Quick answer: a paddle grip's flat front squares both thumbs down the shaft and suits straight-back-straight-through strokes. A round grip keeps maximum feel and suits players with a gentle arc and quiet hands. A pistol grip locks the top hand into the flared heel and suits players who want wrist structure without giving up feel. Unlike swing grips, putter grips are chosen by stroke — not hand size.
What is a pistol putter grip?
A pistol putter grip is a grip with a flared, bulged section near the top — the “heel” — that narrows into a tapered lower half. The bulge fills the pad below your top thumb, which is what gives the shape its name: held in the address position, the profile looks roughly like the grip of a pistol.
The point of that bulge is wrist position. Your top hand settles into the flare the same way every time, and the wrist sets at a consistent angle instead of finding a slightly different one on every putt. Below the flare the grip narrows, so your lower fingers still sit on a thin section and keep reading the roll. That combination — structure up top, feel below — is why pistol has been the traditional tour shape for decades.
Pistol grip benefits
- A repeatable top-hand position. The flare is a physical landmark. You do not have to think about where the hand goes.
- Less wrist breakdown. The set angle resists the small collapse that sends short putts offline under pressure.
- Feel is preserved. Unlike a thick oversize grip, the tapered lower section keeps your fingers close to the shaft.
- It suits an arc stroke. Pistol does not force the face square the way a wide flat front does, so a natural arc still works.
The trade-off: a pistol grip gives you less mechanical help squaring the face than a paddle, and less twitch-damping than a thick grip. If your miss is a wobbling face rather than a breaking wrist, paddle is the better answer.
Why putter grips are a different question
Your full swing needs the club to rotate; your putting stroke needs it not to. That is why putter grips are legally allowed a flat front edge and why they run thicker — the design goal is the opposite of your iron grips. It is also why fitting rules from our grip size chart stop at the putter: here, stroke type decides. The putter grip finder asks two questions — stroke path and thickness — and matches you to a shape.
The three types of putter grip
Paddle — the square-stroke default
A wide flat front face gives both thumbs an obvious home, pointing straight down the shaft. Hands sit symmetrically, the face wants to stay square, and the whole setup repeats itself. If you putt straight-back-straight-through, or you simply want the most idiot-proof reference every time you set up, start here: ROLL Paddle.
Round — the feel player's choice
A classic round barrel gets out of your hands' way. Nothing is forced anywhere, tempo stays soft, and green-speed feedback comes through undamped. It offers the least mechanical help — which is the point. For players with a natural arc and no hand-action problems: ROLL Round.
Pistol — structure at the top, feel below
The flared heel fills the pad of your top hand and sets the wrist at a consistent angle; the tapered lower section keeps your fingers reading the stroke. It is the traditional tour shape because it splits the difference: more lock than round, more feel than paddle. If your top wrist breaks down under pressure: ROLL Pistol.
What about oversized putter grips?
Thickness is the second axis. A fatter grip spreads your hands, quiets the small muscles, and takes wrist flick almost out of the stroke — genuinely useful if your misses come from twitchy hands or you fight a pull under pressure. The costs: less distance feel on long lag putts, and added grip weight makes the head feel lighter (some players lose their sense of the putter head entirely). Try thickness as a fix for a specific problem, not as a default upgrade.
Oversize is the category SuperStroke built its name on, and it is worth knowing that SuperStroke now owns Lamkin too — two of the three big grip brands are under one roof. We put the whole picture side by side in Lamkin vs Golf Pride vs SuperStroke.
Pick yours in three questions
- Does your putter face wobble open or closed through impact? Yes → paddle (or pistol if you want more feel).
- Do your wrists flick, especially on short putts that matter? Yes → pistol, or go thicker.
- Is your problem distance control, not direction? → round, standard thickness — protect your feel and practice tempo.
The three shapes
Paddle, Round and Pistol, all in non-slip all-weather PU and sold factory-direct. A putter grip is the cheapest change you can make to a stroke that is not repeating.
FAQ
What is a pistol grip on a putter?
A grip with a flared bulge near the top that narrows into a tapered lower half. The bulge fills the pad under your top thumb and sets the wrist at a repeatable angle; the narrow lower section preserves feel. Held at address, the profile resembles a pistol grip.
How do you hold a pistol putter grip?
Let the flare sit in the pad at the base of your top thumb rather than in the fingers, so the wrist is supported. Both thumbs run down the flat front. The lower hand sits on the narrow section — light pressure, because that hand is reading distance, not steering direction.
What are the different types of putter grips?
Three profiles — pistol, paddle and round — plus thickness as a separate axis from standard to oversize. Profile is chosen by stroke shape; thickness is chosen to solve a specific hand-action problem.
Does an oversized putter grip help the yips?
It helps the mechanical part — bigger diameter genuinely reduces small-muscle twitch. It does not treat the cause. Many players get real relief; expect quieter hands, not a cure.
Can I put a putter grip on with the same method as swing grips?
Yes — same tape-and-solvent process in our regripping guide, with one extra caution: square the flat edge carefully before the solvent sets. A slightly twisted flat front is worse than no flat front.
Do putter grips wear out slower?
Much slower — no glove abrasion, lower forces. But the non-slip surface still ages: if it feels glassy, a fresh grip is one of the cheapest putting upgrades there is.
Which shape do most pros use?
Pistol variants, historically — but oversized shapes have grown every year for a reason. Tour usage tells you what suits players who practice daily; pick for your stroke, not theirs.
All three profiles — Paddle, Round, Pistol — in non-slip all-weather PU, factory-direct in the ROLL series. Pay for the feel, not for the logo.