To be a great putter, you need to strike the ball consistently out of the sweet spot (image 1). This may sound blindingly obvious but, be honest, how often do you think about that or practice that?
We seem to be so aware of the strike on a driver or an iron shot but rarely with our putting.
The quality of your strike affects everything, from the distance the ball will roll, the quality of the roll, and, of course, the direction.
Today, I’m going to share with you a very simple exercise that you can even apply at home (I thought you might like the Christmas theme!), which will not only help you strike your putts out of the sweet spot more often, but also improve the path and arc of your stroke; so, let’s get straight to it.
Now, the first thing to say is this drill will work easier with a slimline putter. However, it will still be beneficial with mallet-style putters.
Simply invert the putter, so the outside of the toe points at the ball (image 2). This often gives a secondary benefit of making sure the shaft is at least vertical or leaning slightly forward towards the target (image 3).
Assume your normal grip.
Have a few practice swings getting used to how the balance of the putter feels when you swing it backwards and forwards this way. Once you have a feel for its balance, it’s time to try it with the ball.
During the practice swings, you should feel a nice flow to your stroke; try and maintain that when you’re striking the ball.
Because you are using such a narrow end of the club, this drill will give you instant feedback. If you miss hit the ball, not only will you feel it, but the ball is likely to go off at an obscure angle (image 4), whereas once you learn to strike it out of the centre, the ball will roll perfectly straight (image 5).
The flow I mentioned is key because it is challenging striking the ball this way. It can create some hesitation because you end up trying too hard to strike it properly rather than trusting your own body to line the putter up perfectly.
So, please relax, and simply let the stroke happen and watch how your own body begins to swing the putter in a way where you strike the centre of the ball consistently.
Once you have developed a good awareness for the feel of this stroke, simply turn your putter around to its normal position and copy the same feeling.
I hope you find this tip beneficial, and you end up holing a lot more putts.
Get to work with PGA Master Coach Scott Cranfield personally from anywhere in the world, by applying to join his unique Virtual Coaching program, where you get Unlimited Coaching. To apply email scott@scottcranfield.com
By Scott Cranfield
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Scott Cranfield is a PGA Master Coach. For over 30 years, he has dedicated his life to helping golfers achieve their goals through a natural approach that embraces the true laws of how the human mind and body work. Scott’s unique approach has led to the creation of multiple training programmes, and the experience of coaching every standard of golfer from complete beginners through to Ryder Cup players. As well as enjoying a long TV career with Sky Sports and Setanta TV, in 2011 Scott was honoured with the award of PGA Master Professional and Coach.
