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Rory McIlroy, struggling with his putting, turns to cross-handed grip at Doral

Published

9 years ago

on

Rory McIlroy has joined World No. 1 Jordan Spieth as a cross-handed putter, for this week at least.

McIlroy lost 1.181 strokes to the field average in his cut-missing effort at the Honda Classic, but it seems that poor performance wasn’t the sole impetus for the change.

Put some good work in the last few days, ready for the blue monster this week!

A video posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on

“Over the past few weeks my right hand was becoming a little bit too dominant, so I practiced over the weekend, just with left below right and it felt really, really good,” McIlroy told reporters at Doral. “I’m going to give it a try this week and see where we go with it. It felt really, really good, the roll of the ball is really good, the contact is much better and it really just takes my right hand out of it and that’s really what I wanted to do.”

As you might imagine, McIlroy hasn’t putted well at all on the PGA Tour this season. While he’s only made four starts, the Ulsterman is 189th in Strokes Gained: Putting, losing 0.543 strokes to the field. Worse, he’s 197th in putting inside 10 feet.

McIlroy lost 0.070 strokes to his average competitor last year. In 2014, he finished 41st in SG:P. The best McIlroy has ever placed in SG:P on Tour? 41st.

However, McIlroy isn’t trying a totally unfamiliar technique.

“I used it [the cross-handed grip] back in my first year on Tour, 2008, for a while but it’s a drill that I’ve always done. And I have also putted a lot with just my left hand. It’s one of those things where the drill started to feel better than the real thing so I’m just going to stick with it.”

And if you’re wondering what he’s putting with, here are in-hand photos of McIlroy’s gamer: a Nike Method Origin B201 (prototype).

Related: Rory McIlroy 2016 WITB

There will be plenty of eyes evaluating McIlroy’s modified grip: He’s playing with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day for the first two rounds of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Tom

    Mar 5, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    I have been using left hand low for five seasons. It helps keep my right hand quite.

    Reply Report comment

  2. Carp

    Mar 4, 2016 at 9:50 am

    Those new Nike balls will make you look like a crap golfer

    Reply Report comment

  3. Jimmy

    Mar 3, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    Not surprising, only brad faxon and ben crenshaw had everything stay the same their entire career. I know Fowler used too and maybe still does alternate left hand low or conventional depending on the length of putt. I know for sure he used to do that.

    Reply Report comment

  4. snowman

    Mar 3, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    the CLAW is the Answer!

    Reply Report comment

  5. Joey5Picks

    Mar 3, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    It’s not “crosshanded”, it’s left-hand-low. The hands aren’t crossed.

    Reply Report comment

    • Butch

      Mar 3, 2016 at 11:17 pm

      How long is it going to take for supposedly professional people in golf to stop saying “cross handed?” Golf Channel announcers are famous for making that mistake!

      Reply Report comment

  6. insider

    Mar 3, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    needs to go back the the scotty cameron fastback

    Reply Report comment

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