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 on the handle — a common fix for golfers whose 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, rather than the standard right-hand-low arrangement used in a conventional or full-swing-style putting grip.
The main mechanical benefit of cross-handed putting is that it naturally levels the shoulders and quiets the trail hand, which is typically the more dominant, more active hand for most golfers. In a conventional putting grip, an overactive trail hand can flip or scoop through impact, breaking down the lead wrist and adding unwanted loft or an inconsistent face angle at contact. Putting the lead hand low makes it mechanically harder for the trail hand to take over, because 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 or for golfers who chronically leave putts short or push them right from a breakdown at impact, and it has been used successfully at the professional level, including by major champions. It typically requires a short adjustment period since it feels unfamiliar at first, but many golfers who struggle with a wristy conventional stroke find the quieter, more shoulder-driven motion comes surprisingly quickly once the new hand order is set.
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 typically 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 typically 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
SwingVantage can identify a cross-handed putting grip from face-on video by hand order on the handle, and can compare lead-wrist stability at impact against a conventional-grip stroke from the same golfer.
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)The claw grip separates the trail hand from the lead hand on the putter, holding the handle more like a pencil against the palm than wrapped around it — a popular fix for excess trail-hand wrist action and the putting yips.
- YipsThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms — most often in putting or chipping — that disrupt the stroke. 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 at the top of the backswing means the lead wrist bends backward (away from the palm), opening the clubface and commonly contributing to slices or weak fades.
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