Article #84
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Dear Jitterbug:
I have a very difficult time getting my putts to the hole. For whatever reason, I just don't give them enough juice. Sometimes, in an attempt to remedy the situation, I remind myself to give the ball a good rap only to knock it too far. Can you help?
Bill Walters
Jitterbug Gang Fan
Jitterbug:
I've been through it myself, Bill. And, I've watched others suffer from short putting too. From what I've seen, the problem stems from one primary problem: too short of a backswing.
Golfers, during times of uncertainty, react by shortening things up, and the first thing that shortens is the backswing. What follows is a chain reaction.
Does that mean my letter looks exactly like yours? Not at all. What it does mean is that you and I both work within the framework of what makes an S an S.
The golfer reacts to a short backswing by hurriedly starting the through stroke. This requires an increase in grip pressure. Of course, the hands can't tighten without the forearms, upper arms and shoulders tightening too.
So what?
Well, tight muscles shorten, and so doing, raise the the putter higher off the surface of the green, setting the stage for less than crisp impact with the ball. Less than crisp impact means the ball won't get to the hole, and the cycle is sure to repeat as the poor result brings about more uncertainty.
All this can be avoided if the golfer experiencing self-doubt and fear reminded himself to take a large enough backswing to ease through the hitting area, free of the need to jab nervously at the ball.
Mr. Vaughn:
Short backswinging can be traced back to the practice stroke. Too often, I see a golfer standing over a 60-foot putt performing back-and-through practice strokes as if he's preparing to roll a ball 15 feet.
Folks, a practice swing isn't merely a rehearsal swing. It is the Dress Rehearsal! It is the last chance to get it all together, because coming up next is a live performance. So, why not make your rehearsal stroke EXACTLY the one you hope to reproduce for your next shot?
I guess for some folks that's just too much to ask.
Lord Berry:
From what I've observed, golfers who consistently leave putts short are out of touch with where the hole is. If setting up and stroking a putt takes 20 seconds, putters with good distance control spend at least 15 seconds staring, with both eyes, directly at the hole. The remaining five or so seconds are used to square the blade and body.
Those numbers are approximately reversed for putters who possess less skill.