Make More Putts – Plain and Simple

How many times have we said after a less than ideal result, “Oh I know exactly what I did wrong there”?  As golfers, so often we get wrapped up in the finest details of the swing and immediately vow to not repeat the same mistake again.  Gradually each shot escalates into a great tug-of-war of over-compensation leading to a slow, painful decline in execution.  We lose sight of the beloved fundamentals that served us so well in the past and allowed us to make consistent, repeatable swings. 

Putting is certainly no exception.

It’s time for a return to the fundamentals!  Keep the following two simple concepts in mind the next time you are navigating your way around the putting green.  Both involve engraining a consistent and repeatable stroke, so that when you choose that perfect line for your next putt, you can give it a chance to fall.  Give these tips a try the next time you’re on the course and watch those dreaded 3-putts disappear! 

Plain.

In theory putting is simple.  Draw the putter straight back and follow straight through hitting the ball on your chosen line. In practice it can be a different story.  To practice the backswing,  stick two parallel rows of tees into the green behind your ball.  The two rows should be at the heel and toe of your putter and should look almost like a miniature runway for your putter.  The shape can either be straight, or have a slight arc.  Practice hitting putts using the tees as your guide and you will build a more consistent stroke.

   

Simple.

The second key to consistent putting is the follow-through.  The most common mistake in putting is decelerating as you make contact with the ball.  You have almost certainly seen a playing partner with a monstrous backswing followed by a miniscule follow-through – these are sure-fire signs of deceleration.  A general rule of thumb is that on an average length putt, your backswing should stop around the point of your back foot.  This ensures that you will accelerate as you follow through and will be more likely to hit your ball on that perfect line.  Now lead with the back of your left hand (for right-handed players) toward your chosen line for the ball.  This will take out the bias force of the dominant right hand and eliminate the tendency to pull the ball.  There are no real drills that effectively address this but if you are conscious of this common mistake while practicing, you can be sure that you do not fall into the same trap.

Golf was never intended to be difficult, so the next time that your putter fails you, do not make a bee-line for the pro shop.  Remember that it is Plain and Simple and you will be sure to get your game back on track.