Have you ever seen a putter grip company take the world by storm the way Super Stroke has? Sure, they have expanded to club grips now as well, but their bread and butter are hands down the putter grip, which remains popular both on tour and at the local muni. They have a plethora of options, but their latest might be their biggest head-turner in years. Ever since the governing bodies put an anchoring ban in place, those affected golfers have been working to find ways to stabilize their stroke. Well, the fine folks at Super Stroke have come out with a new grip called the WristLock, which will help those looking for a way to stabilize their stroke.
When using the WristLock grip, there are straightforward comparisons to the Arm Lock style of putting that we see guys like Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau, and Webb Simpson employ on the PGA Tour. Webb Simpson is an interesting case study as he was an above-average, steady putter on tour while players were able to anchor. His stats plummeted after the implementation of the anchoring ban. After switching to an Arm Lock putting method, he has climbed the rankings to become one of the top putters on tour. So maybe, just maybe, there is something to this style of putting.
Super Stoke’s WristLock grip isn’t as drastic as the Arm Lock putters. In terms of shaping, this grip doesn’t look that far out of the ordinary at first glimpse; the top portion makes it look like it’s an enlarged pistol grip. However, it’s how the grip is installed that changes its appearance with that butt end facing your lead arm. It also runs a little over 3″ longer than say a Pistol GT grip. Golfers will find its appearance as a very recognizable member of the Super Stroke family. Fans will be happy to know that it carries over that familiar feel as well.
One of the main questions about installing this grip was whether or not it needed to be installed on a longer putter than usual. My current putter of choice measures in at 33.5″ inches. However, when sizing it up, it just didn’t look like it would get the job done. Therefore, this was installed on a 34″ putter. When comparing this setup to other 34″ putters I have laying around, the butt end of the grip does seem to add between a 1/4″ to 1/2″. It’s hard to say if there is going to be a one size fits all install method with this grip. If you are a golfer that hunches over more, you might not have to worry too much about lengthening your putter shaft, whereas if you are more upright, a longer shaft might be needed.
For testing purposes, Wrist Lock was paired with a Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5 putter. This pairing was no accident as it is a putter that I tend to roll with a bit more a forward press than I do with some other putters in the stable. It also played a touch longer than my current putter, which I mentioned above. Because of this design, there are some limitations to this type of grip and putting style. For instance, there are putters out there that won’t pair up with a forward press unless you want to have your favorite putter head modified by perhaps adding some offset and loft. You probably would not have to go as drastic as the Arm Lock putters we see on the market, but remember that the stronger the forward press, the more the loft decreases.
Hands down, the essential question was, how did it work? The answer for that can go in a few different directions, but overall, I was impressed with the results. What this grip did was take my hands out of the putting stroke, or at least it felt like it did. With the grip locked against my wrist and my hands positioned slightly lower, the putter felt like an extension of my left arm. It made it nearly impossible to finish the stroke with the putter shaft leaning backward. You know that result that happens when you make a wristy stroke? My putting stroke felt a bit more rigid, almost mechanical, but yet it was very repeatable. WristLock could very well be a good option for someone who needs to limit the amount of hand action during their putting stroke.
It took some experimentation during testing to find a comfortable setup with the WristLock, but the results were hard to ignore. While I may have sacrificed some feel, I found some consistency on the greens that had evaded me during the earlier parts of the season.
Super Stroke’s latest offering is probably going to be a polarizing product, both from those who don’t want to try it and those who have. Put me in the camp of I can’t tell if I love it or not. There is little doubt that it has produced some positive results, but my mind starts filling up with thoughts about playing a putter that is losing so much loft. I want to say that believing is seeing, and in that case, it’s a different option that could be worthy of a look. Before you do that though, I would take a good look at what putter is in the bag and if you think it would work with a grip like this.
More information can be found at www.superstrokeusa.com.
The Details
Available: Now
Price: $29.99
Colors: Green/White, Orange/White, Black/White
Weight: 75g, can add CounterCore weights
Here are the two choices.
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This is my new Bettinardi Studio Stock 38 that I have played two rounds with and a couple practice sessions. I have putted great with it so far and this is the putter I would like to use going forward. I am not sure if I should keep the stock grip on it in case the WristLock experiment does not end well or jump in head first. This is 34" and it does not have a lot of grip sticking out the top of my hands so option 2 below may be better for the WristLock grip. I have used some version of the Odyssey 7 exclusively since 2017 and while I do love them I am simply tired of looking at the same shape and am ready for a change. More on the Odyssey later.
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Not sure why I dislike the Lamkin Deep Etch so much but I am replacing it with something even if its not the Wristlock. I hate cords on my swing grips so that is part of it and I prefer a mid size putter grip but not too big. According to Lamkin this grip weighs 85 grams so it is pretty close to the 75 gram WristLock.
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Comes in at D-9 swingweight.
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Total weight of 544 grams.
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I would consider this to be minimal toe hang but I am unsure how to accurately gauge that.
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This is my Trusty O-Works Tank 7 that I bought on a whim at Golf Galaxy back in 2018 and it has been in my bag off and on since then. I used a non Tank O-Works 7 for a long stretch but came back to this one eventually. This is the putter that I would feel most comfortable having the loft/lie adjusted to make the WristLock work best if necessary. It is one inch longer at "35 than the Betti so it may work better in that regard.
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This is the stock Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 that came on the Tank 7. I believe the shaft has a heavy weight pressed into it to counteract the heavy weight head of the Tank but have never pulled it out to check. I could not find an exact weight listed but I believe it to be around 65 grams so fairly close to the 75 gram Wristlock. If someone thinks the counterbalanced nature of the heavy Tank putter is not a good fit for the WristlLock I would like to know why?
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Swingweight is a hefty E-9
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Total Weight 633 grams.
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Toe hang seems similar to the Betti.
So which putter would you choose to use with the WristLock? I think the extra length of the Tank 7 and it being older and me more willing to have it adjusted tilts it in its favor. If the Wristlock becomes my full time grip I can always buy one for the Betti later.
I also thought that I didn’t want to go messing with my gamer in case I really don’t like the WristLock. So a different putter seemed like the right move.
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I have been using an Odyssey Arm Lock Putter for the past few weeks (think 5 or 6 rounds now), and have been really enjoying it. This feels almost identical to using the arm lock putter. It does a fabulous job of keeping your wrists/hands out of the stroke. I really think this is a brilliant design from Superstroke. If you have not used an Armlock putter before, it will likely take a bit of getting used to as this grip makes you use a bit of forward press like that does.
I can say one thing I am not a big fan of already is how the stitching goes down the middle of the grip (facing the ball) where your fingers go and so you feel it. But that’s a minor gripe.
My comfort zone with it is likely going to be with the butt end going further up my left arm than my wrist. To set the putter how I want it, and how it feels best, its probably more in my mid-forearm.
I also like the versatility it offers compared to an arm lock. For example, with the arm lock I have noticed very much improved lag putting, but a slight decrease in my short putting. With this, I could choose to just not lock it in and go standard on short putts if I choose.
I found myself chuckling a bit a few minutes ago because its such a simple, but such a smart idea they came up with here.
I am the exact same as this. Identical and I kind of like it.
It just feels more natural to me, and more locked in. Not sure if that’s because its more similar to how I’ve been using the arm lock or not, but its definitely the way I’ll be using it.
I think this grip would be a great and way cheaper way for someone who is interested in trying an arm lock to try it out without having to buy a new putter. It feels so similar.
Do you think that someone would need to have their putter adjusted to accommodate this grip? Thinking mostly loft angle in my head.
Its tough to say. I didn’t have mine adjusted at all for this one and it seems to be rolling it quite well, but haven’t been on the course with it yet. Also, I probably should use a 33 inch putter, but I tend to grip down quite a bit, so maybe that is helping too.
I grip down a bit as well, so thinking this could work well just as a straight replacement on one of my gamer length putters.
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Looking forward to hearing from the rest of the guys once they get theirs installed. Will be especially interesting to hear from guys who haven’t used an arm lock before so this will be a totally new experience.
Going to get some baseline numbers using the Blast sensor of my stroke and then put on my Toulon Las Vegas to begin testing.
Using my Ping Sigma 2 with standard grip, my Las Vegas with the Wrist Lock grip, and my Bettinardi Arm Lock to see the comparisons.
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My tendency is almost always to pull it, which was consistent today. I’m hoping that the wrist lock will keep me more consistent in direction and I can convert more of these makeable opportunities. I should have definitely shot 80 or even a little better even with the bad tee balls.
This will be all new for me. I hope it works great for me and we can all learn something along the way. I am anxiously awaiting for mine to arrive.
It’s a great intro to this style of putting. Its like arm-lock lite in almost every way.
That’s exactly how I’m using it. Basically like a mini armlock (obviously doesn’t go up quite as high). Seems to provide the best support that way for me.
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On the grip placement itself, my initial thought is to place the indentation above my watch. I wear a watch playing golf and having the grip sitting on the watch didn’t feel comfortable.
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Also, I kinda feel I should or need to adjust the lie a bit. I felt the putter needed to be delofted and was a bit more upright.
That said, the numbers looked really good. Going to take out to the practice green before out on the course Saturday.
Results to start – I had a decidedly "meh" round overall, but generally speaking I was happy with this for a first time out. I hit 8 greens and took 36 putts. On paper not great. However, what those numbers don’t tell you is I really didn’t have a lot of close looks, if any – the full swing GW was giving me fits yesterday and I kept either missing the green or having way too long of a putt from a position where I should have been 20′ or less. With that in mind, the result was actually pretty decent from a putting standpoint.
Positives so far:
1) I really was surprised at how little I had trouble with speed on a first outing. In the past when I go to a fat grip like this, speed feel can be a problem. Generally speaking it was definitely no worse and likely a little better than my gamer. This is likely due to taking pains to use a putter that is weighted very similarly to my gamer.
2) I am definitely seeing the benefits on line maintenance of taking the wrists out of the stroke, both from the larger diameter of the grip (I play a standard size grip on my gamer) and from the extended WristLock section. I certainly didn’t make everything by any means, but I didn’t miss anything inside of 5′ other than due to a bad read. I hit everything on the line I intended which is big for me.
3) Feels like a quality grip in every way and seems like it will hold up for a while. Soft without being cloying, and just grippy enough without being sticky.
Questions so far:
1) I’m not really sure if I’m doing the "WristLock" thing correctly. I’m gripping the club down a bit so that the WristLock feature is lined up with the inside of my left wrist, but it’s not nested in there. I feel like I’d have to deloft the thing a ton to really sit it in there. Maybe it’ll take some experimenting, but so far I’m just using it as a reminder feature – in other words, if my wrists get a little active, I’ll feel the grip start pushing into my wrist.
2) The size of the grip at the butt end concerns me a little bit with bag wear, but unclear if it’s any more than a regular SuperStroke non tapered fat grip.
Let me know if you guys have any questions so far. Overall I’m happy with it for a first outing and intrigued overall to see whether I can see more significant improvement with more reps.
I cannot get the Knob to rest against my wrist without having way too much shaft lean either. If I move the ball to the front of my stance it gets the loft better but I am so far out of my comfort zone with my arms that I would not be able to putt like that. I will try putting with it not touching my wrist but I do not see the WristLock tech coming in to play like that.
These are my thoughts exactly. I will say though that the WristLock comes into play for me indirectly putting the way I am, in that if I get wristy on the takeaway, the extra length combined with the knob put some pressure on my inner left wrist.
This being said, I plan to spend some time putting around the house in the next couple days experimenting with shaft leans and address positions to see if I can arrive at a comfortable way to fully lock it in.
The performance was really good. Had no 3 putts on the day despite a few pretty long lag putts needed, 1 of which I grazed the edge from around 40 feet. Distance control was extremely good. I did miss 2 in the 5 or 6 foot range, one where I lipped out, and another where I just misread the putt. Felt like I was hitting my lines exactly how I wanted to.
Its kind of a puzzling grip to me in that like the guys above posted, I have no idea how it would work to "lock" into my wrist or just above it. The putter wouldn’t sit right at all for me that way. But I’m currently really enjoying the way I’m using it. With a 35 inch putter I think it would be perfect.
So, worked played with the Wrist Lock on my putt out mat for 6ft and 10ft last night.
I am most concerned with two areas to see if the Wrist Lock putter will be good for my game and help me sink more putts.
I was looking at the loft change and my face angle at impact.
When putting normally I see my ball can sometimes jump a bit more than I want. Many times to help alleviate this I would deloft my putter a bit with a forward press. That way if I came up too much the loft should be closer to the desired 3 degrees. Of course, this is one reason my distance is probably not as consistent as I would like.
With the Wrist Lock putter, I find that to make this work properly one must do a similar action and forward press the club into their arm. Thus, delofting the club. The putter grip did feel more connected to my arm and I would say forced my wrists to be out of the putter stroke. I noticed on the data that my loft change was much lower and I would say more consistent with each putt.
Using the Blast Sensor to measure Loft Change
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While hitting the golf ball at the correct loft will probably help you become more consistent with your distance, I think the most important thing for all of us that are trying to improve our putting is making sure we are hitting the ball on line and straight where we are aiming. As we all know, they say that if your clubface is open or closed by 1 degree you are most likely to miss a 10ft putt.
The question becomes can the Wrist Lock grip and motion help improve your face angle at impact?
I tend to close my club face on putts. After seeing the numbers while doing a fitting at Club Champion the SAM putter machine showed how my putter line was sorta an out to in swing path and that I close my club face at impact.
Looking at my data for 6ft with the Wrist Lock versus just my normal grip I would not say there was a noticeable gain in face angle. In fact, out of the 10 putts I did last night at 6ft I probably was a smidge better with the normal grip. Too early to tell after only 10 putts on the mat, but I was hoping to see better numbers.
Using the Blast Sensor to measure Face Angle at impact:
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In the next post, I will post the 10ft numbers from the Blast Sensor and some additional thoughts before taking the grip out to the practice green either Wednesday or Thursday Night.
In just a continuation of the previous post, I wanted to say a little about my 10ft practice session.
I found very similar numbers for my loft change by seeing the loft change much lower using the Wrist Lock Grip versus a normal grip
10 Foot Loft Change using Blast Sensor:
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On the Face Angle for 10 foot I did notice that my club face was closer to open versus closed. That could simply be me forcing the issue or the grip. More testing will be needed to make a determination, but I thought it interesting.
Again, I didn’t notice a noticeable gain in keeping my club face straight on the path of the target line at impact.
10 Foot Face Angle at Impact using the Blast Sensor:
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It’s not a full Arm Lock, but for anyone that is looking to get a more stabilized putting stroke without going for the Arm Lock, this can get you much closer.
The grip is VERY comfortable and easy to get adjusted to. It will force you to push your club face forward or deloft, but absolutely does what is intended and that is keep your wrists out of the putting stroke.
I do see what could be a bit of an issue. I think you really need to extend the shaft a bit and adjust the club to the correct lie angle and degrees. I don’t think this grip is a just put on the putter and go type of grip. I think you need a few adjustments made to your club. For me, I feel most comfortable with the grip a little higher on my arm then my wrist, so if forces me to bend over more and stand a bit closer to the ball. The lie angle is not flat, so either an adjustment of the club is needed or I have to move my stance more. Also, as I said you do deloft you club, thus the face probably isn’t connecting at impact with the perfect degree.
Since this is a Super Stroke, the grip has the ability to put in the counter weight system if that is something you prefer. I have this on my Las Vegas with the Stroke Lab 2.0 shaft so there is a 40g weight already in the shaft to help with the weighting.
Tomorrow, I will get out and play with a full comparison of how my Bettinardi Arm Lock compares to the normal Las Vegas with a Wrist Lock grip.
Chances are that the lie will need to be adjusted to optimize it. There are so many ways to put your hands on this grip and it seems that most of the recent testers are using it as a mid arm lock instead of by the wrist. You have to pick how you are going to hold it before you know where to set the loft/lie. Let us know how it goes.
I agree with @badolds that you need to decide where you feel most comfortable on the grip. Then you can adjust the lie.
I also think the degrees need an adjustment as well.
Played today going back and forth between my Arm Lock and the Wrist Lock.
The Arm Lock is fitted for me, so the lie and all is setup correctly. That said, the Wrist Lock can be a really good option for those that might not want to go full arm lock.
The wrist lock is much easier to get accustomed to and feels more natural or similar to a normal style putt. Super Stroke has a created a very nice setup with the wrist lock. The grip is more rectangular, so you can get a good feel for if the head is arcing too much. I continue to like how soft the grip feels. It’s feel like a premium grip that will last a long time.
Had 32 putts today which is my lowest putts number in a few months (although I was garbage tee to green and with the wedges). Also I didn’t have a single 3 putt which rarely happens for me!
Setup at 6 foot and 15 foot with straight putts.
Consistently, made 8 out of 10 with the 6 foot.
Was generally making 4 to 6 out of every 10 shots from 15 foot.
I want people to see the lie angle and forward press, so I took some video. I will get those up within a day or two. You will get an idea of how much the adjustment may be needed.
I really do not like giving a bad review but I am afraid that is all that I can do in this case. If I was not reviewing this product for THP I would have given up on it much sooner. In my opinion it does not work as intended as a means to lock the wrist during the putting stroke.
I’ve only experimented a little with the one I bought. I can make it work. I believe it will work for some people easier than others. Dependent upon his or her normal putter grip. For those that have a putter grip style that has grip more in line with their forearm. My normal grip has end of putter grip on an angle more under my forearm. Will take it to the course Friday so a buddy and I can experiment. I’m thinking his grip style will make it much easier to use than mine.
This is what I love seeing about others experience. I’m the exact opposite with my arm lock where I feel like my 4-8 foot range is so much better than it was with a standard grip but my lag putting took a hit. Good stuff man.
I’m with you @KEV. With the bigger grip and wrist reminder knob, my short putting just feels so much less wristy and I hit the intended line much more reliably. I have a little harder time with speed from longer distances, but I’ve only got limited time in with it so far and I’m starting to get better on that front.
I’m using a full blown arm lock but it took me quite a bit of time on the practice green to get speed down on lag putts. I’ve learned that tempo and taking the club back further than normal are the biggest keys. I still have a brain fart here and there which typically leaves a putt really short but my lag putting lately has been very good and I’m leaving myself closer second putts.
It’s truly like a mid arm lock and I have found that the one area of weakness with my arm lock is not a weakness in the Wrist Lock. Now, I putt better with the arm lock on any putt 15 feet and in. However, the weakness I have had so far on the arm lock is the long distance putting. I haven’t quite figured out lagging when my distance is more than 20 feet. I am a bit too fast or a bit too slow. On the Wrist Lock, being closer to a normal swing, I am better with lagging as of now.
The only issue I have with the Wrist Lock is needing to adjust my putter head.
Here are two angles of my putts from the other day and a couple close up pictures:
Look at the lie angle
I really would need to either lengthen the shaft or better yet bend the head so it laid flat on the ground.
Close up picture
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The second area of adjustment would be the forward press needed.
Here is the video showing facing my stance:
With the amount of forward press I am using to feel comfortable and like the grip is actually “locked” against my arm, I believe the face degree needs to be adjusted. Maybe to as much as 5° or 6°. Not sure. But needs adjusted to give the best roll off the face.
Here is a close up picture
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All in all this a great grip with a concept that can help a lot of golfers. Sure, it isn’t going to be for everyone. It needs an adjustment period and I don’t think works as a plug and play grip. I would do a little bending of the head and a possible small extension to get the most out of the grip. But, I am a big fan.
Really good stuff here man. I do think most people would at least need a longer putter than they normally play, and possibly a lie adjustment too, for this grip to work best.