You Need To Stop Ignoring Your Putter Grip

*In Partnership With Golf Pride*

Golfers love to obsess over putters; head shapes, torque styles, milling patterns, inserts, you name it and its a talking point. But, do you know what too many golfers don't talk bout? The grip!

And, you know what? It could be the biggest difference between making and missing putts.

RELATED: Why Finding The Right Grip Goes Way Beyond Sizing

Just like with full swing grips, your putter grip is the only connection you have between you and your putter, and that matters just as much on 50-foot lag putts, as it does on 2-footers. This is why having a putter grip that feels comfortable is hyper important, because it plays a major factor in impact dynamics including face angle control. speed, and delivered loft - not to mention tension that can ruin feel.

Understanding Your Options

Zero Taper

All of the above is why Golf Pride has spent years, in fact decades, developing a full line of putter grips to help golfers find success on the greens.

The newest option is the Zero Taper, a grip that provides, as the name suggests, a consistent taper from the top to the bottom of the grip in both hands - regardless of grip style. This was an evolution from the Reverse taper that debuted in 2004.

Two years ago, we introduced Reverse Taper, and it quickly became one of the top-selling putter grips worldwide. With ZERO TAPER, we’re building on that success by offering players who favor a consistent geometric shape a grip that meets their needs.

-James Ledford, President of Golf Pride.

Like the Reverse Taper, the grip features similar texture and visual cues to help golfers place their hands in the same spot putt after putt. To further help with consistency and hand placement the back of the grip features what Golf Pride calls a horseshoe profile to help the grip settle naturally into the palm and fingers.

RELATED: Now's a Great Time To Change Your Grips

Reverse Taper

On the other side of the taper spectrum, for golfers who want to further quiet their hands and reduce tension, there is the Reverse Taper Grip. The larger lower section encourages a lighter grip on the bottom hand to slow down rotation and improve face consistency into impact. The larger sizes and texture also help to reduce grip pressure to improve distance control.

It might sound simple, but something as simple as hand tension can have a massive impact on distance control and pace and Reverse Taper is here to help with that.

As for the details, Golf Pride’s Reverse Taper Collection comes in three styles: Flat, Pistol and Round.

Flat is built for players who prefer a more modern, square profile with sharper edges.

Pistol offers a more traditional shape with a deeper upper section that fits naturally into the top hand.

Round is the softest transition of the three, and has a more rounded profile for a smoother feel in both hands.

Don't Forget The Classics Too!

Last but certainly not least there is the Pro Only line from Golf Pride. We should note that "Pro Only" is just the name, and you 100% don't need to be a pro to unlock the benefits of this grip line - even though it's currently being used by the number one player in the world.

The line consists of three grip profiles with two additional textures to choose from; full rubber and traditional cord that's even firmer that the standard black rubber.

This is exactly why going through the process of picking the right putter grip is just as important as picking the right grip for your driver or irons. There is now "best grip", just the best grip that helps you achieve greater consistency, which is exactly why Golf Pride offers such a huge selection so you can find the one that fits your game and helps you sink more putts.

That’s really the point: there isn’t one “best” putter grip. There’s only the one that helps you start the ball on line.

Sometimes the easiest way to improve your putting isn’t changing your stroke, it’s changing what your hands are holding.