Wrist Breakdown in the Putting Stroke
Also known as: wrists breaking down when putting, wrist breakdown putting, wristy putting stroke, flippy putting stroke, breaking the wrists when putting, wrists breaking down
To stop your wrists breaking down when putting, let your shoulders rock the putter while your wrists stay quiet. Keep light, even grip pressure and hold the lead wrist flat through impact. A grip change, such as cross-handed or claw, can also calm the hands.
Wrist breakdown means the lead wrist cups and the putter head passes the hands near impact. It changes the loft and face angle from putt to putt. Short putts miss and speed becomes hard to control.
The usual fix is a shoulder-driven stroke. The arms and putter hang from the shoulders, and the shoulders rock like a seesaw. The hands stay passive and the lead wrist stays flat.
Grip changes help many golfers. Cross-handed puts the lead hand low, which keeps the lead wrist firm. The claw and saw grips reduce what the trail hand can do. A thicker putter grip can also quiet the small muscles in the hands.
Tips by skill level
Tuck an alignment stick down the shaft so it rests against your lead forearm. Make strokes without the stick leaving your arm.
Watch the lead wrist on face-on video. The back of the lead hand should face the target through impact.
Example
Her putter head flips past her hands on short putts. She tries a cross-handed grip and rocks her shoulders, and the lead wrist stays flat through the ball.
Why it matters
Quiet wrists make face angle and speed repeatable. That matters most from inside six feet.
Common mistakes
- Squeezing the grip to stop the wrists
- Decelerating, which lets the head flip
- Letting the trail hand push the putter
- Making the backstroke too long
Frequently asked questions
What is a wristy putting stroke?
A wristy stroke uses the wrists to move the putter instead of the shoulders. It makes face angle and speed less consistent, especially on short putts.
What grip helps stop wristy putting?
Cross-handed, claw and saw grips all quiet the hands. A thicker grip can also help. Try each and keep the one that starts putts on line most often.
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.
- Cross-Handed Grip (Putting)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.
- 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.
- Saw Putting GripThe saw grip is a putting grip where the lead hand holds the putter normally and the trail hand sits on the side of the grip, palm facing the hole, fingers along the shaft, as if holding a saw. The trail hand only guides the putter, which stops it from rotating the face.
- Lead WristThe lead wrist is the wrist of the top hand (left for right-handers). Its position throughout the swing — especially at the top of the backswing and at impact — directly controls clubface angle and low point.
Related guides & benchmarks
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