Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2024 - 11

GOLF GEAR
Finding a Putter Grip
Using a properly fit putter grip can
help you become a better putter.
P
utter grips have come a long way from
the days of leather wraps and the later
thin, rubber grips. Lighter putters of the
past got heavier, and golf instructors began
promoting putting styles that moved away
from the locked wrist and hand-putting
style toward more shoulder movement. So,
putter grips changed along with it.
Around 10 years ago, putter grips
started to grow in size, peaking with the
massive Super Stroke 5.0 grips that became
popular. Over time, more attention has
been paid to just how much the thickness
of the grip affects a putting stroke, and 2nd
Swing master clubfitter Larry Bobka (who
is also a PGA Tour putting instructor) says
it's about time.
" We know that 40%-45% of strokes
in a golf round come on a putting green,
but people know less about their putting
strokes than they do about their full golf
swings, " Bobka says. " That's insanity. It's
time we started taking putting out of the
dark ages and understand exactly what
you do with that club and the putter face
to help you become a better putter. "
Conventional wisdom says that thinner
putter grips offer more feel while the
thicker ones give a golfer more control.
But we all want both, and since everyone
has an individual putting stroke, a putter
fitting can help determine which grip
works best for each golfer.
Bobka says there are three aspects of the
grip to consider when determining a properly
fit grip:
» Grip size: Theoretically, the smaller grip
is going to help your hands rotate more
naturally through your putting stroke. The
larger the grip, the less natural the rotation
of your hands.
mngolf.org
» Feel: Do you prefer soft grips or firmer
grips? Personally, I feel soft grips are better
because you don't squeeze the putter too
much. People tend to grip the putter too
tightly. A grip feeling comfortable in your
hand is important.
» Hand position: Will that grip allow your
hands to sit properly on that putter? I need
to make sure my palms are parallel with
that putter face.
There are generally three sizes of
grips: standard (thin), midsize and oversize.
Bobka claims that hand size can
affect a fit-but putter head style (full
toe hang, mid-toe hang or putter face
balance), which affects putter head rotation,
is even more important. So, testing
different grips with different style putters
in front of a swing monitor can help
dial in the proper fit.
" Manufacturers understand this and do
their best to design putters with the grip
in mind, " Bobka says. " That's why I am a
big believer of not taking the stock grip
off that putter. "
Fitting a grip to a putter is also important
with long putters. And, according to
Bobka, the right size grip can help with
the yips-it's not necessarily the biggest
grip needed, but perhaps a bigger one
than is currently being used. The key to
any change is getting fit for it.
" Unfortunately, like any club fitting,
you'd like to say there's a simple answer to
fixing something; there's not, " Bobka says.
" Every individual is different. It's important
to work with someone who understands
the dynamics of putter heads and
grips to help you putt better. "
SUPER STROKE
TRAXION PISTOL 1.0
TOUR PUTTER GRIP
" The Tour midsize
standard in performance
and feel. "
PING BG
BLACKOUT
PUTTER GRIP
" The standard of
smaller putter grips . . .
just ask Tiger! "
* BY JOSEPH OBERLE *
Larry's
List
WINN WINNPRO
X PUTTER GRIP
" The king of oversize,
in my opinion. "
Spring 2024 MINNESOTAGOLFER
11
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2024

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