One of the more common questions we get from golfers researching the RS1 is a practical one that the marketing materials don't address clearly: does the Dual Pistol grip actually work with my putting style?
It's a fair concern. The RS1 ships with a proprietary grip unlike anything on a standard putter, and if you've recently switched to a cross-handed or claw style — or if you've been using a non-conventional grip for years — you want to know whether this club accommodates your hands before you spend $399 or more.
The short answer is yes, it works with all major grip styles. The longer answer — which is what this guide covers — is that it works differently for each style, and understanding why helps you set up correctly from day one rather than fighting the grip until something clicks accidentally.
We'll cover every major grip style in detail: what the Dual Pistol grip's geometry offers each one specifically, how to position your hands correctly, and what to watch for in the first few sessions. For the full RS1 technology and configuration breakdown, see our complete RS1 buying guide.
Understanding the Dual Pistol Grip First
Before covering individual grip styles, it helps to understand what makes the Dual Pistol grip geometrically different from a standard putter grip — because those differences are what make it compatible with multiple styles rather than optimized for just one.
A standard round or pistol putter grip has a relatively uniform circular or slightly tapered cross-section. It's designed primarily for the conventional overlapping or ten-finger grip and doesn't offer much structural reference for hands placed in unconventional positions.
The Dual Pistol grip has three distinct geometric features that matter for grip compatibility:
A flat top section. Running the full length of the grip, the flat top provides a consistent square reference plane for thumb placement regardless of which hand is dominant in the grip. This is what makes the grip work well for cross-handed and claw styles — both rely on a stable, predictable reference surface for the non-dominant hand.
Dual-sided curved contours. Both sides of the grip have gentle ergonomic curves designed to follow the natural creases of the fingers and palm. These curves reduce the grip pressure required to hold the club securely, which directly supports the RS1's face-squaring technology by reducing wrist tension throughout the stroke.
Full-length profile. The grip is long enough that golfers using cross-handed or arm-lock adjacent styles don't run out of grip material at the lower hand position. This sounds minor but is a genuine practical limitation of shorter grips for non-conventional styles.
With that context, here is how each major grip style interacts with the Dual Pistol geometry.
Conventional Grip
What It Is
The conventional putting grip places the trail hand below the lead hand on the grip, with both thumbs running down the flat top section. Most golfers learn putting with some version of this grip — whether a traditional overlap, a ten-finger grip, or a slight variation on hand position.
How the Dual Pistol Accommodates It
The flat top section is designed primarily with the conventional grip in mind. Both thumbs sit naturally on the flat surface, giving each hand a consistent square reference point that prevents the grip from rotating in the fingers during the stroke.
The dual-sided curves fit the natural profile of both palms simultaneously when hands are stacked in conventional position, which reduces the tendency to squeeze the grip for security. This lower grip pressure is one of the key mechanisms that complements the RS1's face-squaring technology — tight hands introduce wrist rotation, which introduces face rotation, which is exactly the problem the club is engineered to eliminate.
Setup Tips for Conventional Grip
Place both thumbs directly on the flat top section — not on the side of the grip. This single reference point keeps the face square at address and gives you a consistent starting position to return to on every putt.
Keep your grip pressure light enough that you could slide the club out of your hands with mild effort. The dual-sided curves are designed to maintain club security at lower pressure than a round grip requires — trust the geometry and resist the urge to squeeze, especially under pressure.
Check that your lead wrist is flat — not cupped or bowed — at address. The Dual Pistol's profile naturally encourages a flat lead wrist position, which is correct for a straight-back-straight-through stroke path on the RS1's 74-degree upright lie angle.
Cross-Handed Grip (Left Hand Low for Right-Handed Golfers)
What It Is
The cross-handed grip — also called left hand low for right-handed golfers — reverses the conventional hand position, placing the lead hand below the trail hand on the grip. It's become increasingly popular at all handicap levels because it naturally reduces the tendency of the trail wrist to break down through impact, which is one of the most common causes of pushed and pulled putts.
Many teaching professionals recommend the cross-handed grip specifically for golfers who struggle with wrist breakdown or who have a yip-related issue with the trail hand taking over through the hitting zone.
How the Dual Pistol Accommodates It
The cross-handed grip is where the Dual Pistol's full-length profile becomes particularly valuable. In cross-handed position, the lead hand sits lower on the grip than it would conventionally. On a shorter grip, this can push the lead hand uncomfortably close to — or even off — the bottom of the grip. The Dual Pistol's full-length construction gives the lead hand a comfortable, secure position with grip material to spare.
The flat top section remains equally useful in cross-handed position — the trail thumb (now higher on the grip) still sits on the flat reference surface, maintaining face angle reference at address.
The dual-sided curves accommodate the reversed hand stack naturally. Because the curves are symmetrical on both sides, the ergonomic benefit — reduced grip pressure through natural palm fit — applies regardless of which hand is on top.
Setup Tips for Cross-Handed Grip
Position your trail hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) at the top of the grip with the thumb on the flat section, exactly as you would in a conventional setup. This hand is your reference anchor — it establishes the face angle at address.
Place your lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers) below the trail hand at whatever position feels natural and comfortable. The lead hand's primary role in a cross-handed stroke is to provide a stable platform and prevent the trail wrist from dominating — the Dual Pistol's curves give the lead hand a secure, tension-free position to fulfill that role.
One common adjustment for golfers transitioning to cross-handed with the RS1: the upright 74-degree lie angle combines with the cross-handed position to place your elbows and forearms in a slightly different relationship than a more conventional lie angle putter. Spend the first session focusing on keeping both forearms relatively level and parallel to the ground at address — this position works naturally with the RS1's geometry and produces the most consistent stroke path.
Claw Grip
What It Is
The claw grip — sometimes called the “pencil grip” — is a non-conventional trailing hand position in which the trail hand grips the club with the fingers pointing downward and the palm facing away from the body, rather than wrapping conventionally around the grip. The lead hand remains in a conventional position at the top.
The claw is used primarily to quiet the trail hand entirely — in claw position, the trail hand has very limited ability to rotate the face or apply directional pressure through the stroke. It's particularly popular among golfers who have struggled with yips or with trail-hand dominance, and it has gained significant visibility as a technique used by several touring professionals.
How the Dual Pistol Accommodates It
The flat top section of the Dual Pistol is the key feature for claw grip users. In claw position, the trailing fingers typically rest on or around the top of the grip rather than wrapping the sides. The flat top gives those fingers a stable, consistent resting surface that the rounded profile of a standard grip does not provide.
Because the claw position intentionally minimizes trail hand pressure and influence, the dual-sided curves primarily serve the lead hand in this configuration — which works well, since the lead hand is doing the controlling work and benefits most from the ergonomic pressure reduction.
The full-length profile is less critical for claw grip than it is for cross-handed, since claw position typically keeps both hands within the upper half of the grip. However, golfers with larger hands sometimes extend the claw position lower on the grip than average, in which case the full-length construction remains a practical benefit.
Setup Tips for Claw Grip
Place your lead hand conventionally at the top of the grip with the thumb on the flat section — this is your primary control and reference hand and should be set up exactly as it would be in a conventional grip.
Bring your trail hand to the grip in claw position with the trailing fingers resting lightly on the flat top section. Experiment with how many fingers contact the grip — some claw users prefer two fingers, some three, some use just the index finger and middle finger in a modified claw. The Dual Pistol's flat top accommodates all of these variations without any specific modification.
Keep the trail hand's contact genuinely light — close to no pressure at all. The claw exists to remove trail hand influence from the stroke, and any tension in those fingers reintroduces exactly the influence you're trying to eliminate. The RS1's face-squaring technology handles the face angle work; the claw handle configuration handles the trail hand quieting — let both mechanisms do their jobs independently.
Arm Lock Grip
What It Is
The arm lock grip positions the grip end of the putter against the lead forearm, effectively extending the putter shaft up the arm and locking the wrist out of the stroke entirely. It's become legal and popular following a rules clarification and is used by several PGA Tour professionals as a yip-elimination technique.
A Note on RS1 Compatibility
The RS1's standard 35-inch length and 74-degree upright lie angle create a specific geometry at address. Arm lock technique typically requires a longer shaft — often 38 to 42 inches — and a more upright lie angle than even the RS1's already-upright 74 degrees to create the correct forearm-to-shaft alignment.
In standard 35-inch configuration, a true arm lock setup with the RS1 is geometrically difficult to achieve correctly. If arm lock is your preferred technique, we'd recommend contacting Performance Golf's customer service to discuss custom length options before purchasing, or trialing the RS1 in standard configuration first — many golfers who started with arm lock find the RS1's Forward Axis Weighting provides enough stroke stability that they no longer feel arm lock is necessary.
Switching Grip Styles: What to Expect
A question that comes up frequently from golfers who are actively experimenting with grip styles is: can I use the RS1 while I'm still figuring out which grip works best for me?
Yes — and the Dual Pistol's multi-style compatibility makes it arguably better suited to this experimentation than a standard grip that's optimized for conventional use only.
The adjustment period for switching grip styles is separate from the RS1's general distance recalibration period we cover in detail in our RS1 Putter Adjustment Guide. If you're changing both your putter and your grip style simultaneously, budget additional time — roughly two to three extra sessions — before judging results. Changing both variables at once makes it harder to isolate what's working and what needs more time. When possible, establish your grip style first on your previous putter, then transition to the RS1 once the grip feels natural.
Grip Size and Hand Size Considerations
The standard Dual Pistol grip ships in a size that fits the majority of adult hand sizes comfortably. Golfers with very large or very small hands occasionally find the standard size creates fit issues — either too little grip material for large hands to sit comfortably, or excessive material that makes it difficult for smaller hands to maintain the flat-top thumb reference.
Performance Golf does not currently offer the Dual Pistol in multiple size variants as standard. If grip size is a concern — particularly for golfers with notably large or small hands — we recommend requesting a fitting consultation before purchase, or taking advantage of the RS1's 365-day return policy to evaluate fit during real on-course use before committing permanently.
Grip thickness affects feel and stroke mechanics in ways that are often underestimated. A grip that's too thin encourages excessive finger tension and wrist breakdown. A grip that's too thick reduces feel and can restrict natural hand movement through the stroke. The Dual Pistol's ergonomic design partially compensates for moderate fit variations, but it doesn't eliminate the need for a reasonable size match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace the Dual Pistol grip with a different grip? Technically yes — the RS1 uses a standard 0.370 tip shaft on the Standard and a 15mm graphite shaft on the Plus, both of which can accept aftermarket grips. However, replacing the grip removes one of the RS1's design elements specifically engineered to complement the Forward Axis Weighting technology. We'd recommend trialing the Dual Pistol thoroughly before considering a replacement.
Does grip style affect the RS1's face-squaring technology? No — the Forward Axis Weighting mechanism is a function of head geometry and physics that operates independently of how you hold the club. The face-squaring benefit applies equally regardless of whether you use a conventional, cross-handed, or claw grip.
I use a modified claw where my index finger extends down the shaft. Does the Dual Pistol accommodate this? Yes. The flat top section and full-length construction accommodate extended finger positions without interference. The key is that the extending finger rests on or parallel to the flat section rather than wrapping around the rounded side.
Is the cross-handed grip recommended for the RS1 specifically? There's no specific grip recommendation from Performance Golf for the RS1 — the club is designed to work with your preferred style. That said, the cross-handed grip's natural tendency to quiet the trail wrist complements the RS1's face-squaring mechanism particularly well, since both are working toward the same outcome — reduced face rotation through impact.
Does the Dual Pistol grip come in a left-handed configuration? The Dual Pistol grip's ergonomic profile is symmetrical on both sides, so left-handed golfers use the same grip without modification. The RS1 is available in a left-handed configuration with the same grip and all standard specifications.
Last updated June 2026.
Related Reading:
- Performance Golf RS1 Putter: Complete Review and Buying Guide
- RS1 vs RS1 Plus: Is the Graphite Shaft Worth the Upgrade?
- RS1 Putter Adjustment Guide: Dialing In Distance Control in 3 Sessions
- How Forward Axis Weighting Works: The Physics Behind the RS1
- Buying the RS1 Putter Without Subscription Headaches
- RS1 Founder's Edition: Complete Review and Availability Guide — coming soon