Putting Grips

photo credit: USACE Europe District   Putting is not standardized, it is very personal.  There are many variations of holding and swinging the putter, here are a few:

Standard Reverse Overlap:  This is the grip that dominates the game.  It is a reverse Vardon grip, whereas, your left forefinger overlaps the knuckles of your right hand (for right-handers).  Both thumbs are placed on top of the grip facing downward.

Baseball:  The grip is held as one would hold a baseball bat.  Both thumbs straight down and resting on top of the grip.  The back of hands are directly opposite of each other.

Claw:  This grip has become extremely popular.  The left hand is placed in the standard position with thumb facing downward and resting on top of the grip.  The right hand is opened with the palm facing the target.  The thumb and first three fingers of the right hand are placed on the grip with the palm facing the target.

Putting is about keeping the clubhead from drifting off the target line.  Choose the type of grip that has the highest degree of success for your game.

Line of Sight

photo credit: CostasZ   Addressing the ball inappropriately on the putting green can be detrimental to your putting success.  If your eyes are not directly over the ball it is nearly impossible to see the correct target line.  It does no good to take a good read on any given putt if your eyes are not looking down the line when addressing the ball.

TIPS:  a)  Your eyes should be directly over the target line.  b)  The center of your nose should be pointed 2 in. behind the ball.  c)  Arms and shaft should be in a straight line (looking directly at the golfer or looking from behind)  d)  Both thumbs should be placed on very top of shaft pointing straight down.  e)  feet position should line up with the target line.  f)  wrists should not break down when contact is made with the ball.

Spend more time on the practice green before each round and watch your scores improve !

Putter Heads

photo credit: fredcamino   The game of golf includes two different games which are on the fairway and on the green.  The game on the fairway is impersonal because there are certain age-old swing requirements that need to be incorporated in order to score well.  On the other hand, the game played on the green is a highly personal game where almost any method a golfer chooses may work well.

Because the putting game is so personal it is very important for every golfer to use a putter that is not only comfortable but looks good to the user.  TIP:  Choose a putter with a putter head that has a nice look to it.  Some designs can be extremely distracting and can have a negative impact on  your putting game.  Forget all the hoopla and sales pitches by manufacturers and salespeople.  Choose a putter that you like the looks of.

Don’t Hesitate When Putting

photo credit: CostasZ   One of the biggest reasons for bad putting is lollygagging over a putt.  Many golfers will study their putt/s at nauseam.  They read the putt from behind, to each side and from the back of the hole.  Once the read is taken, it's time for the practice swings.  Once over the ball it's time to repeatedly glance from the ball to the hole (and all between).  The stroke is made and that relatively easy 10 ft. putt is missed by 5 inches.

TIP:  For better results with your putting, take a quick read from behind the ball, make one practice stroke, step up to the ball, take one look at the cup and without hesitation,  make your stroke.  One of the biggest advantages of this method is that it does not allow the opportunity to clutter the mind with all sort of negative thoughts.  In other words, it doesn't give you time to “think.”  Try it and watch the difference in your scores.

The Long Putt

photo credit: Kelowna09   Long putts of 30 ft. or more can intimidate even the best putters.  There is no need to fear long putts if you concentrate on a few important principles:

(1)  Putting is all about speed – no matter what the distance, if your speed is incorrect you will nearly always miss the putt – speed can increase or decrease the break in a green.  (2)  Stand more upright – not only will it give you a better view of your putt but it will tend to make you use more arms and body in your swing.  (3)  Grip the club towards the end of the handle – this will encourage a more upright stance and add more clubhead speed to your swing.

Practice tip:  On the practice green, stand about 30 -35 ft. from the fringe.  Hit your putts so they stop right where the fringe begins.

Lightening Greens

As it is, golf  can be hard  enough without courses making it even more difficult for the average player.   One way this is done is with super fast greens.   Amateur players can be intimidated very easily when facing slick surfaces, for that matter, it's no  different for pros.   The key to playing on fast greens is to allow your approach shot to land on the front side of the green.

Most greens slope from back to front so that if you land on the front-side you will have a desirable uphill putt.   Anywhere else can be treacherous.   The key word is “delicate.”   You hit  all of your short chips and pitches in an extremely delicate fashion.   Try to land in a  3 foot diameter around the cup.

Coping With Fast Putts

photo credit: rioncm     With downhill putts or on fast greens, you cannot afford to make an abrupt or jerky stroke.   All of your movements have to be smooth in order to maximize control and to improve your chances of trickling the ball into the cup.   For downhill putts, it is not advisable to hit the ball hard enough as to go past the hole.

In order to slow the ball down, try striking it towards the toe of the clubface.   Since you won't be striking the ball on the sweet-spot, less energy will be expended on impact.    In doing so, you can strike the ball with your  regular stroke (as if the green were flat) and  get the appropriate distance to lag the putt to the hole.

Ball Movement

photo credit: danperry.com     When a ball is at rest on the green, it tends to nestle down into the grass.   The goal is to allow the putter to “lift” the ball from it's grassy bed and put “forward” motion on the ball (spin).   If the ball is not lifted from it's position, it will jump and/or skid across the green.   Also, if the ball is hit with reverse rotation, it will come to a stop much sooner.

If you hands are too far forward at impact, the loft of the club will be decreased.   Reducing the loft unintentionally will not not create the proper forward spin and momentum.   This will also make it more difficult for the clubface to lift the ball from it's grassy bed.

Putting Dynamics

photo credit: Philip Larson     The putting stroke must be in an arc:  inside going  back –   to square – inside going forward.   A few PGA Tour players have subscribed to keeping the putter going in a straight line in their stroke.   Eventually, they  became aware  that this type of stroke can lead to serious putting woes.

The more natural the stroke, the more likelihood to bring the putter-face back  to square at impact.   The putting stroke is an arc that rotates around the body.   Remember the following:   1)   Your legs do not move > movement causes a sway.   2)   Your head does not move > if the head moves so does the body.   3)   Your hands do not move > they maintain a square clubface through impact.

Putting Rudiments #2

photo credit: rioncm     How hard you hit a putt usually determines success or failure on the putting green.   Distance is always determined by the length of your putting stroke, primarily the backstroke.   Bobby Jones once said “the backstroke for a long putt should be long enough.”   The putting stroke should be smooth and steady to gain consistency.  

To encourage a smooth putting stroke, remain very relaxed over the ball.   Maintain very light grip pressure which relieves the tension in your wrists and arms.  

Keep in mind the  2 inch rule:   take the putter back  two inchs for every foot of distance from the cup.   For a 2 foot putt, take the club back  4 inches and so on.   There is no need to make a long backswing for short putts.

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