MAKE PUTTING A PRIORITY: I’ve always been blessed to be a good putter. But
that doesn’t mean I don’t work at it. I do, every day. I do drills, I practice long and short
putts, and I work on the mental side with Dr. Joe Parent. I do all that because it’s my
job. But then when I play with amateurs, I’m amazed how little they do to putt better.
STAY SQUARE: First and foremost, fix your setup. Most golfers are all over
the place, too open or too closed with the hips, shoulders and forearms.
Everything should be level and straight. In other words, keep it simple. On the
practice putting green, enlist a friend, your teacher—someone—to give you a
second set of eyes and confirm what you feel in your alignment.
LESS MOVEMENT MEANS MORE MAKES: Sometimes
when I play with amateurs it’s hard to watch them putt because
there’s so much movement in their strokes. Good putters rely
on the bigger muscles of the back, shoulders and forearms,
working together to make a simple motion. Watch a good
putter and there’s a natural flow to their stroke.
Staying quiet at impact,
eliminating any excessive
motion and holding
the finish position is a
common trait among
good putters.
STANLEY CHOU/GETTY IMAGES
TAKE OWNERSHIP: Find a putter you really like. Experiment with
different kinds—face-balanced, heel-toe weighted, whatever—then
stick with one. Don’t go back and forth looking for a miracle. The
problem is rarely the putter, it’s the person holding it.
CONCENTRATE:
Pay attention to pre-shot
fundamentals such \