Learning to Putt - Lesson 19

Finding your stroke!

Avoid generic advice when finding your stroke fundamentals. What works for one player rarely works for the other. The best way is to Define your stroke based on your unique physical requirements and tendencies.

In Lesson 6 we talked a little about finding your best way. Is impossible to give specifics for you in this format, as nothing in golf is more influenced by individual tendencies and physical preferences than a putting stroke. 

I do have a couple of suggestions that can help get you started in defining your motion.

Swing or Hit

Some players perform best when they swing the putter through the ball. Others have a hit instinct. Are you Arnold Palmer or Loren Roberts? Mr. Palmer used the thought of driving a nail into the back of the ball. Putter square to the nail. Loren Roberts had a flow in his stroke. No extra effort anywhere. Which one suits you? The only way to know is to try both. 

Testing a Hit. 

Take a dry erase marker and mark a spot on the side of a golf ball, place the ball with the spot facing the putter. Now take the putter and tap the spot. Then try with more effort, then add a little more. Keep going until you lose a feel of control. All we are looking for at this point is the ability to strike the putter on a consistent point on the face. Check the marks left on the face of the putter.

Testing the Swing

Set up to a putt, then swing the putter with your eyes closed. The putter will swing easier as there is no visual reference for the timing the hit. Just swing. Start small and gradually increase the length of your stroke. It helps to start without a golf ball. Take impact out of the equation all together. When you are comfortable with the motion add the golf ball and the dry erase marker. Check the marks on the face.

Which method gives you the tightest pattern on the face?  Notice I didn’t ask for the best directional result, or ability to control distance. That comes later. We are looking for the effort strategy that suits you best. Step 1 in defining your stroke.