If you’ve ever had the yips, you know how quickly they can wreak havoc on your game on the green. An inconsistent or shaky stroke can make it hard to control your speed, maintain a square face through impact or even take the clubhead back.
But there’s good news. There’s a fix that works almost as fast as the yips seem to creep in. According to Parker McLachlin, a GOLF Teacher to Watch, one of the easiest and most effective ways to smooth out your stroke and inject some touch back in your game is to change your grip.
“If you’re a person who maybe has struggled with some shorter putts — feeling a little bit uncertain, a little uneasy, maybe a little yippy — the claw or saw grip may be a great one for you to try out,” McLachlin says.
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If you’re looking to adopt the claw, or saw, grip — the same grip Scottie Scheffler switched to late last year — McLachlin says you just need to remember a couple keys: form a “U,” light grip pressure, forearm in line with clubshaft.
Start by placing your lead hand onto the putter with a conventional style grip. Next, let your trail hand relax, hanging naturally to the side of your putter before attaching it. To form the proper trail-hand position, McLachlin says to think about making a “U” with your thumb and fingers. Then place your hand in the “U” formation on the putter grip with your thumb under the back of the grip, facing the ground.
“I’m not really feeling a ton of grip strength in that trail hand,” McLachlin says. “The lead hand is doing most of the work, and the trail hand is just there, helping it push it [the putter] along.”
Keeping the trail hand less active, or engaged, is one of the biggest reasons switching to a saw or claw putting grip will cure your yips. By freeing up that rear hand, you’re able to make more of a pendulum-like motion.
“A non-negotiable for me is making sure that my lead hand and lead forearm is all in line with this putter shaft,” McLachlin says.
With these three keys, you’ll create a silky, fluid stroke that helps you sink more pressure putts.
You’ll find more of McLachlin’s advice at ShortGameChef.com, which provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short games. Through personalized tips, drills and expert insights, McLachlin helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.
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