Sep 1, 2010
As I watched the players at the Barclays move from the range (where they are each working on finding specifically identified feels and motions to “groove” their ball stiking) to the putting green, I observed what I believe to be, a surprisingly uncertain approach as to how to ”groove” their putting.
Watching the tour players warm-up their putting each day left me questioning their approach to: a) finding their speed stroke for the day ; b) finding their line stroke for the day; c) finding their delivery feel for the day (performance routine); and finally, finding their reads for the day as they adjusted to faster green speeds each day.
Putting is that facet of the game that demands the greatest precision (the target is the smallest). So to warm-up by missing approximately 75% (by my count) of the putts you stroke just prior to heading out to compete, makes very little sense to me. We can miss putts without practicing! And the more putts we see missing the hole, the less confident a putter we become.
A Better Putting Warm-Up Routine: When you first get to the putting green, roll putts from about 20 feet to the fringe on the flattest surface you can find, in several directions (to account for the strength of the grain) - to get the feel of both your “speed” stroke and the speed of the greens for the day.
Next: work on your on-line stroke at no more than 2 feet from the cup. Line up your ball and observe a true roll of the line over a specific blade of grass as it enters the cup. Also observe the square, online position of your finish to a specific swing target (finish position) for each putt. When you can consistently finish on-line and square at pendulum speed, from a fixed fulcrum and see your ball roll true over a specific blade of grass, you have the feel of your line stroke for the day.
The Six Footer Drill: Once you have properly warmed up both your speed and line stroke, you are now ready for the 6-footer drill. Practice from six feet working your way fully around a sloped cup so you read the line and speed for all shapes of putts across all grain directions. As you practice locating target cups and specific swing targets (intended finish position required to deliver line and speed) and using your routine to deliver to swing targets – so you make all of these up/down/breaking putts – your feel and confidence for today – GROW!
Next you are ready to read and putt (routinely) those par saving and birdie range putts. Now you are ready for today’s challenge and can leave the putting green with a great attitude and a good visual perspective and stroke feel that will serve you well, today.
Golfstruck – Better Golf Right Now!
