Keith Mitchell Discusses Switch to Left Hand Low Putting Style

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Smylie Kaufman Show

Kaufman's Journey with Left Hand Low Putting

Smylie Kaufman discussed his experiences and evolution with the left hand low putting technique on his show. He initially adopted this style as a young player, inspired by the traditional grip used by Tiger Woods. Despite experimenting with left hand low during his college years, Kaufman predominantly used a traditional grip throughout his professional tour.

The switch back to left hand low occurred notably earlier this year, prompted by challenges faced while playing on the notoriously difficult greens at Pebble Beach. The conditions there—highly sloped, soft greens compounded by windy weather— led him to seek more stability in his putting. He found that using a heavier putter, specifically an Odyssey two-ball, significantly improved his control and stability under these conditions.

Kaufman expressed that since making the switch, not only has the left hand low method felt better, but it has also become his new norm, stating that using a traditional grip now feels unusually strange in comparison.