The Claw: When Your Putting Gets So Bad You're Willing to Look Ridiculous

The Rise of the Unconventional

Let's talk about the claw grip, that peculiar putting style that makes traditionalists wince and putting coaches nod knowingly. When Scottie Scheffler unveiled his version at the Hero World Challenge, commentators couldn't help but notice that one of golf's elite players had joined what we might call "The Claw Club" – a growing group of golfers who've decided that looking conventional is overrated compared to actually making putts.

Here's the truth about switching to the claw grip: nobody makes this change because they're looking to make a fashion statement on the greens. It's what happens when you've tried everything else, and your traditional grip has betrayed you one too many times. It's the putting equivalent of finally agreeing to use your GPS after years of insisting you know a better route – sometimes you just have to admit there might be a better way.

Scottie's Story

Scottie's putting journey has been like watching someone parallel park in a crowded city – sometimes brilliant, sometimes painful to watch. He went from being about as reliable on the greens as a weather forecast in Scotland to becoming one of the tour's better putters. But golf, being the humbling game it is, has a way of making even the best players question everything they know. And when that happens, well, that's when the claw starts looking less like a desperate move and more like a legitimate option.

The Technical Breakdown

Let me break down why golfers turn to the claw, despite knowing they might get some sideways glances. The claw grip fundamentally changes the mechanics of your putting stroke in several important ways. First, it effectively removes your wrists from the equation by positioning your trail hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) in a way that makes it nearly impossible to manipulate the putter face during the stroke. This positioning creates a more pendulum-like motion, where the shoulders and arms work together as a single unit.

How It Works

The grip achieves this by changing how your trail hand interfaces with the putter. Instead of wrapping your entire hand around the grip, your thumb and index finger create a stable channel that guides the putter, while your remaining fingers rest gently on the side of the grip. This positioning naturally restricts wrist movement and promotes a more stable path through impact.

The second major benefit comes from how it affects feel and feedback. When golfers struggle with their conventional grip, they often lose the subtle sensations that inform them about the quality of their stroke. The claw grip creates new sensory feedback points, particularly through the thumb and index finger of the trail hand. This fresh sensory input often helps golfers develop a better awareness of their stroke path and face control.

For players like Scottie, who have experienced putting challenges despite their elite ball striking skills, the claw represents more than just a technical change—it's a complete reset of their putting dynamics. The grip often helps eliminate the tendency to steer or guide putts, a common issue that develops when players lose confidence in their conventional stroke. By removing certain variables and simplifying the motion, many golfers find a more reliable and repeatable putting stroke.

The Adaptation Process

The adaptation period varies from player to player, but most find that the initial awkwardness gives way to a surprising level of consistency. The key lies in committing to the change long enough to build new muscle memory and trust in the stroke. Professional players like Scottie understand that any technical change requires patience and trust in the process, especially when it involves something as crucial as putting.

Looking ahead, Scottie's switch to the claw grip represents a calculated decision to prioritize function over form. In the precision-dependent world of professional golf, even the smallest improvement in putting consistency can make a significant difference in scoring. Whether this change becomes a permanent part of his game or serves as a temporary solution, it demonstrates the evolving nature of putting technique at the highest levels of golf.

The Bottom Line

But... are you willing to endure your buddies ripping you for every 5 foot miss? The answer might depend on how many putts you're currently making with your conventional grip. Sometimes, looking a little unconventional is a small price to pay for making more putts.