Skinny Putter Grips

[Middler 3,594]

I’ve been using a mid sized putter grip (Evnroll GG) for over 4 years with decent results. Over the weekend I trialed two putters with old school “pistolini” grips, with horrible results! Felt wrong and I couldn’t get putts started on my intended line to save my life, it was shocking to me. So you know, one of the putters was the same shape and approximate toe hang as my gamer, so I believe the skinny grip was a big factor. I may never go back to skinny putter grips. I am NOT saying skinny grips aren’t the best choice for some, just my read. YMMV

[cnosil 25,324]

1 hour ago, Middler said:

I’ve been using a mid sized putter grip (Evnroll GG) for over 4 years with decent results. Over the weekend I trialed two putters with old school “pistolini” grips, with horrible results! Felt wrong and I couldn’t get putts started on my intended line to save my life, it was shocking to me. So you know, one of the putters was the same shape and approximate toe hang as my gamer, so I believe the skinny grip was a big factor. I may never go back to skinny putter grips. I am NOT saying skinny grips aren’t the best choice for some, just my read. YMMV

Grip is definitely a big factor in how a putter feels and moves.   You mention the putter as having about the same toe hang;  was the weight then same?  Both total weight and head weight?   People overlook that as a factor in how a putter feels during the stroke.  

[LeftyMatt89 901]

When I putt lead hand low I prefer a thicker grip like a Superstroke flatso 1.0. But when I have putted with a traditional grip something lime a traditional pistol shape or golf pride pro only red star has had better success than a Superstroke. 

[Haro 532]

On 3/12/2022 at 6:42 AM, LeftyMatt89 said:

When I putt lead hand low I prefer a thicker grip like a Superstroke flatso 1.0. But when I have putted with a traditional grip something lime a traditional pistol shape or golf pride pro only red star has had better success than a Superstroke. 

I like the thicker grips too when I started putting LHL.  Took my hands out of the stroke and made me move my shoulders 

I went to the claw. I like the thicker grip but prefer taper thin where my trail hand holds the putter 

[LeftyMatt89 901]

8 minutes ago, Riverboat said:

Most of my life, I was at best an average putter. My dominant miss was a pull. I tried various putters and different grips, but nothing really worked. I settled on face balanced mallets with huge grips and a modified claw as my (relatively) best combo. The bigger the grip, the better, but I still wasn't very good. 

About 2 years ago, I was given a scotty Cameron blade with moderate toe hang and the normal scotty pistol grip. From the moment I got it, I could just take the same grip I use on my other clubs, take a natural stroke, and the ball is on line virtually every time. I'm now the best putter in virtually every group I'm with.

I have no moral of the story, just a wonder. While I believe that big grips can help mask other issues, is it possible that there's that one perfect putter out there for each player that would just allow them to point and shoot if they could somehow just find it? Can a fitting help with it, or does it have to just be dumb luck trial and error? My savior was a putter exactly the opposite of what had worked best for me in the past. Could it be that you are on exactly the wrong track also?

That is a great point, sometimes there is one putter that doesn’t make sense but just works. I think grips can be adjusted to. I think my natural stroke is not lead hand low but I am more consistent getting ball on line with that grip and my roll is more true so I stick with it. If I used my natural grip, I would need a pistol style like pingman midsize or golf pride pro only red star. 

[bens197 12,391]

I had opposite results.

After using a SuperStroke 3.0 for several years, I switched to a pro only pistol just for fun and it blew my mind.  I liked it because I could feel the putter and putter head move through the stroke.

I've been team skinny ever since.

[Berg Ryman 5,638]

This is where I tell me story of trying to become a good putter and with it, came thinning of grips. I started by finding the basics of a sold shoulder only stroke then I sent to a Superstroke 5.0 back in the early 2010's, then went to Flatso 3 18 months later, then the SS2 grip (put on like a diamond) from Superstroke 18 months after that. When I stuck with my Pipe I went to the Flat Cat Fat which was really good, until I went for my putter fitting revealing I needed something with a bit of Toe Hang.

I went with the stock SIK grip for my Flo-C, but realized I needed something a touch bigger, so for the first time in a decade I went up in size from the standard to the Pure Midsize Pistol and it feels perfect. Right amount of toe flow, right feel angularly in the hands, and just a good feel of confidence... plus it looks sweet in green

[HDTVMAN 162]

The Lamkin Sink-Fit grips are great. They have a skinny, mid, and jumbo, with the mid on my new Ping putter (PP60 grip) and it is the most comfortable I've used. Superstroke grips slip with any moisture, and the Lamkin are solid.

[jfull1914 42]

My putting has been HORRIBLE the last year or so. I use a Cure RX5, which is heavy AF (it has adjustable weighting that I've tinkered with) but I still can't feel the flow of the putter head. My stroke often turns into a "hit" which makes me miss left on my short putts. Then I overcompensate and leave the face open. I currently use the P2 React Grip which is really good about eliminating the hands and wrists breaking down in your stroke. But it's a huge and heavy grip and I wonder if that plus the heavy putter head, are killing my feel.

 

I also just saw the Most Wanted Mallet Putter post, so I'm also wondering if i'm due for a new putter . I started using my current putter 7 years ago after seeing Lexi Thompson use it. But I might be due for a change. 

People with heavy putters, do you also have a heavy grip? 

 

 

[Bobbers 184]

I've been trying something totally different, for me anyway.  Got tired of the Super Stroke regardless of diameter, they just felt too slick.  Add the fact that, given the design of the grip, it works best if it's perfectly perpendicular to the putter face. 

Long story short I slapped a JumboMax Str8 grip on my putter and, voila, noticed an immediate improvement.  It feels more natural to me, distance control is better.  It could very well be I've gotten out of my own head by simplifying, doesn't matter, the results do.

[chisag 18,673]

13 hours ago, bens197 said:

After using a SuperStroke 3.0 for several years, I switched to a pro only pistol just for fun and it blew my mind.  I liked it because I could feel the putter and putter head move through the stroke.

I've been team skinny ever since.

 

... Amen, a skinny grip just has so much more feel in my hands. Like Tiger using a Ping grip, I used the same grip forever and once Lamkin released the Sink Fit Skinny I have been using it. All my feel comes from my finger tips and a skinny grip provides the best finger tip feel. I also hold my grip very slightly which allows me to swing the weight of putter head like a pendulum with no wrist movement. 

[Thin2win 3,822]

8 hours ago, jfull1914 said:

 I started using my current putter 7 years ago after seeing Lexi Thompson use it. But I might be due for a change.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Riverboat said:

If it helps any, Lexi can't putt either. 

Seriously, she goes through about 5 putters a year. Eventually she will find her elder wand. 

[bens197 12,391]

9 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Amen, a skinny grip just has so much more feel in my hands. Like Tiger using a Ping grip, I used the same grip forever and once Lamkin released the Sink Fit Skinny I have been using it. All my feel comes from my finger tips and a skinny grip provides the best finger tip feel. I also hold my grip very slightly which allows me to swing the weight of putter head like a pendulum with no wrist movement. 

It was a happy accident to be honest.  Since most new putters come with larger grips I wanted to flip the script since I was getting stale on the greens.

I was looking at the worlds best putters at that time...the guys who seemed to make everything they looked at.  Spieth, Fowler, Tiger.  Even JT all using the smallest version of a GP Pro Only or SuperStroke.

I figured they must be onto something.  I saw the value of the 3.0 and larger but wondered maybe it wasn't right for me.

Smaller meant better feel and better feel meant more confidence.

For the moment, I have the stock pistolero plus on my SC and love the extra on the left hand.  It's the best of both worlds with a smaller profile but some substance. Scotty said it resembled a hammer and as someone who helped his father working trades, it's a natural fit.

[LeftyMatt89 901]

32 minutes ago, bens197 said:

It was a happy accident to be honest.  Since most new putters come with larger grips I wanted to flip the script since I was getting stale on the greens.

I was looking at the worlds best putters at that time...the guys who seemed to make everything they looked at.  Spieth, Fowler, Tiger.  Even JT all using the smallest version of a GP Pro Only or SuperStroke.

I figured they must be onto something.  I saw the value of the 3.0 and larger but wondered maybe it wasn't right for me.

Smaller meant better feel and better feel meant more confidence.

For the moment, I have the stock pistolero plus on my SC and love the extra on the left hand.  It's the best of both worlds with a smaller profile but some substance. Scotty said it resembled a hammer and as someone who helped his father working trades, it's a natural fit.

Definitely a great grip having a unique axe like handle to lock the top hand. One of my favorites for sure. 

[russtopherb 9,655]

I've been a big SuperStroke fan for a long time, but last summer I tried an off-brand skinnier pistol grip. It's not bad, but I still feel like I prefer larger grips to help take my hands out of the stroke. 

[Kegger 450]

I currently have 2 putter grips sitting on my desk trying to decide which one I want to go on the putter...

• SuperStroke Traxion Pistol GT Tour
• Golf Pride Tour SNSR Contour 75cc

They are both about the same size/diameter, but the SuperStroke has no taper, whereas the Golf Pride has a slight taper.. They both feel good in the hands, but I think I'm leaning towards the tapered Tour SNSR.. I've been playing the larger 104cc Tour SNSR grip for a while, but want a lighter grip to get a little more head weight feel in the putter.

[wely324 133]

Just swapped out a tacimac pistol style grip for a superstroke GTR 1.0 on a blade putter. I use a claw style grip and the bigger grips work so much better for me.

[Motoboss 63]

I have always had a “shoulder turn” putting stroke, never hand’sy. Near all my putters have a SS Mid Slim 2.0 as when they first came out they were “the thing”. I never liked the original Ping 58 or similar types as they are just too “skinny” which was an additional reason for the change to the SS grips.
 

Shopping for a new putter I just bought a new Ping Vault Anser 2 Dale and it came with a Ping 58 Midsize cord.
I was amazed at the feel and feedback I got!  The midsize grips seem to give me more positive reinforcement per stroke and my putting has improved.

Theres something to be said for “smaller” grips!

[JimmyShanks415 25]

Like all things, think it comes down to individual fit. I had been using a SS Tour 2.0 for years, but at a recent putter fitting I was consistently leaving the face 1-1.5 degrees open and my fitter suggested a smaller grip might help me more consistently square the face. Switched to a pistol style grip and have been pushing way fewer putts out to the right. 

[CarlH 8,346]

Personally, I prefer the smaller pistol grips on my putters.  I've tried fatter grips and did not care for the feel, at all....as if the grip removed all sense of touch.  I just prefer putting with a traditional reverse overlap grip using a putter with a pistol grip.  I used to solely play a Scotty Pro Platinum blade style putter, but I'm hooked on my current putter and have been using it exclusively for the last 3 years -- an Odyssey 7s Stroke Lab with standard pistol grip.