I will not use the dreaded words – the yips – because that is a complete lost of confidence with the flat stick. We can still struggle making poor contact with our putter without losing out confidence. Many times, it is something that we are suddenly doing or not doing with our putter stroke that is causing poor contact and more missed putts. It happens to me from time to time and I have found a way to fix this challenge is short order. It is not difficult and everyone can do it; but, it does require a bit of focus.
In my case, most of the time when I am making poor contact, I break my wrists during contact. This is not normally how I putt and once in a while this swing fault creeps into my putting stroke. It is as if I am trying to help the ball along during short putts (under 10 feet). I am always perplexed by this sudden appearance of a breakdown in my putting mechanics. It is very noticeable because my ball has no pop off the putter face. There are several fixes I have for this and one specific drill I use to ensure I make solid contact with my putter.
First, you have heard me talk about ‘back 6 forward 12’ many times. What this mantra does is ensure I am accelerating through the ball on contact. Basically, it prevents me from shorting my follow through which will result in poor contact. I believe in this fundamental aspect of my follow through and it really works well for my game.
I focus all the aspects of putting specifically the touch I need to putt well. Here is an excerpt from and earlier blog: “I equate touch to a rhythm I have when standing over all that starts after my pre-shot routine. It starts with how the club feels in my hands, the locking of my wrists and shoulders, and the movement of the club head. There is a sort of balance I feel when all is going well from the start and finish of my putting stroke. I am not struggling with any part of my process.“
“I am not sure I describing my rhythm properly. Everything about my putting process feels in sync. Nothing is out of kilter. When this happens (and it happens often) my putting is what I consider to be solid and reliable. There is a flow to my actions and all of them work together to produce a confidence I only have when my touch is in place.”
Lastly, I use the following three drills. The first one is one of the most important for my game becasue if forces me to hit the ball in the center of the club face. That is one I am focusing on today:
I enjoy using the ‘gate drill’ as it helps me focus on most of my putting challenges. It tightens up my putting stroke and forces me to focus on making solid contact in the center of the putter face. As long as my wrists are not in play, my putting stroke produces solid contact every time.
Making solid contact with our putter, regardless of distance, will lower our golf scores. Since we use our putters about 40% of the time during any given round, it is important to make a great stroke. We all have to work on solid contact and my using the tee/gate drill, I think you will be well on your way to being a great putter.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
There is one thing in your statement that I think needs clarifying. Current teaching says this
And you advocate 6 back 12 through which seems to go well against pro advice but here’s the thing, you aren’t both stating your guidance from the same perspective. In yours, you measure total movement of the club head in each direction while the pro guidance gives you a from the ball measurement. So 6 back from the ball gives you 3 past the ball in the pro advice while you go 6 back from the ball then 6 to the ball and continue 6 past the ball to get your 12. So basically it’s 3 vs 6 inches past the ball being the difference in guidance.
I think it’s likely that anywhere in there is ok if it gets you that smooth rhythm. The ball has already left the face before the club has traveled the width of the ball anyway. So it’s more about smooth transitions, and consistent speed. Deceleration is a putt killer. So is jerky/choppy strokes. When the transition isn’t smooth, it’s even harder to be consistent.
As for me, I’d say I’m in between somewhere. The farther back the more I might differ from the pro guidance and tend closer to yours. But I also think this will have something to do with our strength and our putter’s mass/weight. And I also believe it better to err more toward your side of the equation than to drop below that 2:1 ratio.
One other thing I’d add is that when practicing at home on the carpet where I can’t put a tee in the ground there are any number of things that can be used to create a gate. I generally just set up mine using two extra balls.
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Kevin,
The things you are talking about are also true. One thing to consider is that the greens we play on vice the professionals are not in the same category. Theirs is much faster, hence the more tentative putting stroke. The point I am making is to ensure you accelerate through the ball and my back 6 forward 12 helps the amateur player understand this concept….I think. Regardless, practicing to develop a putting stroke that works for your game is the key.
Cheers Jim
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