Does Putter Grip Weight Matter? What You Need To Know [2024]

There are so many variations of putter grips (pistol, skinny, oval, flat oval, flat wide, fat grips, etc.) as well as different putter grip weights (often between 45 to 120 grams). Some grips are even counterweighted (heavier than usual) to promote a smoother tempo and a consistent, repeatable putting stroke. Check out our buying guide for all things golf grip related!

Some golfers prefer a heavier putter weight because it increases moment of inertia of the putter, which reduces the amount of twisting or rotation that occurs during the strike.

Other golfers prefer a lighter putter because you have better distance control and you have more feeling of controlling the clubhead throughout the stroke.

There is no wrong or right answer, you just have to experiment with several styles (blade, mallet, semi-mallet, etc.) and shafts (plumber’s neck, straight neck, no hosel, etc.) to find what you excel with. A general consensus though is that golfers prefer heavier putters on slow greens and and lighter putters on fast greens.

Pros and Cons of a heavy putter grip

Pros:

Increases moment of inertia (MOI) of the putter, which reduces amount of face rotation that occurs during putting stroke

More control on shorter putts due to less face rotation and a more stable putting stroke

Encourages a less “handsy” putting stroke and to use the big muscles (shoulders and arms)

Cons:

Heavier grip leads to less feedback and feel during putting stroke than a light grip.

Harder to dial in distance control on long distance putts due to heavy weight

As with almost everything in golf, it comes down to personal preference and confidence on what grip weight is right for your game. A study of counterbalanced vs regular putters by MyGolfSpy shows that there is no statistical advantage between putter styles, but it could make all the difference in someone’s confidence in putting. I will say I have noticed the higher handicap golfers with inconsistent putting strokes strongly benefit from a heavier grip.

Stability is the biggest reason why higher handicap golfers benefit from a heavier grip. It helps keep the putterface stay square throughout the stroke, leading to more accurate putts. Having more mass near the hands with a heavier putter grip will increase putter head stability while also creating more control over the putter head.

Heavier grips help keep the clubhead on a more consistent path and engages the bigger muscles (shoulders, arms) versus the hands. The heavier mass makes it harder to move quickly from its starting position and once the putter gains momentum on the back and through stroke, it is more difficult for it to move off plane.

So if you feel like you have a “handsy” putting stroke or are struggling with your putting stroke path being inconsistent, try out a heavier putter grip and let me know what you think!

Pro golfers with heavy counterbalanced putter grips:

Viktor Hovland
Rickie Fowler
Wyndham Clark
Bryson Dechambeau

Pros and Cons of a light putter grip

Pros:

Gives a lot more feedback and feel during putting stroke than heavy grip

Greater distance control on medium to long range putts versus heavy grip

Easier to swing because of light weight

Cons:

Harder to make short putts due to clubface being easier to accidently open/close

Golfers with inconsistent putting strokes may struggle keeping club on correct path and over rotating putter face during stroke.

More reliant on hands during putting stroke instead of the shoulders and arms. If your timing is just slightly off your accuracy will suffer.

Unless you excel at putting, most mid to high handicappers should try to steer away from lighter putter grips. It involves too much timing and precision that takes hours and hours of practice to perfect.

Most golfers who use a lighter grip (including Tiger Woods) work the putter open-closed, but he will always have the face squared at impact. Most golfers would benefit from a putter that helps them keep the face relatively neutral throughout the putting stroke. In my opinion that is a recipe for disaster because I don’t have enough time to practice with a light putter to have a consistent stroke with a match on the line, big milestone putt to break 70/80/90, etc.

Pro Golfers with Light Putter Grips:

Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy
Brooks Koepka
Max Homa
Scottie Scheffler

Conclusion:

In the end of course it all comes down to personal preference. I know high handicap golfers who putt significantly better with a light grip and scratch golfers who prefer a heavier grip to help keep the hands out of the putting stroke. The only way to find out what is perfect for your game is to go get fit or to experiment with several styles of putters, grip weights, lengths, etc. and find out what fits your game the best!