Reader Question 4

Based on your feedback, and in co-operation with the Ontario PGA, we have assembled some of the top Canadian PGA Professionals and Apprentices in Ontario to form an expert panel in an effort to provide GolfScene readers with a cross-section of views and a wealth of game improvement knowledge.

Question:

… wondering if you could ask the panel for their thoughts on basic putting fundamentals?  I went down and watched the Canadian Open and noticed that there really are a lot of different styles, grips, and even lengths of putters out there. Are there any core elements involved here or is the putting stroke really just completely personal and subjective?

from Trish

PANEL ANSWERS

Danny King

Hi Trish,

I believe that putting has evolved from the traditional look and conventional grip mostly due to the number of PGA players finding alternative ways to get the ball in the hole in order to compete and collect the large sums of money available on Tour.

One of the best ball strikers on Tour is Robert Allenby who currently sits in 52nd. Last year he was ranked 182 in putting average. By switching to the claw grip he has managed to move up to 17th in the Fed Ex Cup standings. I know that you’re not going to make every putt but, as golfers, sometimes it is difficult to make a change after 25 years of putting with a certain putter and or style. But, sometimes that change can prove beneficial.

There are so many great ball strikers out on Tour and a lot of ‘ok putters‘. I believe great putters have an air of confidence and are in complete control internally – their breathing, in sync eye movement, etc. They all have a sense of calmness which when combined with technique and technology enables them to perform at the highest level on a weekly basis.

Cheers
- Danny King

Sean Casey

There is certainly room for personal preference, but there are some fundamentals worth noting.
Regardless of your putting style I believe the following fundamentals will improve your putting.

1. Ensure that the putter rests flat on the ground with the sole flush to the earth. This will help you hit the ball on the sweet spot and will also promote the ball to roll out straight. I see a lot of golfers set up with the toe in the air promoting a pull. Have your putter fit to you rather than you trying to make awkward adjustments to achieve this.
2. Soft arrival speed. Try to have your putts arrive at the hole softly. This will allow full use of the cup and putts will fall in the sides of the hole and avoid lipping out.
3. Play enough break. Most golfers miss their putts on the ‘low side’ meaning they don’t take into account the slope of the green and the ball curves more than expected. After identifying the slope, try playing twice as much break as you think and challenge yourself not to miss the putt on the low side of the hole.
4. Keep your head down! While this can be bad advice for the full swing as golfer’s tend to over do it, I highly recommend it for putting. So often putts are missed because golfers lift their heads excited to see the ball go in the hole.
5. Set-up and Grip: In terms of set up and technique it’s tough to say or recommend one way to putt. I try to set up with the shaft of the putter and my forearms on the same plane. This means I must hold the club somewhat in the palms and my hands oppose each other. There are many grip styles that work well. I usually recommend the reverse overlap or left hand low.

Golfers seem to be hesitant to take a lesson on putting, however, I find they are often the lessons that make the most immediate and positive impact on my student’s games. So if you struggle with putting, do yourself a favour and take a lesson from a golf professional sometime.
- Sean Casey

Conor O'Shea

Trish,

Great Putters …

• Hit the ball solid each time
• Roll the ball with lovely speed – as well as match the break they choose with a speed that supports it
• All share a wonderful imagination

But on both the women’s and men’s tours there is perhaps nothing fundamental about their ‘fundamentals’.  The only common ground they share is a desire to make the ball go in.

In putting you can only do one of two things …. (1. try to make it  or  2. try not to miss)

- Cheers, Conor

Gary Bos

Thanks for your question Trish – a great topic often forgotten in the age of long drives & technical swing gurus. Great to see you were down at the Open and had the chance to observe many of the world’s best players in person!
I feel putting is very much a personal preference and it often comes down to what feels right to the individual and gives that player confidence. As you know, many professionals and amateurs alike will switch putters and change their grip about as often as they read the newspaper.

FITTING

Having a putter that is properly fitted for you is essential. Putters are generally fitted based on length, loft, and lie angle. Other characteristics that will vary by individual preference include the weight of the putter, grip size, clubhead design, and shaft position. Many of these are personal preference. Length and lie angle are most common and definitely something that I look for anytime I see someone for a putting lesson. The length of the putter will directly affect how the putter head sits relative to the ground (toe up or heel up). This in turn will affect the direction your ball will take and the impact itself. The proper length for a putter will allow you to stand in a posture that is comfortable for you and have your eyes positioned over the golf ball. Your putter should be fitted for YOU – not the reverse!

FUNDAMENTALS

Grip – There is no right or wrong grip when it comes to putting. If you are in search of a new or different grip, I like to recommend the ‘reverse overlap’.
Stance & Ball Position – Position your feet about shoulder width apart with both feet square to the target line (pointed straight ahead). The position of the ball should be slightly forward of center (between the middle of your stance and inside the left heel for a right handed golfer). This will help you get an upward stroke on the ball – allowing the ball to roll more consistently.

Eyes – Getting your eyes positioned directly over the golf ball is a great way to see the line of your putt clearly. To test this, while in your putting set-up position – drop a ball from the middle of your eyes and let it hit the ground. If it strikes the ball you were intending to putt, you have your eyes positioned directly over the ball.

Posture and Arm Position – Should you have your elbows bent or your arms straight? This is also a matter of personal preference. I have varied this throughout my career and now putt with an extended left arm to solidify my wrists. As you swing your putter like a pendulum, you would like to have NO wrists involved in the putting stroke. Your arms should move along with your shoulders like a triangle rocking back and forth.

Head Position – Keep your head still! Set up a few practice balls about 3 feet from the hole and make your normal putting stroke. Now listen for the ball to go in the hole, rather than watching it – you should be able to complete this drill without having tilted your head or changed its position until you have heard the ball drop in the hole.

Dominant Characteristics – A final and perhaps critical aspect that I like to review with all of my students is to find out whether one eye is dominant over the other. If you are someone who has a very strong dominant eye, you may feel that you are aligning straight to the hole when this is actually not the case at all. This will have nothing to do with your actual putting stroke, but more with your vision. This is something I would highly recommend to discuss with a qualified Canadian PGA Professional.

Good Luck and remember to spend more time on the putting green than anywhere else!
- Gary Bos

Liam Mucklow

Trish,

Putting is a highly personalized skill. This is reflected by the plethora of different putters available on the market today.

With the short (traditional) putter we see two common mechanical fundamentals. The first is that the trail forearm and the putter shaft are in alignment; there is no hinge present like at setup for a full swing. Eliminating this lever allow for greater distance control.

The second fundamental is that the player will get their eyes over the golf ball. This helps the player see the line the ball will actually travel on.

- Liam Mucklow

Note: you can find complete profiles on all of our 2010 panel [HERE]