Cross-Handed Grip (Putting)
Also known as: left-hand-low grip
A cross-handed (left-hand-low) putting grip reverses the standard hand order, so the lead hand sits below the trail hand. It is a common fix when the trail hand dominates and breaks down the lead wrist through impact.
A cross-handed, or left-hand-low, putting grip places the hands in the opposite vertical order from a conventional putting grip. For a right-hander, the left hand grips lower on the handle (closer to the putter head) and the right hand grips above it. The standard arrangement, used in a conventional or full-swing-style putting grip, is right-hand-low.
The main mechanical benefit of cross-handed putting is that it naturally levels the shoulders and quiets the trail hand. For most golfers, that is the more dominant, more active hand. In a conventional putting grip, an overactive trail hand can flip or scoop through impact. That breaks down the lead wrist and adds unwanted loft or an uneven face angle at contact. Putting the lead hand low makes it mechanically harder for the trail hand to take over. The lead arm and wrist are positioned to stay firmer and straighter through the stroke.
Cross-handed putting is especially common as a remedy for the yips. The same goes for golfers who chronically leave putts short or push them right from a breakdown at impact. It has been used successfully at the pro level, including by major champions. It usually needs a short adjustment period, since it feels unfamiliar at first. Once the new hand order is set, many golfers who struggle with a wristy conventional stroke find the quieter, more shoulder-driven motion comes surprisingly quickly.
Example
A player who chronically pushes short putts right switches to a cross-handed grip and the lead wrist stops breaking down at impact within a few practice rounds.
Why it matters
Cross-handed putting directly addresses trail-hand dominance and lead-wrist breakdown, two of the most common mechanical causes of missed short putts.
How it shows up on video
From a face-on video angle, a cross-handed grip is immediately visible as the lead hand positioned below the trail hand on the putter handle, the reverse of a conventional putting grip. The stroke usually shows flatter, more level shoulders and less independent wrist movement through impact than a conventional grip on the same player.
Common mistakes
- Abandoning the switch after only a few putts because it feels unfamiliar — cross-handed putting usually needs a real practice session, not just a few strokes, before it can be fairly evaluated.
- Keeping the same stance and ball position used with a conventional grip without adjusting shoulder alignment, since the reversed hand order changes how the shoulders naturally square up.
- Using cross-handed only on short putts and conventional on long putts, which reintroduces two different motions to manage rather than committing to one.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not recognize which putting grip you use, and it does not read your wrists. Its putting read does estimate shoulder level at address, head stability, stroke tempo, and how long your through-stroke is compared with your backswing. It also infers a face tendency from your forearms, which is not a measured face angle. Film a cross-handed and a conventional stroke from the same spot and compare the results.
Frequently asked questions
Does cross-handed putting help with the yips?
It can. By quieting the trail hand and reducing independent wrist action, cross-handed putting removes one of the mechanical pathways the yips exploit, though it is not a guaranteed cure for every golfer.
Is cross-handed putting legal in competition?
Yes — any putting grip style, including cross-handed, claw, or the standard grip, is legal under the Rules of Golf, as long as no illegal anchoring of the club against the body occurs.
Related terms
- Putting StrokeThe putting stroke is the controlled pendulum motion that rolls the ball along the intended line. Good mechanics include a square face at impact, consistent tempo, and path that matches the putter's arc.
- Claw Grip (Putting)In the claw grip, the trail hand holds the putter handle like a pencil against the palm instead of wrapping around it. Separating the hands this way is a popular fix for excess trail-hand wrist action and the putting yips.
- YipsThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms that disrupt the stroke, most often in putting or chipping. They are part neurological, part anxiety-driven, and affect golfers at every level.
- Bowed WristA bowed wrist at the top of the backswing means the lead wrist flexes toward the palm (like a bow), closing the clubface and storing power for a powerful, face-controlled delivery.
- Cupped WristA cupped wrist is a lead wrist bent backward (away from the palm) at the top of the backswing. It opens the clubface and often contributes to slices or weak fades.
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