FAULT NO.42 Putting - excessive body motion

Holing putts on a regular basis is all about having the putter-face square to the intended line at the moment it contacts the ball. To do this, most good putters predominantly use a pendulum-like, arm-and-shoulder action, in which the triangle that is formed between the arms and shoulders at address can be seen to remain intact as it moves past a steady head. In other words, there is little wasted motion.

Putting problems aris when you try to 'help' the ball into the hole. WHen that happens, your head and upper body tend to move out of position through impact, which inevitably disrupts the alignment of the putter-face. The result is an inconsistent strike on the ball, and little or no control over the direction or the pace of the putt.

FIX NO.42
Rock your shoulders to control your stroke

In putting, the fewer moving parts there are , the simpler and more consistent your method will probably be. To that end, I encourage you to work on building a stroke that is controlled by the shoulders.

To promote this pendulum-type action, try the following exercise. Take your address position, and place your palms together in a downward praying position. Focus on the triangle that is formed between your hands, arms and shoulders, and then, keeping your head and lower body perfectly still, rock your shoulders so that you move the triangle smoothly back and through

(1). Create an under-and-up pendulum motion with your shoulders, where your chest stays square to the target line, as opposed to opening your body to the hole. Feel that your left shoulder works down on the backswing, then up on the throughswing. This will control the path of the putter-head and keep the putter on line through impact

(2). On the follow-through - particularly on the longer putts - allow your head to rotate down the line towards the target after you have completed your stroke. That enables your triangle to work correctly, and thus allows you to follow the progress of the ball all the way to the hole without lifting your body out of position.