How to hole every 2meters(6.56ft)putt you look at
The easiest way for a golfer to score better is
by improving their putting. Putts account for nearly 43% of shots taken during
a typical round of golf. If we are able to improve this one aspect, then we can
vastly improve our overall score!
Unfortunately, It doesn't matter how much or how
hard you practice, human error makes it impossible to consistently make 2
meters putts with an arc (or in-to-in) putting stroke. It sounds like a strong
statement, but it's true.
If the putter face is more than 1.5 deg open or
closed at impact, then a straight 2 meters will always miss the hole. Since it
is impossible for a human being to consistently square the putter face within
this 1.5 deg margin of error during an arc putting stroke, golfers need to find
a better method if they want to make more putts. That better method is the
pendulum putting stroke.
The square-to-square stroke (another version of
the pendulum putting stroke) has been gaining popularity among European
teachers and players, with many of the top European players switching to this
method. The pendulum putting stroke has even been advocated by one of the most
famous American short game instructors. However, it has been very slow to be
adopted by the majority of golfers and teaching professionals here in the
States. Most instructors have continued to think of the putting stroke as a
smaller version of the full swing. As a result, they teach a method in which
the player must make adjustments during the stroke in an attempt to square the
putter face at impact. These adjustments are impossible to repeat with any
consistency, and therefore many short putts are missed.
One way to explain the difference between the
full swing and the putting stroke is to look at baseball. A batter swinging for
the fence employs a completely different technique to that of a batter
attempting to advance a base runner by laying down a bunt. It's very similar in
golf. A full swing uses the hands, arms and body turning in concert to create
enough energy to launch the ball with ideal backspin. This allows the ball to
rise into the air and fly the necessary distance for the given shot. However,
the aim of the putting stroke is entirely the opposite. In order to make the
most putts, we need to get the ball rolling toward the target with forward spin
as soon as possible following impact. Since the purpose is so different, it follows
that the technique must be different as well. Therefore, we must not only
change our way of thinking, we must also change our technique. That is why the
pendulum putting stroke makes such good sense. It's designed to produce the
desired result, and the desired result is making more putts!
Many teaching pros and coaches have also taught
that putter design has an impact on the putting stroke. A face-balanced putter
promotes a square-to-square stroke, while a toe-down putter best fits an arc
stroke. Mr. Yamada has been able to prove through Physics that this is not the
case. Many people refer only to the center of gravity of the putter head and
the force it creates. However, the true center of gravity of a putter lies part
way up the shaft (where you can balance the putter on your finger). During the
putting stroke, this true center of gravity acts with nearly 9 times the force
exerted by the putter head alone. Therefore, all putters actually behave the
same during the stroke regardless of clubhead design. This means you can
continue to use your favorite putter, no matter the design, and always perform
a perfect pendulum putting stroke.
To perform a pendulum stroke, you must first
address the ball with proper posture. Posture is critical to making a consistent
pendulum stroke and making every 2 meters putt. The back of the head, the neck,
and the top portion of the back should be horizontal to the ground. Your arms
should hang vertically from your shoulders. From this position the large
muscles of the back can simply rock the shoulders vertically to perform the
stroke. With no use of the wrists, the putter will move as a perfect pendulum
and the putter face will remain square throughout the stroke. To check if you
are performing the stroke correctly, the shoulder on the target side of your
body should move down and then up during the stroke. During the backswing the
target shoulder should move vertically down, and during the through swing the
target shoulder should move straight up.
Once you've learned the correct posture and
shoulder movement to perform the pendulum putting stroke, the next step is to
remove the hands, wrists and forearms from the stroke. Human hands are amazing.
They can be used to play the piano, count money, and they can even be used to
communicate an entire language. Unfortunately, they are terrible at making 2meters.
The hand, wrist and forearm action required during the full swing is necessary
to create power. However, there is no need to create power when striking 2
meters putt. The distance the putter head travels as well as the amount of time
the ball is in contact with the putter face are both much less than during that
of a full swing. Again, this makes the amount of time spent practicing an arc
stroke, or a stroke which involves squaring the putter face with your hands, an
act of futility. It is impossible for a human being to make this minute
adjustment consistently. If the hands are involved in the putting stroke, then
the putter face will likely be more than 1.5 deg open or closed, and a large
number of short putts will be missed. Even professional golfers, who have spent
years and years practicing putting, have difficulty squaring the putter face
consistently with this type of stroke. They miss too many short putts, lose
confidence in their putting, and begin searching for answers.
One answer is to use a putting aid. If a person
wishes to make a straight line, they must use a ruler. If a golfer wishes to
learn how to perform a perfect pendulum putting stroke, they need a practice
aid that provides proper feedback to let them know when they are doing it
correctly.
Yamada has designed a putting aid that not only provides proper feedback to the player to swing the putter in a
straight-back and straight-through motion, it is also the only putting aid that
forces the player to keep the face square throughout the entire stroke. This
teaches the player the perfect technique for the pendulum stroke. As technique
improves, more putts will find the hole. When you begin holing putts
consistently your confidence will grow. Ultimately, you will hole every 2
meters putt you look at!
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