

No. 

[David in FL]

No

[Ernest Jones]

I didn't choose "Other", I choose "I used to", but I can still tell you what I grip I use today. I use the reverse overlap. I also sometimes use reverse overlap on really short pitches.

[Golfingdad]

Also in the "used to" category.  Just tried not doing it a year or two ago and it was comfortable, so I stopped.  Also, I have used the reverse overlap grip for as long as I can remember.

[jkelley9]

Yes. But I'm not a good putter. 

My feeling is that the extended finger prevents me from flipping my wrists into the ball and sets me up for better distance control by "quieting movement." However, I just suck. Or maybe it's not how I imagine. I dunno. 

[phillyk]

I have right hand low, and my left hand has pointer finger down shaft but it is barely touching the grip.  I used to do the opposite but I pushed with that finger and caused bad push/pulls when under pressure to make a putt.

[newtogolf]

I use to, but stopped about two years ago after a few putting lessons.  My instructor had a reaction similar to @iacas when he saw me do it. 

[Ernest Jones]

I find the best way to putt is to just let it swing, and an extended finger seems to interfer with that. 

[14ledo81]

I do not and never have tried it.

[Kalnoky]

I voted no. I want to avoid anything that could cause me to over-control or twist the putter . 

I use one of those "Flatso" grips and I just keep the corners in my lifelines with fairly light pressure and putt from the shoulders. Before that I used an interlock grip and a "trigger finger", kind of like on a full swing. That was ugly but it worked too. I've always been a pretty good putter, probably because I enjoy it & practice it a lot.

 

Edited December 6, 2016 by Kalnoky

[Gunther]

Double overlap, like Furyk does with his regular clubs.

[Club Rat]

I place my index finger down. It's the style I started with years ago and never changed, except once I experimented with Left Hand Low a long time ago.

I'm guessing, the finger pressure (feel) on long putts is subconscious related to distance control.
Never ever thought about it, it's just the grip style I have used for many years.

I see several older guys and gals using the finger down the grip, but seldom see younger players do it.
Didn't several of the older tour players also place their finger down the grip many beers ago?

[Rainmaker]

1 hour ago, newtogolf said:

I use to, but stopped about two years ago after a few putting lessons.  My instructor had a reaction similar to @iacas when he saw me do it. 

Ha . .me, too.  Same same.  

[boogielicious]

Tried it once or twice but never liked it. I grip as described by Stan Utley in his The Art of Putting.