Fat Vs Normal Putter Grip In Golf – What’s Better And For Who?

The first time that I set eyes on a fat putter grip was at the 2007 AT&T National. The studious K.J Choi sported a Fatso grip, which led him to victory and kicked off a frenzy among both professionals and amateurs.

However, Patrick Reed, statistically the best putter on the PGA Tour, uses the pistol or standard grip.

It got me thinking about which putter grip is better. That is why in this post, we are looking at fat putter grips vs normal grips. We will determine which grip is best for which player to help you minimize three-putts and capitalize on more scoring opportunities.

My Personal Experience With Putter Grips

I learned to play golf with a pistol or standard-sized grip and still use it today. The most important reason why I use this grip is that it feels the most natural to me.

I have tried fatter putting grips, but I found that the additional weight made the head feel light. This meant that I didn’t get the feel for my putting stroke that I enjoyed with a standard size grip, often resulting in me driving putts past the hole.

The pistol grip helps me to feel in control of the putter and to better understand the weight needed for each putt.

How Important Is Your Grips Size?

According to True Spec Golf’s Tim Briand.

The correct putter grip size can help to stabilize the club.

This limits the rate of closure at impact, which leads to pulled putts, and missed opportunities.

How Does Grip Size Effect Your Performance?

MyGolfSpy conducted tests using five different types of putter grips.

Players who used standard round grips pulled their putts the least, averaging 0.42 degrees to the left. Putts with Rev Taper grips went the furthest left on average, at 2.92 degrees.

According to their test, if you use a slim grip. You are likely to drain 43 out of every 50 putts. However, it does not say from how many feet.

The least accurate grip was the original Pingman. While the normal round grip putter was the second least accurate, with 64% of putts made.

Pros and Cons Of A Jumbo Putter Grip

Pros

  • The thicker grips help to stabilize your arms and reduce wrist action.
  • It makes it easy for arthritis suffers or those that struggle with a normal grip to enjoy more control.
  • Prevents you from gripping the putter tightly for more control at impact
  • The additional weight the grip adds to the putter promotes a straight back straightforward motion.

Cons

  • The heavier grips make the putter feel lighter. This provides a challenge when it comes to judging the strength of your stroke.
  • Unnatural feel for players who have used a pistol grip
  • Reduces the sensation of the face striking the ball at impact

Pros Of A Standard Size Putter

Pros

  • Delivers a straighter path than other putting grips
  • Enhance the closed face angle at impact
  • Provide you with a better feel for the ball at impact
  • Do not add additional weight to the putter.

Cons

  • It is difficult for some golfers to gain a sturdy grip
  • It can prompt excessive wrist action from some golfers, leading to off-center strikes

What Putter Grip Is Best For A High Handicapper?

Higher handicap golfers may want to stick to fat grips. The thicker design will train you to deliver a pendulum motion, to strike the ball square at impact, and send it on the desired line to the hole.

The additional weight provided by the fat putter grips helps higher handicap golfers to stroke their putts rather than hit them. This is where many average golfers go wrong.

What Is The Most Common On Tour?

According to SuperStroke, their Traxion Tour 3.0 putting grip was the most popular on tour in 2020.

The Traxion Tour grips are equipped with added traction control by fitting x-shaped threads in high touch point areas. This feature amplifies the comfort and feel of the grip.

Furthermore, SuperStroke’s famed grip design includes a molded ridge on the underside of the grip. It assists golfers to consistently grip the putter in the same place. Promoting a square strike on every occasion. This keeps your ball on the correct line.

Finally, The Traxion Tour 3.0 putter grips allow CounterCore weighting that can be added via the upper end of the grip.

The extra weight is helpful. If you feel that you are moving your hands and wrists more than desired on your backswing and follow-through.

How To Know What Grip is Right For You?

The most efficient way to determine which putter grip best suits you is to get fitted.

A professional will help you identify which grip best prompts you to stroke your putts on a squarer path. As well as the grip that you drain the most putts and delivers the most consistent results.

Once you have better insight into your performance with each grip, the next part is to decide which product feels the best and gives you the most control of your putter.

Putter Grip Size Vs Weight – How Important Is Putter Grip Weight?

The more weight that you add to your grip, the lighter the putter head will feel. This setup can cause some players to overcook their putts as they can’t judge the speed with a head they cannot feel.

On the contrary, adding weight to your grip helps to remove any wrist or hand action during your putting stroke.

These assist beginners and high handicap players in maintaining the v-shaped setup and using gravity to rock the putter head back and straight forward.

If your putter grip is too light, you may end up grasping it tightly. Which can cause you to pull your putts or hit or hit it firmer than needed.

Best 3 Fat Putter Grips – Mini Review

SuperStroke Fatso 5.0

The SuperStroke Fatso 5.0 is a descendant of the putter grip used by Choi in his 2007 AT&T National victory. They are a popular option for amateurs who feel that it helps them to start their ball off on the right path, thanks to the pendulum motion it promotes.

Key Features

  • 67 inches in diameter
  • Crafted from Tacky Polyurethane Outer Layer
  • No-slip grip enhances the traction of the product
  • Lightweight

Pros

  • Excellent feel
  • Promotes a consistent putting stroke
  • Increased traction for control in any weather conditions
  • Lightweight
  • Promotes pendulum motion

Cons

  • Uncomfortable to putt with compared to a normal grip
  • You don’t feel the impact of your putt like you would with a pistol grip.

Overall Score: 96/100

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Flat Cat Big Boy

Flat Cat grips are a popular option among amateur golfers looking for a fatter putting grip. The Big Boy is the thickest of their lineup and is designed to help you maintain a fluid motion when stroking your putts. Without bringing your hands and wrists into the mix.

Key Features

  • 68 inches in diameter
  • Flat 1 handle design squares the grip to the face of the putter for a more accurate path
  • Provides ample grip in humid and wet conditions
  • Easy-glide cone makes it easy to remove the thicker grip from your bag

Pros

  • Promotes a more accurate starting line for your putt
  • Provides excellent grip
  • Easy to remove from your bag
  • Designed to reduce movement of wrists and hands during your putting stroke

Cons

  • Takes time to adjust to the speed of the greens
  • According to MyGolfSpy, golfers with fat putter grips are third most likely to pull a putt.
  • Only sold in one color

Overall Score: 94/100

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P2 React Tour

P2 products are unique in that the shaft is positioned off-center in the grip.

Compared to most products where the shaft runs through the center of the grip.

This design enables the grip to control your hands and restrict wrist action for a straight back, straight forward stroke.

Key Features

  • The oversized grip is designed with rounded sides
  • Minimal taper is used
  • A wide flat area of the grip is added for both thumbs to rest
  • Off-center shaft design

Pros

  • Helps to eliminate tension in your wrist and hands
  • Designed to provide even grip pressure
  • Promotes a pendulum motion
  • Prompts a squarer face at impact for a more accurate path.
  • Multiple color options

Cons

  • Currently not available as a customizable grip option for many major golf manufacturers
  • Higher price than other putter grips, although the price is still affordable for all golfers.

Overall Score: 94/100

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Best 3 Standard Putter Grips – Mini Review

Golf Pride Pro Only Blue Star

Golf Pride has been in business for over 60 years and stakes claim to the title as the number one grip in the game.

They feature regularly throughout the bag and are the stock grip option for several major golf manufacturers.

The Pro Only Blue Star grip was designed to deliver a superior feel and feedback. Desired by the best players in the game.

Key Features

  • Provides better distance control than fat putter grips
  • Crafted using superior materials for better traction
  • A flat paddle in the front of the grip providing a surface to rest your thumbs comfortably
  • Angled back design to comfortably position your fingers

Pros

  • Increased distance control
  • Superior feel and feedback
  • Comfortable design to position your hands
  • Excellent value for money

Cons

  • Challenging for some players to grip it firmly
  • It can cause you to pull or push putts giving the added wrist movement that grip enables.

Overall Score: 96/100

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Ping Golf PP58 Classic Standard

The Ping PP58 is a classic grip that was made popular by Tiger Woods. It is thin and crafted to deliver the look and feel of the old pistol grip. It’s a simple grip that takes us back to an age before technology dominated every facet of your club.

A traditional grip such as this is best suited to the superior putting players among us who are looking for optimal feel and feedback.

Key Features

  • Provides superior feel
  • Cord construction of the grip creates a textured sensation for enhanced traction
  • Promotes a stable stroke

Pros

  • Excellent feel
  • Increased traction
  • Promotes a consistent and stable stroke
  • Perfect for better putting players

Cons

  • Can prompt wrist and hand movement leading to you an off-center strike at impact
  • Not suited to higher handicap players

Overall Score: 95/100

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Scotty Cameron Red Pistolini

Scotty Cameron has been manufacturing putters for the greatest players in golf for over 25 years. No list on standard putter grips is complete, without mention of the genius.

The Red Pistolero is another classic putter grip with a slightly arc for better a better grasp. It is similar in composition to the Ping PP58. The Pistolero grip provides phenomenal feedback at impact and gives golfers more control over their speed.

Key Features

  • Reduced pistol shape at the butt-end of the grip
  • Red color grip
  • Excellent feel

Pros

  • Gives you a better feel for the speed of your putt
  • Feels incredible
  • The red color grip looks good

Cons

  • Best suited to superior putters
  • Only one color option
  • Expensive

Overall Score: 93/100

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Conclusion – Fat Putter Grip vs Normal What Is The Best To Use

From our assessment of a fat putter grip vs normal grip, it is interesting to see that fat putter grips have risen in popularity for the stability that they offer. However, some of the best putters in golf use a normal grip for better feel and control.

After reviewing the two predominant putter grip options, it is safe to say that both are the best to use. It depends on what you feel more comfortable with and what helps you keep your putts on line. If you are consistently pulling or pushing your putts, it may be worth testing a SuperStroke Fatso 5.0.

Conversely, if you feel uncomfortable using a fatter grip and are not gaining the control you desire. Then testing a Golf Pride Pro Only Blue Star putter grip.