Conference 7.286::golf

    I switched to cross-handed two years ago when Kite first began doing
    it.  I am still amazed to how much this has improved my scores.  Just a
    guess but at least 5 strokes per round and especially on those 3 to 5
    footers, (can't miss!~)
    
    mikee

    
    Played my first round with the cross handed grip and was pleased.
    Didn't make any 10-12 footers (had three for birdie on the first 5
    holes) but didn't miss any 3-4 footers. I guess the jury is still out.
    Made two clutch putts for the money and was the winner of the Wolf
    game so I'm sticking with it. 
    
    If your having the blues early, give it a try. 
    
    Ken_who_can't_believe_its_85_degrees_and_stuck_at_work

    I am a cross handed devotee again.  I used to use it when I was using
    one of those big Nicklaus putters.  Kept me from losing the square
    position on the take away.  I recently went back to it with a renewed
    swing key-  like Kite, create an angle with your left wrist and
    maintain the angle throughout the entire stroke.  It works.  27 putts
    the other day for 18 holes.  
    
    SCD

    Questions for all those who use cross handed. How do you grip the club.
    I have tried this (in the basement because of the 3 foot of snow) and
    have not found anything that is comfortable. Do you overlap 1 or 2
    fingers? Overlap none? Or interlock?
    
    bob
    

       Ken, I've been cross-hand Putting for the past 4 years and it's
    been very helpful to my scorecard tally. note: the published guideline
    for crosshanded putting is any Putt that's 10 feet or less. if it's
    more than a 10 footer, then DON'T crosshand it.
    
    note: my Father-in-Law is always impressed with my Putting, and I keep
    	telling him (modestly) that the secret "lies in the crosshanding".
    	But, for some unknown reason he just won't try the crosshand grip.
    note: I was fighting a bad case of the "Yips" the same year that
    	Bernard Langer was fighting the "Yips". When he adopted the cross-
    	hand grip as a cure and it helped him, then I adopted it.
    
    							hit em' straight,
    									Bob
    

    Re: a few back
    
    The biggest problem I had was how to grip it, specifically the
    forefinger of the right hand. I always putted with a reverse overlap
    grip. Thats the forefinger of the left hand down the shaft. When I
    switched over, the right forefinger felt uncomfortable. I finally
    decided on an overlap of the right forefinger across the pinky and the
    left ring finger.
    
    It seems to work. Possibly because I've been practicing every night
    with it and have had some success.
    
    You need to try a few combos and find the one that feels OK.
    
    Last round, two birdies and no three putts.
    
    Ken

    1) Just swap hands from your regular grip.
    
    2) Try both hands together.
    
    3) Key is to take it back with the left hand and bring it forward with
    the right.
    
    SCD

    
    
    
  >>>   3) Key is to take it back with the left hand and bring it forward with
        the right.
    
    ....right. Just like with the "conventional" grip. So why switch?!?!?
    
    Joe
    

    .5 talked about not using the cross hand grip on putts over 10 feet. Is
    this what everyone does, or do you stick with it on every putt?
    
    bob

    
       There really are no rules set in concrete, dictating how to putt,
       the putting style to use, or the type of putter to use.  Putting
       is %100 comfort, feel and confidence.  If something feels right,
       makes you feel comfortable standing over the ball and you are able
       to sink more than your share of putts, then stick with it.  The
       science of putting is the fact there isn't one.  
    
    -rick

    
    	A very common fault of regular-grip putting is being too wristy,
    	which is what cross handed tries to eliminate.  When you putt
    	wristy, the butt end of the putter tends to go towards the hole
    	on the backswing and away from it on the forward swing.  The
    	butt is opposite the head.  Even if you're barely wristy, there
    	tends to be some of this type of movement.
    
    	Just trying to use a shoulder type pendulum motion doesn't seem
    	to correct this entirely.  I've been concentrating on the butt
    	end during my putting stroke and I can't believe how fantastic
    	this feels.
    
    	Without going to cross handed, I believe that ensuring that the
    	butt end goes in the same direction as the head will provide
    	similar results.  But it can't break down at any time, btw.
    
    	Sick of this "gosh darn" snow!!!
    	Tom
    

    The other thing the cross-handed grip does for wristy putters is
    
    1) Keep the putter on line - easier to follow thru with out wristing or
    movement of upper body
    
    2) Control speed because of lack of wrist and smoother acceleration
    thru ball
    
    I switched to eliminate the open/closed blade problem I was having.
    
    SCD

    
       Believe it or not, you can get 'wristy' with the cross handed
       technique.  Watch Couples and Kite.  Wristiness creeps into
       their short putts once in awhile.  And I write from personal
       experience too.   It does help prevent the wrists from breaking
       down, .......for awhile........then........well I won't talk
       about it.......
    
    -rick<

    to further confound this, perhaps the two greatest putters EVER (Bobby
    Locke and George Low) used an "inside out" putting stroke in which the
    blade noticeably opened/closed. Low said he envisioned the stroke as
    "opening/closing a door..." Hey, I'm bad enough - I don't need any more
    confusion...
    
    __Jack

    this may sound incredible but I believe it was Locke who said that
    when he putted he watched the hole.
    
    Sam Snead went down to So Africa to play Locke in a series and got creamed

    Consider that Locke may have said those things to further confuse his
    opponents.  Picture several of his recent opponents on the practice
    green trying to open and close the putter blade....and he is in the
    shadows giggling and counting his money.
    
    SCD

I agree Rick.  Kite has said that cross-handed has helped 2 things:
1. Gets his shoulders and alignment more square.
2. Keeps his left wrist from breaking down.

But it does, as you say.  The putter head still gets ahead of his hands which
the breakdown is a simptom using conventional.  So I think he's getting #1 and
and ALOT of confidence using cross style.

Personally, I think a little wristyness isn't all bad as long as the shoulders
are in control to return the face square.  You get your touch there - in the
small muscles.

Bob

         <<< Note 1640.13 by DEVMKO::BLAISDELL "Rick, dtn 264-5414" >>>
                      -< wrists have minds of their own >-

    
       Believe it or not, you can get 'wristy' with the cross handed
       technique.  Watch Couples and Kite.  Wristiness creeps into
       their short putts once in awhile.  And I write from personal
       experience too.   It does help prevent the wrists from breaking
       down, .......for awhile........then........well I won't talk
       about it.......
    
    -rick<

    This may sound crazy but....I recently bought a putter that can be used
    either left or right handed. I found great success putting left handed
    with my usual right handed grip wich actually results in a cross handed
    grip from the other side of the ball. I get all the benefits of the
    cross handed grip with the comfort I'm used to from my regular grip.
    I just have to remember to play the ball off my other foot, and keep
    my head behind it. I will admit on extremely long putts I will revert
    to righty but inside 10 ft, Watch out..That bad boys dropping..Anyone
    else try this approach?
    
    Chris