In the world of golf, precision and consistency are key. One golfer who’s mastered these elements is Matt Fitzpatrick, particularly with his unique putting grip.
This grip has become a defining feature of his game, sparking curiosity among golf enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Fitzpatrick’s putting grip is not just a stylistic choice; it’s a strategic move that’s contributed significantly to his success on the green.
This article will delve deeper into the intricacies of this grip, its advantages, and how it’s helped shape Fitzpatrick’s career.
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a newbie, you’ll find something to learn from Fitzpatrick’s unique approach.
Overview of Matt Fitzpatrick’s Putting Grip
Matt Fitzpatrick’s putting grip plays a significant role in his golf game, remarkably contributing to his precision on the green.
The Uniqueness of Fitzpatrick’s Grip
Fitzpatrick’s grip stands out from other golfers for its distinct style. This grip, often referred to as the “claw grip,” sees Fitzpatrick’s right hand resting on top of the club handle, instead of wrapping around it. This way, he exerts less pressure on the club, enabling a more gentle and consistent put.
Moreover, this grip has been crucial in improving Fitzpatrick’s short game, as it advances control over the direction and speed of the ball.
Despite being unorthodox, the claw grip has managed to keep Fitzpatrick’s wrist firm during the stroke, precluding any unwanted wrist movement.
This uniqueness has tactically played into Fitzpatrick’s favor by enhancing his putting consistency and accuracy.
Consider the statistics of Fitzpatrick’s game:
| Year | Number of Putts Per Round |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 29.13 |
| 2019 | 29.34 |
| 2020 | 28.97 |
As evident from the table, Fitzpatrick’s putting average has shown positive progression over the years. His unique grip strategy could be one of the key factors behind these successful numbers.
This insight might prompt golfers at all levels to reconsider their grip style and possibly emulate Fitzpatrick’s tactic to improve their own game.
The Technique Behind Fitzpatrick’s Grip
Fitzpatrick’s unusual putting grip isn’t the only aspect of his playing style that has piqued interest among golf enthusiasts.
A dive into his playing habits introduces a trio of techniques that the golfer employs: cross-handed chipping, pin-in putting, and the prayer grip.
The Use of Cross-Handed Chipping
Cross-handed chipping is a crucial aspect of Fitzpatrick’s strategy. He adopts this cross-handed grip, placing his left hand below the right on the club shaft.
It’s a method used less frequently in the golfing world, yet it grants him increased control, particularly in launching a chip shot.
Authentic research and professional observation suggest that the cross-handed technique reduces wrist action, hence maintaining the clubface aim towards the target.
The Practice of Pin-in Putting
Pin-in putting has also shaped Fitzpatrick’s game. Since the introduction of new rules in 2019, allowing players to putt with the pin in, Fitzpatrick can often be seen taking advantage of this flexibility.
Tesi Golf confirms that pin-in putting often benefits the players by providing a clear focus point, adding depth perception, and enabling them to judge the distance better.
Understanding the Prayer Grip
To comprehend the essence of Fitzpatrick’s success, it’s crucial to understand his prayer grip. During long putts, Fitzpatrick often settles his hands into what has been termed the ‘prayer grip,’ a grip where both thumbs point straight down the shaft.
It helps in reducing hand action, offering stability and better command over the club, as concluded by Golf Tips Magazine.
Indeed, the success of Matt Fitzpatrick can, in part, be attributed to his unorthodox and unique grip techniques, which provide him with exceptional control and precision.
Impacts of Fitzpatrick’s Putting Grip
Fitzpatrick’s unique approaches to grips, distinctively the “claw grip”, lead to noteworthy improvements in his game.
Drawing insights from his golfing techniques, this section imparts understanding on how the said grips can enhance a golfer’s performance.
How Fitzpatrick’s Putting Grip Improves His Game
Matt Fitzpatrick’s putting grip, specifically the “claw grip,” adds a new dimension to his game performance.
Here’s how it boosts his performance:
Increased Control
The claw grip allows Fitzpatrick better control over the putter’s swing path, ensuring it remains straight. For instance, during the 2020 BMW Championship, he made an impressive 79.6% of his putts from five to ten feet.
Enhanced Stability
Reduced wrist action, an outcome of the claw grip, stabilizes his putts. As per the 2019 golf stats, his stability contributed to a 1.13 Strokes Gained: Putting average per round.
Improved Precision
With the claw grip, Fitzpatrick sees an improvement in his putting precision, thus significantly reducing the percentage of missed putts from the short range. In the 2020 golf season, his birdie conversion was a dominating 34.2%.
Comparison with Other Putting Grips
From the traditional grip to Matt Fitzpatrick’s distinctive ‘claw grip’, the game of golf presents numerous avenues for style experimentation.
This section presents a detailed comparison between the typical putting grip and Fitzpatrick’s grip, shedding light on their individual merits and potential impacts on a golfer’s game play.
The Traditional vs Fitzpatrick’s Putting Grip
The traditional putting grip, often leaning towards a one or two-handed approach, keeps the golfer’s hands and upper arms in alignment.
This consistency often leads to straight shots with predictable paths. In contrast, Fitzpatrick’s putting grip, famously known as the ‘claw grip’, takes a divergent route.
Rather than a solid grip, Fitzpatrick’s fingers loosely wrap over the club handle, giving him a claw-like grasp.
The ‘claw grip’ distributes pressure evenly across both hands, reducing wrist motion and providing Fitzpatrick with greater control and stability on the golf course.
While the traditional grip relies on precise wrist movements, Fitzpatrick’s ‘claw grip’ reduces dependence on these micro-movements, making for a relatively consistent and flexible playing technique. The lack of wrist action in the ‘claw grip’ minimizes the risk of mishits and enhances precision.
Fitzpatrick’s grip positions the right hand’s fingers downward, enabling a smooth pendulum motion. This contrasts with the traditional grip, where the arm and putter move as a single unit for a more mechanical swing motion.
The increased control, stability, and precision attributed to Fitzpatrick’s ‘claw grip’ have resulted in impressive putting statistics, underscoring its potential as a viable alternative to traditional putting techniques.
Advantages of Adopting Fitzpatrick’s Putting Grip
Drawing from the influence of Matt Fitzpatrick’s unique ‘claw grip,’ individuals can imbibe such unconventional techniques to invigorate their own games.
Potential for Improvement in Short Game
Adopting Fitzpatrick’s putting grip offers the potential for significant improvements in the short game. This grip magnifies control over short strokes, enhancing the accuracy of putts.
For instance, Fitzpatrick himself is renowned for his impeccable accuracy on short putts, a testament to the effectiveness of his grip style.
Also, the grip’s ability to alleviate wrist action reduces chances of error, thus giving competitors valuable consistency.
Notably, Fitzpatrick’s 2019 stats show he made 89.47% of putts from inside 10 feet, underscoring the grip’s effectiveness in the short game.
Balancing Pressure
Fitzpatrick’s ‘claw grip’ demonstrates an innate ability to balance pressure during putting. With the grip, golfers can distribute pressure evenly between their hands, giving them superior control.
This sense of balance can dramatically reduce yips, commonly caused by uneven hand pressure. Fitzpatrick’s commendable control and stability, even in high-pressure situations, show the grip’s potential to counterbalance pressure-disrupting factors.
Enhanced Control and Stability
The ‘claw grip’ exhibits excellent control and stability in the putting game, qualities vital for a successful golf technique.
By reducing wrist hinge and encouraging a smoother stroke, the grip contributes to steady control over the putter’s face.
As Fitzpatrick’s performance testifies, this control greatly diminishes the risk of the golfer mishitting the ball. Statistics suggest a decrease in three-putting occurrences when using this grip, thereby testifying to its stability.
Personalization and Comfort
One of the main advantages lies in the flexibility that Fitzpatrick’s grip offers. Golfers may tweak the grip to their comfort.
The variety in potential modifications, as evident in Fitzpatrick’s profusion of mixes in grip techniques, suggests that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
This tailor-made approach enables golfers to mold the grip to their individual style, thus facilitating personal comfort and enhancing playability.
The grip aids in fostering a sense of ownership of one’s game, rendering it an excellent avenue for golfers to reflect their style and preference.
Remember, while adopting Fitzpatrick’s technique may not result in immediate success, his fabulous results indicate the potential pay-offs of exploring different grip styles.
After all, an improved touch and feel on the green, complemented by the increased confidence that such a technique brings, can be a game-changer for any golfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matt Fitzpatrick’s unconventional ‘claw grip’ putting technique?
The ‘claw grip’ putting technique is a unique method used by golfer Matt Fitzpatrick. He props up the putter handle, pinches the grip with his right thumb and forefinger using a style often referred to as the ‘claw grip’.
What other putting techniques does Fitzpatrick use?
Apart from the claw grip, Fitzpatrick uses other putting techniques like cross-handed chipping, pin-in putting, and the prayer grip.
How do these grip styles enhance performance?
These grip styles, specially formulated for comfort, provide significant improvements in the short game due to a better balance in pressure distribution, enhanced control, and stability.
What is the relevance of Fitzpatrick’s success?
Fitzpatrick’s impressive putting statistics and achievements using his unconventional grip styles, particularly the claw grip, underscore the effectiveness of exploring individualized grip styles.
Conclusion
Matt Fitzpatrick’s unique putting grip, particularly his “claw grip,” has significantly contributed to his success on the golf course.
By using this unconventional technique, Fitzpatrick has achieved enhanced control, stability, and precision in his putting game.
The grip minimizes wrist movement and distributes pressure evenly, which has led to notable improvements in his putting statistics over the years.
His approach also includes techniques like cross-handed chipping, pin-in putting, and the prayer grip, all of which have further refined his short game.
Fitzpatrick’s success highlights the value of experimenting with different grips and techniques to find what works best for an individual’s style.
Golfers at all levels can gain insight from Fitzpatrick’s methods, potentially improving their own performance by adopting or adapting his innovative techniques.
Colin McCarthy