Walter Hagen was one of the great players of the 1920's... and of all time. His supreme confidence and his ability to perform in pressure situations helped him win four straight PGA Championships, then at match play, as well as the U.S. Open and the British Open. This article by Grantland Rice in April 1923, examined Hagen's putting style and thought process.
Hagen's putting grip and stance vary from modern styles. Nearly every great modern putter keeps both thumbs on the center of the shaft. Club makers acknowledge this technique in building a flat portion down the center of today's putter grips. The illustration of Hagen's putting grip shows little difference from his grip of other clubs in the bag, in that the right thumb is slightly diagonal across the putter grip, and left hand is slightly "strong" or clockwise from vertical on the putter.
Hagen's putting stance put two-thirds of his weight on his left leg, to prevent movement of the body during the stroke. Though today's top players still devise methods to prevent body movement while putting, they keep much less of their weight, if any, on the left side, tending to favor a more equal distribution.
Enjoy going back with Walter Hagen to read the ideas and techniques that helped make him one of golf's all-time greats!
