Quick Summary
The SuperStroke WristLock Putter Grip is a great idea, but it’s let down by two fundamental issues that ultimately make it a gimmick of the highest proportions.
Weakness 1: Putter Length
There’s a reason that Arm Lock Putters range from 38 to 43 inches. You need the added length in the grip in order for it to ride up your wrist comfortably.
While you can technically use the arm lock putting style with a standard length putter, you will have to bend over excessively in order to make it work. I’m not suggesting that you will end up looking like Michelle Wie over the ball, but you might end up half way there.
So that is the first issue. The SuperStroke WristLock putter grip doesn’t add enough length to your putter to convert it into an arm lock putter. The end result is that you will have to bend over excessively when you putt. It can be done, but it will putt pressure on your back, and you are unlikely to achieve an optimal spine angle for a reliable putting stroke (Side note – Michelle Wie doesn’t win anymore because she can’t putt. It’s as simple as that).
Weakness 2: You will need to change the loft on your putter
When used correctly, the SuperStroke WristLock grip will naturally set your hands into a forward press position. There’s nothing wrong with a big forward press. It’s one of the easiest ways to generate topspin when you putt, which is arguably the most important element in putting.
However, if you change to the forward press putting style that the SuperStroke WristLock grip promotes, you will need to add loft to your putter. This is why Arm Lock Putters have between 3° and 5° more loft than standard putters.
This begs the question. How comfortable are you with changing the loft on your putter? Does your local PGA store even offer this service? More importantly, you can change to a forward press putting style without changing your existing putter grip (you will still need add loft to your putter though).
In other words, the SuperStroke Wristlock putter grip isn’t necessary if you choose to use a big forward press, and it isn’t long enough to employ the Arm Lock putting style comfortably.
Final Thoughts
The shape of the SuperStroke WristLock putter grip is innovative, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see something similar on an arm lock putter in the future.
However, this product ultimately falls into no man’s land. If you actually want to use it, you will need to customize your existing putter in order for it to work properly. This would mean adding length to the shaft of your putter, adding weight to the head of the putter, and adding loft to the face of the putter. All this, in a bid to ensure that your grip is actually compatible with your putter.
It’s borderline ridiculous that you have to customize your equipment in order for a putting grip to do what it was designed for. Ultimately, this is a waste of the material needed to produce the grip.
Sorry to say SuperStroke, but you have missed the ball here. If the WristLock putter grip were to be classified as a golf stroke, it would have to be a freshie.