Putting Problems & Fixes

Guest writer: Stan Utley…

PULLED PUTTS…

Check your ball position. A pull can come from the ball being too far forward in your stance – where the natural arc of the stroke sends the ball left (RH player). Make sure the right forearm isn’t higher than the left in your setup. This can be caused by a too-weak grip (hands turned toward the target) or a shoulder tilt (right shoulder higher than the left). A closed stance (feet, hips, shoulders turned to the right of the target line) can actually cause a pull. You’ll subconsciously yank the putter back to the left during the stroke to compensate for the right alignment.  A too-long putter can cause you to stand too far from the ball, which lifts the toe of the putter and causes you to aim left. As well, a putter with a too-upright lie angle will cause you to aim left.

PUSHED PUTTS…

Rotate (a little around) the shoulders, don’t rock them (up & down). Rocking causes the putter face to go back closed and come through open, which causes a push. Make sure the left forearm isn’t higher than the right. This can be caused by a strong grip (hands turned away from the target) or too much shoulder tilt (left shoulder higher than right). Stiff elbows and shoulders will promote a push – the clubhead can’t release with all the tension. Ball position too far back can cause a push, but it’s fairly uncommon for players to set up with the ball back. A putter with a too-flat lie angle will cuse you to aim right.

FEEL…

A tight grip with the handle deep in the fingers takes the sensitive fingertips out of the stroke – a mistake. Keep the grip in the lifeline, with the fingertips more on the grip than the palms. Losing the mix of shoulder turn and arm swing is devastating to feel. A stiff, shoulders-only swing doesn’t work well. You wouldn’t toss something underhanded with just a shoulder turn. Feel comes from a flowing mix of shoulder  turn, arm swing and forearm rotation.

DISTANCE CONTROL…

The best way to improve distance control is to improve your fundamentals. If you hit it solid, you’ll have an incredibly natural sense for how far it will go. Grain impacts speed on all greens, not just those with Bermuda grass  On bentgrass greens, look for the shine. If, from behind your ball, the grass looks dark and almost shadowed, you’re hitting into the grain and need to give it more speed. If the grass looks shiny, you’re with the grain and the putt will be faster.

GREEN READING…

Walk (or ride) from your approach shot to the green with your eyes open – it gives you an overall feel for the tilt of the green. Examine your putt first from behind the ball, the from behind the hole and then from the low side of the break halfway between the ball and the hole. Use good judgement here though with pace of play in mind. Most amateurs drastically underestimate the amount of break. If in doubt, play more break, especialyy on intermediate length putts (15 to 25 feet). Be conscious of aiming at your target – the apex of the break – and not cheating your aim toward the hole. Grain will impact your read most dramatically on fast downhill and side hill putts.

EQUIPMENT FYI…

Putters with “toe-hang” (perimeter weighting that causes the toe to drop when the shaft is balanced on your finger) work with the arc stoke method. Face-balanced putters are designed for a straight-back-straight-through stroke. The balance check will show the putter face facing the sky. Putter fit is just as important as fit in the other clubs in your bag. A  putter that is too short, too tall, or too flat or upright will cause you to have to make compensations in your stroke. Most  off-the-sales-rack putters are too tall, too upright, and don’t have enough loft. Keep this in mind, and be prepared to have your putter fitted to your stroke. I prefer more loft (5 degrees) than standard (3 degrees) and of course, the proper length and lie angle to get you into a proper posture. A thinner grip enhances your feel for the putterhead. The most important cosmetic element about your putter is the way its alignment looks at address. You want a putter that clearly looks square when you set up over the ball. If a putter looks open or closed (or IS actually open or closed) to the target line at address, you will struggle with consistency.