RIGHT: GOLF DIGEST/CONDÉ NAST; BELOW (FROM LEFT): JOHN MUMMERT/USGA PHOTO ARCHIVES (2); STEVEN GIBBONS/USGA PHOTO ARCHIVES
KEEP IT SIMPLE PRINCIPLE: I know, it’s almost
an oxymoron; you’re making a stroke and trying to stay
still at the same time. But it’s important to understand
that only some parts of the body move, smoothly and
rhythmically, while the rest stays still but not stiff.
Speaking of rhythm, every stroke, no matter for
a long putt or a short putt, should travel the same
distance back as it does going forward. No matter what
the length of the stroke, make it even on both sides.
Don’t get “stabby” and accelerate into the ball at the last
second, and avoid taking the putter back so far that you
have to decelerate into impact.
Kerr ingrains the proper
feel and control by
incorporating useful
practice techniques such
as placing a tee in the
ground and dialing in
her stroke by putting to
different distances.
PRODUCTIVE PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
I use a chalk line every day to check my alignment as
well as my path. That’s a good tip for amateurs, who also
can stick tees along the line to mark how far back and
how far the stroke should go on a through motion.
There are many other drills, and I do them all: putting
from varying distances, stopping the ball just long or just
short and moving around the hole to try different
breaking putts. The bottom line is you have to put in the
time to build muscle memory and develop consistency.
TAKE A TASK-ORIENTED APPROACH: Don’t
overlook the mental aspect of putting. Amateurs are
sometimes scared of putting and lack confidence. I think
of putting as a job: My job is to ‘make’ the putt I want to
make. That doesn’t necessarily mean it goes in the hole,
but it goes where I want it to go—on the right line and
the right length. Golfers are so concerned with how a
putt is going to turn out that they don’t think about what
they can control. But if you take care of your job, things
will take care of themselves.
In 2013, Cristie Kerr was in the top five on the LPGA
Tour statistics in putts per green, and among the top 10
players in putting average. Co-author James A. Frank is a
writer from New York, N.Y., and a regular contributor to
Virginia Golfer.
CELEBRATE:
Love watching the ball fall
into the hole. Savor that
sensation and let it drive you
during practice sessions and
when it’s game time (yes, it’s
OK to fist pump).
w w w. v s g a . o r g
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