MANY golfers are plagued by a putting stroke that is more of a jab than a stroke. This is caused primarily by a mentality of ‘hitting’ the golf ball versus the ball getting in the way of the putter head.
A jabbing putting stroke will make it very difficult to control the distance of a putt, ultimately resulting in a lot of three putts.
To see if you are a ‘jabber’ or a ‘stroker’, you will need to use a putter that has a back flange. If you are not currently using that style putter, borrow one for the purpose of this exercise.
Next, place a Bahraini coin flat on the back flange of the putter so that you can see either the head or tail side of the coin. Once the coin is in place, take a few strokes.
If you have a jabbing putting stroke the coin will slide off of the putter, generally during your down swing, telling you that you need to work on the tempo of your putting stroke and make more of a pendulum stroke.
If the coin does not slide off the flange during your putt, this tells you that you already possess a pendulum stroke and your putting tempo is fine.
If the coin did slide off, a good drill is to just practice several strokes with the coin in place as described here.
Once you have mastered a stroke that does not allow the coin to slide off you have improved your tempo and are on your way to better distance control.
Now, place five balls ten feet from the hole and make all five while the coin stays in place. Once you make all five in a row, move to 15 feet with the coin in place.
Continue to repeat this process moving back to the prior point when a putt is missed. If you do this drill properly you will ingrain a pendulum putting stroke that will give you much better distance control and help you to make more putts. More putts means a lower score and a lot more fun, so get that coin and start practicing!
