First, I find it amazing that the last post on this thread was in 2021. In theory, on a par 72 course, and assuming two putts per hole, putting strokes account for half of all strokes. HALF. My concern is the lack of posts on this thread may result in few folks seeing this post...LOL.
Most folks struggle with their right hand. The right hand can develop involuntary flicks, twists, throw outs, etc. This can be quite maddening, especially on short putts where tension is 10X higher, and especially after making 2 or 3 smooth practice strokes prior to the weird, errant putt. As soon as the ball is in front of the putter, all hell breaks loose.
I moved to the claw grip which alleviated about 50% of my yippy right hand putting errors. However, it's just as easy to start over-powering putts, or push the heel open, or close the face with the right hand using the claw grip.
So what I've been working on is going to the putting green and putting with my right hand only. I use a standard reverse overlap grip, then remove my left hand. I start with 2 footers. This was quite eye opening in terms of how my right hand wanted to literally throw the putter at the ball, or how my wrist would rotate such that the face is closed or wide open. As I stated, it's maddening. But what I have is a very poorly trained right hand.
But after about 150 putts, my right hand started to "calm down". Like it needed to be trained to relax, quit panicking. Then after my right hand relaxed, I went back to the reverse overlap grip and putted with both hands. The difference was substantial in terms of how the right hand started to play a neutral role in the stroke vs. being over-powering...yippy. To that extent, I'm sure some folks have seen Tiger on the practice green at tournaments putting with his right hand only, with a pair of tees that were maybe 1/4 inch wider than the putter blade positioned in the green, like croquet wickets.. He hit 100's of those putts. Even Tiger had to constantly train his right hand to relax, and/or work in concert with the left. If you watch the video, the stroke should be smooth just like Tiger's, not jumpy, flicky, etc. Back through.
If any of you right handers have played guitar or piano, the left hand is often the toughest to train because we tend to use our dominant hand to do things that require precision. Golf is the opposite in many respects.
So my advise to folks who are struggling with putting is to do Tiger's drill. 100's of putts. Do not worry about being "terrible"...it's expected. If still hitting lousy...stop and try again the next day because it's an iterative learning process. I'm on day 10 now and it's quite interesting that I have gone back to my reverse overlap grip on the course because it actually feels better than the claw grip. Plus, and I don't know why, but due to the practice process, my shoulders suddenly started to take a primary role in my putting stroke vs. dominant right hand putting. Plus, while on the course, I practice with the right hand only while waiting for the other guys to reach the green or while waiting to putt. It can never be practiced enough.
My other advice is to get a wrist lock putter grip. It's longer such that the putter grip rides up the left arm which eliminates left hand variability. Plus, when the left side is "locked in", the right hand tends to take a more passive role. That said, the right hand can still wreck a putt, so the above practice AND trying the wrist lock grip could be a great option.
Update: Moved to the Gator Grip. There is no way on Earth the right hand can yip yip yip at the ball. I have an arm lock putting grip and I simply CLAMP down the putter grip on the inside of my lead forearm. This forces a left side bias, shoulder driven putting stroke.
Tried and tested ON the course and have dropped 4 to 5 putting strokes. Every putt is on line. The Claw still allowed my right hand to push, yip, flinch, etc. Not now with this grip..
https://apple.news/AqD1-rCpeRSajFMVnFJlaZg
Test to do the opposite and create more tension.
Grip the putter as hard as you can with a negative loft. Freeze the wrists and glue the arms on the rib cage. The putter is only moved by the shoulders.
Be only concentrated to hit the ball straight with the middle of your putter.
Trust the aiming you did before. The look to the hole is just to see the distance.
The position is uncomfortable enough to forget all other thoughts.
Btw have a look on YT to the minigolf championships.
Regripped my putter with a SuperStroke wrist lock grip. The grip has a threaded hole for which I can add various weights for counter balancing the putter. I used a 75g weight yesterday and locked the grip into my lead wrist. The weight moved the balance point of the putter up by about 2 inches. The head felt lighter as a result. The astounding part was I was making 4-7 footers, with the ball hitting the back of the cup vs. limping it's way to the hole. Longer putts were MUCH MORE on line.
I don't know why just yet, but somehow moving of the balance point up with the weight, and the wrist lock grip makes my right hand feel much more comfortable. Plus, the wrist lock promotes a more shoulder driven putting stroke. I also don't know why just yet. I suggest trying the wrist lock grip and get the weights to trial. They come in 25g, 50g, and 75g and they are super easy to interchange in the grip.
The yips. It’s a mental thing for sure. Do you still have the problem when you use the wrist lock putter? Have you tried armlock? With an armlock putter, you can get the setup, apply pressure from right wrist to left arm…then it’s rocking the shoulders, or swinging the left arm. Plenty of ways to take right hand out of motion.
Also, as a side note, Nicklaus liked "side saddle" putting because he believed he could see the hole out of his left eye as he was putting.
Have you ever tried putting while looking at the hole? That's another thing to try. Really frees you up to be natural, just like if you were tossing the ball towards the hole with your hand.
I agree with you on not using a line on the ball. For me, it just leads to doubt. I'll get it lined up crouching behind my ball, but then when I address the ball it looks off and I start second guessing.
I'll add my two cents to this. One thing that has helped me with this is simply trying not to care as much. How often on the practice green do you sink a long putt with one hand without even trying. How often do you make a putt when you rake it back after missing it the first time? Happens all the time, right? The difference is the lack of tension. And I know it's easier said than done, but you have to convince yourself that the world is not going to end if you miss a putt. It's just a game, not life and death. Yes, if you're in a tournament this is harder to do, but for casual rounds, I just really try not to care so much, and my yippiness has greatly subsided (knock on wood).
Update. Yesterday on the putting green my right hand went back to berserk, especially on 2-3 foot putts. The most amazing thing was if the ball was not in front of the putter, my swing was much smoother, actually looked and felt decently good. Then add the ball....and boom...erratic. That was after some 50 balls before I had to tee off. There's no doubt I have some mental block when the ball is in front of the club. I have a feeling I'm not the only one either...LOL.
The above noted, I also have a difficult time hitting short wedge shots....or any shot that requires a much slower swing....with both hands. I tend to have a minimum 20 yard shot, so if I have a 10 yard flip wedge shot, it will still go 20, or other times, chunk.
Thus, I will keep pushing because even though my right hand putting exercise is not showing marked improvement, I know at some point it will finally "relax", or whatever phobia I have will subside, and the exercise will ultimately help my shorter wedge and pitch shot game. Even though my right hand was not cooperating, I did putt better on the course because my right hand was "so happy" my left hand is on the club, so it did calm down to make better putts.
Interesting thread, Greenside chipping and putting my strong suit for sure. First time I have taken notice or heard of the wrist lock. (where am I living?) lol
I guess I am old school in the shoulder's and arms are locked into a pendulum wrist quiet.
Keep same routine:
Read the green
Set ball down lined up with track I want
Set up over ball and align putter with directional line on ball
Stay focused on back of ball and take away and hit through and keep head down till stoke is finished.
That keeps me from over thinking and having confidence in my read and decision .
Just never faired well with reverse grips and claw.
Putting I truly believe is a personal comfort thing and the one aspect that is personal and custom in some ways for the individual.
Of course there are certain rules of thumb to set a foundation but seen so many different styles that worked over the years, truly think the comfort and confidence is one club in this game to make your own and once whatever it is works and putts disappear into the cup stick with it and have a solid routine.
My take.
@GolfLivesMatter - Since @Nocona Colt Abernathy took care of your last paragraph, I'll hit the first one and pin your post to try to draw attention to it... 🤣
I agree with everything up until the last paragraph. You can't just install an arm lock grip (a wrist lock grip is specific to Super Stroke) without modifying the putter or purchasing a new putter altogether. It's the same as any other club, fit the putter to the stroke and not the stroke to the putter.