Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with my putting grip lately, trying to get that perfect feel, you know? And I stumbled upon this thing called the “Patrick Cantlay putter grip.” Yeah, I know, sounds fancy, but it’s actually pretty simple. I’d heard about it before, so I figured, why not give it a shot?
First thing I did was watch a bunch of videos of Cantlay putting. Man, that guy is smooth. I noticed how he holds the putter – it’s kind of unique. He’s got this interlocking grip, but it’s more relaxed, if that makes sense. His left index finger is not completely linked with his right pinky, there’s a bit of space.
So, I grabbed my putter and tried to copy it. Felt weird at first, I gotta admit. My hands were all over the place, and I was gripping it way too tight. I was used to a standard overlap grip, so this was a big change.
My Practice Routine
- First Step: Get Comfortable. I spent a good hour just holding the putter with this new grip, not even hitting any balls. Just getting used to the feel of it, letting my hands relax.
- Second Step: Short Putts. Then, I started with some really short putts, like two or three feet. The goal wasn’t to sink them, but to see how the putter felt in my hands during the stroke.
- Third Step: Gradually Increase Distance. Slowly, I backed up, hitting longer and longer putts. I focused on keeping my hands soft and letting the putter head do the work. It was tough! I wanted to revert to my old grip so bad.
- Fourth Step: Drills. I incorporated some drills, like putting with just my left hand, then just my right hand, then both hands with the Cantlay grip. This helped me isolate the feeling in each hand.
- Fifth Step: The Results. After a few days of this, I started noticing a difference. My stroke felt more fluid, more natural. I wasn’t trying to steer the ball, I was just letting it roll off the putter face. And guess what? I started sinking more putts!
It’s not perfect yet, and it will take time to see the results on the course. This grip is not some magic fix. It’s still a work in progress. But, I’m definitely feeling more confident with my putting now. It’s like I’ve unlocked a new level of control. So, if you’re looking to change up your putting game, you might want to give this Cantlay grip a try. Who knows, it might just work for you too! Just remember: practice, practice, practice!
