Help! I always hit my putts too hard
Dear Top 100 Teacher,
One of my main problems in my golf game is in my putting distance control, I am always hitting it too hard. How can I fix this?
Alec M., Orting, Wash.
Hi Alec,
If you look at all great putters they have a few things in common. They all have repeatable, rhythmical swings, and they all can control distance and direction. Distance control is a major factor in all short-game shots and especially putting.
The distance a putt travels is governed by two major factors: 1) Solidness of contact and 2) Clubhead speed. All putters have a sweet spot near the center of the face.When the ball is struck on the sweet spot you get a consistent roll with no twist in the putter face. Any off-center shots (that is, not on the sweet spot) deaden the blow.
So the first thing to do is find the sweet spot on your putter. Take your putter and lightly hold
the
grip with your thumb and forefinger of your left hand
and extend your left arm to about shoulder height. With the club
hanging take a golf ball and start tapping the center of the putter's
face with the ball. Keep tapping the face until you find a spot that
has no vibration or twist in the face. That's the sweet spot. If your
putter has an alignment aid and it does not match the sweet spot -- or if
there is no line on your putter -- add a line or dot on the top edge of
the putter with a Sharpie.
Most modern putting strokes have one power source: the shoulders. When you move the putter with your shoulders, your arms and wrists maintain their angles and your stroke becomes a pendulum motion. The big muscles of your shoulders move more slowly than the small muscles of your hands, wrist and arms, which means a shoulder-powered stroke is easier to repeat. Distance control is achieved by having a stroke that is the same length back as through, with a constant beat. Imagine you have a metronome with you. Then take the putter in your right hand only and start making practice swings that are the same length back as through and match the beats of the metronome in your head. For shorter putts, make a shorter back-and-through motion with the same beat. For longer putts longer strokes back and through with the same beat.
Now set up to a ball and putt to a target retaining the beat and same back-and-through technique. If you can hit the ball on the sweet spot with a rhythmic stroke you are well on your way to becoming a first-rate putter.
Best,
Gale
Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Gale Peterson teaches at the Sea Island Golf Learning Center in St. Simons Island, Ga.
Posted by: JEFF THOMSEN | Mar 19, 2009 10:46:15 PM
Gale: When was the last time you played in a competitive event - what did you shoot and where did you finish
What have you ever won ?
Posted by: JEFF THOMSEN | Mar 19, 2009 10:47:31 PM
HOW DID YOU BECOME A SO CALLED TOP 100
Posted by: Sarah | Mar 20, 2009 6:40:13 AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.lyricsdigs.com
Posted by: Maggie | Mar 20, 2009 11:25:32 AM
Thanks for the tips, I too need to work on my putting because I keep missing silly short putts. They say it's the most important club in the bag
http://ladiesgolf.ws
Posted by: Kriss | Mar 20, 2009 7:11:37 PM
Gale..Love your column and I get realistic advice from you. I'm glad you confirmed the way I was taught to putt 50 years ago -- same distance back as forward. Why do so many pros advise 25% back, 75% forward? Maybe they have that control, but amateurs should go w/equal distances for rhythm and clubhead speed skills I think. Also, as a clubfitter, I recommend finding the putter's sweet spot by hanging the putter as you described, but start tapping the putter lightly at the toe and continue tapping the face as you move toward the center. When the head doesn't move or vibrate, that's the sweetspot -- mark it. K-Wag
Posted by: Wayde | Mar 21, 2009 11:56:01 PM
The reason some pros say 25% back and 75% through is to promote acceleration through the ball.
This advice is given a lot, to be "rhythmic", but I think a lot of people think that means constant speed, which it doesn't.
The reason a pendulum swings so nicely and can maintain a constant beat regardless of the length of stroke is because of gravity, and for me, giving my stroke to gravity is really the key.
Try putting a few balls while looking at your target, and just let your arms and club fall due to gravity through the ball. Your stroke will become very relaxed and rhythmic automatically, and you'll very quickly dial in the size of backswing you need to get your distances right. Just be confident in your stroke, and let gravity accelerate your arms and club through the ball.
Posted by: Matt Simpson | Mar 22, 2009 7:59:55 AM
Jeff Thomsen - how did you become a Top 100 jerk?
Posted by: Timothy Winey | Mar 22, 2009 5:03:47 PM
You could also get a Torpedo. Torpedo putters require much more muscular force as putt length increases, thus taking the small muscles out of play by virtue of the extra mass involved.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=453462142
Posted by: Howard E Garis | Mar 25, 2009 5:34:27 PM
I would really like to know if someone can tell me how to get my ball to stop on the green? I cannot get any backspin at all and it csot me strokes and it is frustrating? Thank you, H Garis
Posted by: Rendog | Apr 18, 2009 8:19:54 PM
Howard , You must have a urethane cover ball. Some examples are the pro v1, pro v1x, bridgestone e5, callaway hx tour, callaway hx tour 56, callaway tour i and ix, or Nike one black, platinum, tour, or D tour
Posted by: Rendog | Apr 18, 2009 8:21:24 PM
Also, You should always strike the ball first when hitting, get a divot to come after you hit the ball. Basically, make sure you make great contact with the ball and ground, but hit the ball first
Posted by: Rob | Oct 20, 2009 12:08:35 AM
What works for me on longer putts is to practice the stroke while looking at the hole to get a feel for distance. When I feel I have the correct feel for how hard to hit I then step up to the ball and hit with the same stroke. It works for me!
http://www.malletputterguide.com