Greetings Golfers,

What is the “perfect putting stroke”? The one that makes the putt. I’m serious. I know guys who have pretty putting strokes who never make anything. Golf is not like a diving competition with judges giving out scores … golf is about the number of shots it takes to get the ball into the hole.  And putting is all about getting the ball into the hole.

Lately I’ve been working with some good players about making putts – not making a pretty putting stroke. I want them to believe they can always make the putt – that it’s easy to make a putt. So, we practice all kinds of ways to putt, but always with the focus of making it. I’m talking about hitting the ball off the toe of the putter … or off of the heel … or with the right hand only … or the left hand only.

There is no reason not to be able to make putts a million different ways. Learn to putt well with a wristy stroke … and with a shoulder-pendulum stroke.

Practice putting with all of your clubs – wedge through driver. And any type of stance – open, closed, wide, narrow, tall, crouched. Make putting fun. Don’t make putting a chore – unless you want to be a bad putter.

You want to look forward to getting on the green because you know you’ll make the putt. We all know people who dread getting on the green – they’re convinced they can’t get the ball into the hole.

Lots of golf people talk about “perfect practice”. Perfect practice in putting means making the putt – not making the “perfect putting stroke”.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com