Change Your Putting Swing Thought.
Often when I play with golfers that roll their putt way past the hole they say, “I hit it too hard.” If the putt stops way too short, in addition to major ribbing from their playing partners I hear “I hit it too soft.”
This is a terrible putting stroke swing thought. It is very subjective to judge how much “harder” or how much “softer” you need to roll a putt.
Start thinking you need to make a LONGER stroke for long putts and SHORTER stroke for closer putts. This will help keep your tempo the same and avoid hitting or stabbing at the ball, both which make it very difficult to control distance.
Great Drill: Set up 5 balls each the same distance apart. Pull the middle ball out a foot away from the line of balls. Putt the middle ball, only allowing your putter head to go as far back and as far through as the closest ball on either side. This simulates what your short putt stroke will look like.
Then replace the middle ball and repeat the drill this time allowing your club to go as far back and through as the two end balls to simulate your long putts. Ensure your tempo (speed of stroke) does not change.
Use Your Hybrid Around the Green.
When you are around the green and have a tight lie, why risk chunking or blading a wedge? Instead, pull out your hybrid. Set up to the ball as if you were going to putt it. Choke down on your shaft and make a putting stroke.
Use the Toe of Your Putter Against the Collar of the Green.
If your ball has come to rest against the collar of the green a great escape is to use the toe of your putter. Using your whole putter or a wedge creates more surface area and increases the chances of your putter head or wedge getting caught in the thick grass.
Turn your putter 90 degrees so that the toe of the putter is the only part of the club that will contact the ball. The heel of the putter is naturally raised and the toe will act like a hammer and penetrate thought he grass. You want to strike the top half of the ball only, this will allow it to roll out smoothly. This tip works best with blade putters but you can use other putter styles as well.
