Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with my putter lately, trying to get a better feel on the greens. You know, like everyone else, I’m always looking for that edge, that little something extra that can shave a few strokes off my game. And I stumbled upon something that Brooks Koepka does – you know, the pro golfer, major winner, that guy. Turns out, he’s got this unique way of gripping his putter, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
So, here’s the deal. Koepka, he doesn’t grip the putter like most of us do. Instead of wrapping all his fingers around the handle, he extends his right index finger straight down the shaft. Yeah, it looks a bit weird at first, but hear me out.
First Try
- First step, I went to my home green and tried to copy Koepka’s grip.
- Second, I gripped the putter as usual but extended my right index finger.
- Third, I took a few practice strokes, It felt strange, awkward even. My right hand felt a bit loose, and I wasn’t sure if I had enough control. But I kept at it, trying to get a feel for this new grip.
I started with some short putts, just a few feet from the hole. To my surprise, I started sinking them pretty consistently. The putter felt more stable in my hands, and the ball seemed to roll truer off the face. It was like the extended finger was acting as a guide, keeping the putter head on line.
Moved to Longer Putts
- Next, I moved back to about 10 feet, then 15, then 20.
- Then, I tried to keep the same grip and stroke.
- Finally, I did some speed drills to adjust to the new grip.
The longer the putt, the more I noticed the difference. With my old grip, I sometimes struggled with distance control, either leaving the ball short or sending it way past the hole. But with Koepka’s grip, I felt like I had a better sense of how hard to hit the ball. It was like my right index finger was acting as a sensor, giving me feedback on the length of my backswing.
I spent a good hour on the putting green that day, just practicing with this new grip. I tried different types of putts – uphill, downhill, breaking left, breaking right. And you know what? I started to like it. A lot.
Took It to the Course
- The following weekend, I decided to take this new grip to the course.
- During the round, I used Koepka’s grip on every putt.
- After the round, I checked the result.
I was a bit nervous at first, worried that I might embarrass myself with some wild putts. But I stuck with it, reminding myself that it had worked well in practice. And guess what? It worked on the course, too! I made some putts that I normally would have missed, and I felt more confident over the ball. The result, I shaved a few strokes off my score, which is always a good thing.
Now, I’m not saying this grip is for everyone. It might not work for you. But it’s definitely worth a try. If you’re struggling with your putting, or if you’re just looking for something new to experiment with, give it a shot. You might be surprised at the results.
And hey, if it worked for Brooks Koepka, who am I to argue? He’s won a few majors, so he must be doing something right. Maybe this quirky little grip is one of his secrets. And now, it’s one of mine, too.
