If you walked into a local PGA pro’s office tomorrow with the jordan spieth golf grip, they’d probably try to fix it before you even hit your first bucket. It’s weird. Honestly, it’s a bit of a "Frankengrip." While most elite ball strikers look like they’re holding a delicate bird, Jordan Spieth looks like he’s trying to solve a Rubik’s cube with his fingers.
Most people know about his putting. That famous left-hand low (cross-handed) style has basically become his trademark. But it’s the full swing grip that really confuses the purists. We’re talking about a guy who won three majors before his 24th birthday with a grip that experts call "unconventional" at best and "wrong" at worst.
So, what is he actually doing? And more importantly, should you try it?
The Full Swing: An Overlap With a Twist
In a standard golf grip, the palms face each other. They’re like two puzzle pieces that click together to create a neutral unit. Spieth doesn't do that.
His left hand is remarkably weak. In golf terms, "weak" doesn't mean he isn't squeezing hard; it means his left hand is rotated significantly toward the target. If you look at his glove, you’ll barely see any knuckles. Meanwhile, his right hand is slightly strong, rotated away from the target.
This creates a mismatch.
Instead of his palms facing each other, they’re almost fighting. But the real "secret" is his left index finger. Most golfers either interlock (Tiger Woods style) or overlap the right pinky over the left index finger (Vardon style). Spieth does a hybrid. He actually overlaps his left index finger over the fingers of his right hand during the full swing.
📖 Related: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Why this "unorthodox" style works
- Face Control: Because his left hand is so weak, it’s very hard for him to "flip" the club closed. This is why you rarely see him hit a snap hook.
- The Chicken Wing: You’ll notice his left elbow often bows out or "buckles" slightly at impact. Usually, that’s a flaw. For Jordan, it’s a way to keep the clubface square to the target for as long as possible.
- Natural Lefty: Remember, Jordan is naturally left-handed but plays golf right-handed. Having that lead hand (his dominant hand) in a weak position allows him to "pull" the club through the zone without the right hand taking over and causing a hook.
It’s a "hold-off" move. He’s essentially preventing the club from rotating, which gives him that incredible accuracy on his best days.
Jordan Spieth Golf Grip on the Green: The Cross-Handed King
While his full swing grip is a curiosity, his putting grip changed the game for an entire generation of amateurs. He uses a cross-handed (left hand low) setup.
The mechanics are simple but brilliant. By putting the left hand below the right, his shoulders automatically level out. If you’re a right-handed golfer using a traditional grip, your right shoulder is naturally lower than your left. This can lead to an upward, "arc-y" stroke that’s hard to time.
Spieth’s cross-handed method turns his arms and shoulders into a single, rigid triangle.
"It eliminates the 'yips' or the 'flicky' wrists," says many a club pro. And they’re right.
By locking the left wrist in that low position, he’s not using his hands to hit the ball. He’s using his big muscles—the shoulders and back—to rock the putter like a pendulum.
👉 See also: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
The Double Overlap Putter Secret
Look closer at his putting videos. He doesn't just swap hands. He uses a double overlap. His right index finger actually rests on top of the middle finger of his left hand. This "marries" the hands together so tightly they can't move independently.
It’s about stability. When you’re staring down a 15-footer for birdie at the Masters, you don't want your small muscles (fingers and wrists) twitching. You want the big engine to do the work.
The Physical Toll: Mangled Fingers and Calluses
If you think this grip is easy, just look at Jordan's hands. He has famously shown off "mangled" fingers on talk shows, covered in thick calluses and sometimes even bleeding after long range sessions.
Because his hands don't "fit" together in the traditional way, there is a lot of friction. He’s putting pressure on parts of his fingers that aren't designed to take it. He’s even mentioned that if he files his calluses down, they just turn into painful blisters immediately.
He also dealt with a significant ulnar nerve/wrist injury in late 2017 and 2018, which some analysts believe was exacerbated by his unique hand position and the way he "holds off" the release. When you fight the natural rotation of the club, something has to absorb that energy. Usually, it's the lead wrist.
Should You Copy the Jordan Spieth Golf Grip?
The short answer? Probably not for the full swing.
✨ Don't miss: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Unless you are naturally left-handed playing righty—and you have world-class hand-eye coordination—the "Spieth Slice Grip" is a recipe for a weak fade that goes nowhere. Most amateurs struggle with a slice because their grip is too weak. Copying Jordan might just make your miss worse.
However, the putting grip is a different story.
If you struggle with "handsy" putting or you feel like you're "stabbing" at the ball, switching to left hand low is one of the fastest ways to see improvement.
How to try it yourself:
- Swap your hands: Put your left hand at the bottom of the grip and your right hand at the top.
- Level the shoulders: Feel your left shoulder rise and your right shoulder move up until they feel parallel to the ground.
- The Thumb Test: Place both thumbs straight down the top of the grip.
- Rock the shoulders: Don't move your wrists. Just move your chest and shoulders.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Round
If you’re looking to find some of that Spieth magic without ending up with bleeding knuckles, start with the flatstick.
First, check your putter grip. Spieth uses a SuperStroke Flatso 1.0. The flat front of that grip is designed specifically for cross-handed players because it gives the palms a wide, stable surface to rest against.
Second, don't obsess over "perfect" knuckle alignment in your full swing. Jordan proves that functional is better than textbook. If you’re hitting a consistent shot and your clubface is square at impact, it doesn't matter if your fingers look a little "weird" on the handle.
The goal of any grip is to control the face. Spieth does it by "locking" his hands in an unorthodox way. You might do it with a standard interlock. But if you're struggling with a hook, thinning out that left hand (turning it more toward the target) like Jordan might just be the "fix" you've been looking for.
Check your grip pressure next time you're on the range. If you see your knuckles turning white, you're gripping too hard. Jordan’s grip looks tight because of the finger placement, but his "feel" is legendary. Lighten up the pressure, let the big muscles do the work, and stop trying to steer the ball with your fingers.