Perfecting the pendulum

The“pendulum”putting stroke is something that most players have heard of, but many don’t fully understand.

When I ask a player how to make a pendulum putting motion most will reply:‘You should rock your shoulders without using your wrists.’

This is true but is not the complete answer. The reply should continue:‘... making sure that your back swing and through swing are equidistant.’

The second part to the answer is vitally important and often overlooked. But this is what keeps the movement smooth and will produce a truer roll on the ball.

Many players swing back using their shoulders but fail to follow through with them, instead stabbing at the ball with their hands, causing it to jump and veer off line. The following exercise will help and can be practiced indoors or out.

Place three coins on the ground, approximately eight inches apart (for longer putts allow more space, short putts less). Position a ball opposite the middle coin and make your address position (pic 1). Now begin rolling putts making sure your putter head swings back and through to the coins without using force (pics 2 and 3).

One other thing I’d like you to pay attention to in the pictures is that my club head remains closer to the ground on the back swing than it does on the follow through. This will help to put a better roll on the ball.