Schaefer Wins Special Event with 'Claw Grip'
Direction and Distance Influenced by Putter Grip
'Straight' Blade Advantageous for Long Putting
'Round' Mallet Strong in Short Putting
"Driver is show, putting is money." This adage is an unchanging truth. On tour, you have to be good at putting to win.
Scottie Scheffler is putting with a claw grip on the 4th hole of the 3rd round at the Hero World Challenge. Bahamas=AFP·Yonhap News
There is a player who has found success through putting. That is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA). On the 8th (local time), at the Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas, he attempted a transformation at the PGA Tour's premium event, the Hero World Challenge (total prize money $5 million). Scheffler, who switched his putter from a blade to a mallet in March, showcased a new putting grip at this tournament. Instead of the previous method of gripping with the right hand, he placed his right fingers on the grip and stroked like painting. This is called the "claw grip." Over four days, Scheffler displayed outstanding green play and successfully defended his title.
The grip is important in putting. It is one of the ways to hold a golf club. Power and direction depend on the grip. In putting, any grip is acceptable. Most weekend golfers choose the "reverse overlapping grip," which is the same as holding a club. This is the method used by "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) and world No. 3 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland).
Nelly Korda secured her 7th win of the season this year using the reverse overlapping grip. Photo by AFP·Yonhap News
When adopting the reverse overlapping grip, both arms are naturally relaxed, the putter is set up toward the target with the right hand, and then the left hand is placed on top. The swing is done with a smooth tempo. There is a slight pushing feeling during impact. Distance control is easy in long putting. Of course, there are drawbacks. The left wrist is not fixed, which can cause directional problems. Short putts are sometimes missed.
The "left-hand low grip" is the opposite of the reverse overlapping grip. Female players mainly use it. "Golf Queen" Inbee Park achieved the "Career Golden Slam" using this grip. Among male players, Jordan Spieth (USA) uses the left-hand low grip. The left hand goes below and covers the right hand. This fundamentally prevents the left wrist from bending. It is powerful in mid- to short-distance putting. Since the palms almost face each other, the shoulders naturally become horizontal during address, facilitating a pendulum motion. The field of vision widens. The problem is distance control. Without sufficient practice, long putting can be challenging.
The claw grip that Scheffler introduced this time is also called the "pencil grip." It gained attention when Sergio Garcia (Spain) won the Masters in 2017. Justin Rose (England), Adam Scott (Australia), and others also use this grip. The left hand remains as is, and the right thumb and index finger grip the putter shaft. Wrist use is suppressed, so the putter head moves at a right angle. Directional control is good. It is effective for short distances of about 1-2 meters or on fast greens. Its weakness is long putting. It is not easy to get the ball close to the hole.
Scheffler used two grips at the Hero World Challenge. For mid- to long-distance putts over 6 meters, he used his usual putting grip, but for short putts, he used the claw grip exclusively. "I always strive to improve. The claw grip is something I've been thinking about all year," said Scheffler. "I thought about trying it at the end of the season, but I judged this tournament was the right time. It feels good. I think my stroke has improved a bit," he expressed satisfaction.
Choosing a putter is also important. No matter how good a putter is, it is useless if it does not fit your body. The head shapes are "blade," which is straight, and "mallet," which is round. You can choose based on personal preference and stroke path. In the past, experts preferred blades, but recently mallets have been gaining popularity again.
The blade opens at the toe and slightly comes inward during impact, naturally drawing an arc. It is thin and has a relatively high center of gravity, so accurate center hits and control are important. Consistent practice is essential. The sweet spot is narrow and sensitive. It is advantageous for long putting, but if the backswing wobbles, short putts can be missed unexpectedly.
'Golf Queen' Park In-bee conquered the American stage equipped with a mallet putter. Photo by AFP·Yonhap News
The mallet has the face pointing upward on the palm, and is horizontal from toe to heel. Originally starting as a crescent shape, nowadays it is evolving into semi-mallets with slightly larger blades, square shapes, and complex designs reminiscent of spaceships. Mallets are recommended for golf beginners ("golini" - golf + children). The face is thicker than blades, so the moment of inertia is large. The wide back shape makes it easy to align the target during setup. If you use your wrists a lot, you can reinforce with a heavier head or thicker grip. Mallets excel in short putting. Distance control is not easy.
There is also the "broomstick putter." It is also called the "broom putter" because it resembles a broom used for sweeping yards. Adam Scott (Australia), Rickie Fowler, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley (all USA), and Byeong-Hun An have reached the top after switching to broomstick putters. As long as you don't fix the putter to your body, there is no problem. If you stroke without touching your chest, it works fine. The strength of the broomstick putter is that the basic pendulum motion of putting is smooth. It has excellent straightness. Wrist use is minimized. The stroke is done almost standing up. This increases accuracy. It can keep the rhythm of the putter consistent. It is suitable for golfers who tend to apply sudden force when putting. It is excellent for short putts but difficult for long distances. Because of its straightness, distance control is challenging. It can also be difficult on slow greens.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
