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GripPutting Putter Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Tommy Fleetwood's Claw Putting Grip: A More Stable Face

His putting stroke was good, but his putter face was not. In 2017, Tommy Fleetwood explained to Golfing World why he switched to the “claw” grip, or pencil grip: less right-hand influence, less face rotation, and putts that stay on line.

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Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

3 minSame problemReverse-Grip Chipping: Matthieu Pavon's RoutineMatthieu Pavon · Intermediate12 minSame problemLee Trevino's Swing: Clubface Control on the RangeLee Trevino · Intermediate / Expert2 minFrom the same proTommy Fleetwood's Fairway Wood in 3 ThoughtsTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Fleetwood had long been putting with a putter conventional grip, hands clasped. His problem wasn't the way he moved his hands, but the face rotation, which varied from putt to putt. He tried several grips—left hand under the right, or palms facing each other—and the one that worked for him was the “claw” grip or pencil grip. The left side remains attached to the putter, and the grip fits between the fingers of the right hand.

He then putted mostly with his right side, but without his right hand, the one that caused the face to rotate too much. His priority: to be able to consistently send the ball down the intended line. Reading the greens, speed control, and mental focus come next. He changed his grip during a winter spent putting on carpet and quickly got used to it, without worrying about what others might think of his unorthodox grip.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. First, check to see if the problem is with your swing: your swing path is correct, but the balls are going off to either side.
  2. Place your left hand in the normal position, with your left arm connected to the putter.
  3. Hold the grip between the fingers of your right hand, just as you would hold a pencil.
  4. Putt with the right side of the putter without letting your right hand rotate the clubface.
  5. Practice short putts by focusing solely on the ball's initial movement.
  6. Get plenty of practice in—even at home on carpet—before you decide whether the new grip is right for you.

Key Takeaways

The grip claw corrects a problem with the face, not the path.
The left side remains attached to the putter.
The grip fits in your right hand like a pencil.
Remove your right hand from the swing to limit the rotation of the clubface.
Prioritize putting: get the ball on the line every time.
The speed control and reading come once the ball is released reliably.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Change your grip when the problem is with your swing path, not your clubface.
  • Let your right hand take the lead in the movement.
  • Work on your speed control before you learn how to hit the ball straight.
  • Letting go of the grip after a few putts or out of fear of what others might think.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Short putts: the only criterion is that the ball starts on the line
  2. Carpeted practice sessions at home to get used to the grip
  3. Compare the classic grip and the claw grip on the same series of putts

Your Questions

Why did Tommy Fleetwood stop using the classic putting grip?

Because the rotation of his clubface wasn't consistent. His swing path was correct, but his right hand was rotating the clubface too much.

What other grips did he try before the claw?

His left hand is under his right, with their palms facing each other. It was the claw grip—or pencil grip—that helped him.

How long did it take him to get used to it?

"Not for long," he said. He switched to it one winter when he spent almost all his time putting on a carpet, and he was still using it nearly two years later, when the video was filmed.

Does the claw also improve speed control?

That's not what Fleetwood promises. For him, the primary goal is to get the ball over the line; speed control, reading the game, and mental toughness come later.

Learn More

All “Grip” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Putting” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Nelly Korda's Left-Hand-Low Putting: Interlocked GripNelly Korda putts left hand low, fingers interlocked, so she moves the putter with her chest rather than her hands, especially under pressure. Bryson DeChambeau's Putting: Roll, Launch, ClockDeChambeau checks his roll along a chalk line, reviews launch angle in slow motion and finds the straight putts by walking around the hole. Bryson DeChambeau's Swing: Grip, Triangle, RotationDeChambeau breaks down the basics of his swing (a comfortable grip, arms locked in a “triangle,” and chest rotation) and then demonstrates how to apply them to a beginner. Tommy FleetwoodAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tommy Fleetwood). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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