PUTTERS

Roll your rock with more consistency and confidence

The latest generation of putters features more technology than ever to help you create the ground-hugging roll that keeps the ball online. But it’s important your stroke allows you to make use of that technology, and that means developing a rhythmic technique with the face rising slightly through impact. Here, I’ll show you how a humble doorstop or two – cheap to buy from any DIY shop – can help.

DRILL 1

You’ll deliver your best roll of the ball when you make a smooth, rhythmic stroke, controlled by your bigger arm and shoulder muscles. Put the doorstop between the butt and your lead arm to help.

TRY IT FOR REAL

The doorstop gives you a little helping hand by securing the handle in position. But when you’ve got the feeling of the butt pointing at the navel through the stroke, discard it and try to repeat it with your regular action.

SET THE BALL ROLLING

If the butt starts to point away from your stomach during the stroke, it indicates independent hand action that can compromise rhythm, attack angle, path and a smooth delivery of the putter. But keep the butt/lead forearm relationship constant and you’ll find a better roll.

DRILL 2

Stats from SAM Puttlab reveal the average Tour pro’s putter is rising 2-4° through impact. Position two doorstops ahead of the ball to find a similar attack, and improve your direction.

BUILD GATES

Place the doorstops a putterhead in front of the ball, either side of it as shown, the higher ends further from the ball. Let them frame the ball’s path to the hole, and keep them close enough that the putter would strike them if it followed through low to the ground.

ON THE RISE

Now take your regular stance and strike the putt. Your simple task is to let the putterhead trace the slope of the doorstops as it follows through. Hit putts until you can consistently create a solid strike with this rising through swing.

CUT SPIN

A rising attack angle minimises backspin on the ball, helping you send the ball out smoothly along the turf. Striking the doorstops reveals a more downward attack that imparts more spin; the ball will tend to jump off the face, and skip offline.

Now swing through, retaining that same putter-arm relationship. Again, those muted hands mean the butt still points up to your stomach. This is a great indicator of a controlled, rhythmic stroke.

Grip down the putter’s handle. Position the doorstop between the handle and the inside of your lead forearm. Note how the butt of the grip points up towards your navel.

Swing the putter back. The doorstop locks the handle and forearm in position, calming hand action. See how, when you do this, the handle’s butt remains looking at your stomach.