Dear Bud,
Twisting the grip out of square is actually a technique that I have experimented with to see whether it helps of hurst performance. In general, as also shown by experience with the PuttLab training / diagnostic system, people vary in the way their hips and shoulders relate to square and also in the way their arms swing in relation to their shoulders. So twisting the grip will help or hurt depending on these other factors.
More generally, it is better to realize these underlying assymetries in your body and your movement dynamics and deal directly with them.
If a twisted grip is used without awareness of the twist, then, yes, a 4-5 degree twist is indeed VERY significant. You should be able to notice whether square hands result in an open or closed putter face, or conversely whether a square putter face results in a twist in the hand position at address.
If you're not noticing this, it's more likely that the face is square enough at address, but the hand twist (oppositely, to "closed") is not noticed. During the stroke, this closed" starting orientation of the hands is likely to promote a backstroke that goes outward across the line of the putt -- one on the principal banes of amateur putting. It may also cause your arm swing to be "closed" in relation to square shoulders, promoting a pull.
But if instead the hands are square and the putter face "open" at address, this is potentially worse, as nearly all of face error at impact is transferred to the line the ball rolls on. A 4-5 degree error is definitely a miss on even short putts.
Cheers!
Geoff Mangum
Putting Theorist and Instructor
Geoff Mangum's PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
Golf's most advanced and comprehensive putting instruction.
Over 1,155,000 visits and growing strong ...
518 Woodlawn Ave
Greensboro NC 27401
336.790.8176 home
336.340.9079 cell
