[Kim Hyunjun's Photo Lesson] 'Genesis Champ' Lee Jaekyung's Reverse Grip "Great Straightness~"

Lee Jaekyung 'Claw Grip → Left Hand Low' Grip Change Effect Strong "Prevents Left Wrist Bending, Good for Mid and Short Distance Putting~"

Lee Jae-kyung effectively utilized the so-called reverse grip, with his left hand positioned lower, during his victory at the Genesis Championship last month.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘Left-hand low’

‘Genesis Champ’ Lee Jae-kyung (22, CJ O Shopping) recently saw significant benefits from changing his putting grip. He switched from the ‘claw’ grip, where the right hand is held upside down, to the so-called reverse grip with the left hand positioned lower. It is noteworthy that on the final day of the Genesis Championship (total prize money 1.5 billion KRW), the largest prize money event on the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour held on the 10th of last month, he surged with a 6-under-par round to secure a two-stroke victory. This is truly ‘putting power.’

Right-handed players usually use the ‘reverse overlapping’ grip. After aiming the putter toward the target with the right hand, the left hand is placed on top. This grip is favored by the ‘returned golf emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA). Amateur golfers find it familiar because it is similar to the grip used for irons and other clubs, and it makes distance control easier on long putts. Justin Rose (England) uses the ‘claw’ grip, placing the shaft between the right thumb and index finger.

The reverse grip chosen by Lee Jae-kyung is the opposite of ‘reverse overlapping.’ It is preferred by female players and is especially famous as the putting grip of Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group). Another term for it is ‘cross-handed.’ It naturally prevents the bending of the left wrist, making it strong for mid- and short-distance putting. Because the palms of both hands almost face each other, the shoulders become level, facilitating a smooth ‘pendulum motion,’ and it also offers the added benefit of a wider field of vision.

Lee Jae-kyung also exclaimed, "The claw grip did not produce a proper impact," and "Left-hand low definitely has excellent straightness." The key is body alignment during setup. Amateur golfers tend to change their address based on mood, causing the ball to be struck off-center, either inside or outside the clubface. This inevitably leads to errors in both distance and direction. He added advice that "developing the habit of stroking through both shoulders is important."

Putting is the only escape in golf. There are various types of putters, and shaft lengths and grips vary as well, such as Phil Mickelson’s ‘paint-brush’ and Natalie Gulbis’s (both USA) ‘split’ grip. Naturally, any grip is acceptable. However, there is a common keyword: during the stroke, the head must move low to the ground. This improves the ball’s roll, directly contributing to straightness that overcomes subtle slopes.