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Many of you will agree that putting is one of the most frustrating parts of the game of golf! Some days you can’t make a putt and feel that the golf hole is very small and other days the golf hole looks like a bucket and you make everything.  In my next golf column I will describe ways to develop more precision putting and reduce your over-all putts per round.   Special note:  putting makes up 43% of your total score!

The basic mechanics of putting

The Stance – it is crucial that your shoulders are parallel to the line that you want the ball to start on and that they remain parallel through-out the stroke.  CHECK-POINT – take your stance and set-up over the ball; then take your putter and match the putter shaft with the line with both elbows against the body.  Now bring the putter up to your shoulders without changing the line.  Both shoulders should be touching the putter shaft if you have set-up properly.  It will be just as important to have your upper arms be touching slightly with your chest as this will be an important track system for the arms to move along.  Remember putting is the most precise part of the game and this will help to eliminate any excess movement during the stroke.  One more thing to add, keep the arms slightly bent (more at ease)during entire putting stroke as this will allow you to develop the best feel for more precision putting.

The Stroke – in simple terms the stroke is a pendulum motion.  This best describes the putting stroke because your arms and hands hang down directly below your eyes.  Your eyes are an important part of a consistent stroke in that they should be directly over the golf ball and should not move from their original spot until you have followed through to your intended line.  CHECK-POINT – you can check your eye position over the ball by placing a golf ball at the bridge of your nose and when taken your stance drop the ball which should land in front of your putter or on top of your putter. If golf ball does not land on or near putter blade then make adjustment as needed. 

Now with your eyes over the ball and the arms and hands hanging directly down from the shoulders your goal is to rock only your shoulders up and down and keep your arms and hands passive.  By doing this you will be able to develop a consistent feel for proper distance and determine a proper line for breaking putts.  CHECK-POINT – to check that your putting stroke is the proper pendulum motion, set-up two guides.  Use two 2 x 4’s or lay down two golf clubs and place them parallel on either side of the line approximately four inches apart.   Make your putting stroke without touching either side of the guides with your putter.  Work with this until you can do it consistently and you will groove your putting stroke so it will stand up during an actual round of golf.  The grip for putting should be firm to keep the putter face square but not tight as tension will take away from the over-all feel that is needed.

ONE OF DAVE'S FAVOURITE PUTTING DRILLS:

1 -  Take 30 golf balls and find a 4 to 6 foot putt that you find challenging.   Now the goal of this drill is to sink all 30 golf balls, they do not have to be made in a row but see all 30 golf balls go into the hole.   Sinking 4 to 6 foot putts is crucial in scoring.

As you develop your precision putting stroke I will add these two final thoughts:  Always give your putts a chance to go in by getting the ball to the hole and be positive over the putt, think in! 

Dave Campbell is Director of Instruction at The PACIFIC Golf Academy.  For more short game information and other golf improvement programs please contact Dave Campbell at 701-5790 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .