If you’ve ever watched Jordan Spieth standing over a ten-footer with a major championship on the line, you know the vibe. It's intense. He isn't just looking at the hole; he’s basically trying to bore a hole in the back of the cup with his eyes. But if you shift your gaze down to his hands, things get weird.
Most of us were taught the "proper" way to hold a golf club. Left hand on top, right hand below. Simple. Conventional. Yet, there’s Spieth, arguably the greatest putter of his generation, doing the exact opposite. He uses the jordan spieth putter grip—better known in the golf world as "left hand low" or cross-handed—and honestly, it’s the reason he has a trophy room full of hardware.
The Mechanics of the Jordan Spieth Putter Grip
So, what’s actually happening when he grabs the flatstick? Basically, Jordan flips the script. His left hand (his lead hand) sits below his right hand. If you’re a right-handed golfer, this feels like trying to write with your non-dominant hand at first. It’s awkward. It’s clunky. But for Spieth, it’s the secret sauce.
The magic isn't just in the hand swap; it's in the SuperStroke Flatso 1.0 he’s used for years. That grip has a distinct pentagonal shape—wide and flat on the front. This matters because it gives his thumbs a consistent place to live. He doesn't just rest them there; he locks them in. His right index finger actually overlaps the fingers of his left hand, creating a "double overlap" that binds his hands into a single unit.
Why do this? To kill the "flick."
Most amateur golfers suffer from what we call "active hands." When the pressure is on, your right hand wants to take over and flip the putter face shut. You pull the putt. You miss left. By putting the left hand low, Spieth essentially paralyzes his wrists. His lead arm and the putter shaft become one straight line from the shoulder to the ball.
Why the Flatso 1.0 Matters
Equipment junkies will tell you that the grip itself is just as important as the hand position. Spieth has been loyal to the SuperStroke Flatso series because of the "No Taper" technology. In a normal grip, the bottom is skinnier than the top. This encourages you to squeeze harder with your bottom hand.
Spieth’s grip is the same thickness all the way down. This allows for even pressure. He isn't strangling the club. He’s holding it like a bird—firm enough so it doesn't fly away, but soft enough not to crush it.
Leveling the Playing Field (Literally)
Here is something most people miss about the jordan spieth putter grip: it fixes your shoulders.
When you hold a putter normally (right hand low), your right shoulder naturally drops. This often causes your shoulders to point slightly left of the target. You're fighting your own alignment before you even take a stroke. By moving the left hand down, Spieth pulls his left shoulder down and his right shoulder up.
It squares everything. His eyes, his shoulders, and his hips all get parallel to the target line.
The "Look at the Hole" Trick
You've probably seen him do it. On those short, nervy three-footers, Spieth often looks at the hole instead of the ball while he strokes it. This is peak "feel" golf. Because his cross-handed grip is so stable and his shoulders are so square, he doesn't need to track the putter head. He trusts the "unit" he’s created with his hands to stay on path. He’s just focusing on the speed and the target.
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It’s Not All Sunshine and Birdies
Is this grip for everyone? Kinda, but maybe not.
While the cross-handed style is a literal cheat code for short-range accuracy, it can be a nightmare for distance control. Most golfers find that they lose "touch" on 50-foot lag putts because they can't use their wrists to help generate power.
Spieth handles this by using a slight forward press. Before he starts his backswing, he leans the shaft toward the target. This delofts the putter and helps the ball start rolling end-over-end immediately. It’s his way of compensating for the lack of wrist hinge.
Common Misconceptions
People think Spieth changed to this grip because he was struggling. Nope. He’s been doing this since he was a kid. It’s his "natural" way of putting.
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Another myth? That you need a giant, "fat" grip to do this. While Spieth uses a SuperStroke, you can technically putt cross-handed with a pencil-thin leather grip if you want. The thicker grip just makes it easier to keep the palms facing each other, which is the ultimate goal.
How to Try the Jordan Spieth Putter Grip Yourself
If you’re tired of missing those "knee-knocker" four-footers, you might want to give this a shot. It won't feel good at first. You’ll probably hate it for the first twenty minutes.
- The Setup: Place your right hand at the very top of the grip. Your thumb should point straight down the center.
- The Lead Hand: Place your left hand below the right.
- The Overlap: Take your right index finger and rest it on the outside of your left pinky or middle finger. This "melts" the hands together.
- The Feel: Focus on your lead shoulder (the left one). Imagine it’s the engine of the stroke. Your hands are just along for the ride.
Practical Next Steps
If you want to actually master the jordan spieth putter grip, don't just head to the course and try it during a round. You'll shoot 100. Instead, start on a carpet at home.
- Step 1: Buy a SuperStroke Flatso 1.0 or 2.0. The flat front is non-negotiable for getting your thumbs aligned like Jordan.
- Step 2: Practice five-footers only for a week. The goal is to see the ball go in the hole and build confidence in the new alignment.
- Step 3: Once the short ones feel automatic, move back to 20 feet. This is where you'll have to learn how to "rock" your shoulders more aggressively to get the ball to the hole without using your wrists.
- Step 4: Record your stroke from the side. Check if your lead arm and the putter shaft form a straight line. If there’s an angle at the wrist, you’re still "flipping" it.
Spieth’s success proves that "conventional" is often just another word for "average." If your putting is holding your handicap hostage, flipping your hands might be the only way to break free.