Watching the FedEx Cup St Jude Championship, I saw Rory McIlroy missing too many putts on the first 3 days of that tournament. Just sinking 1 more putt, would have put him in the playoffs on the final day of that tournament. Please forward this blog to Rory as the content could have earned him an additional $2.5 Million. Of course, it should also help you too.
All golfers want to use any advantage to sink more putts. Choosing the right line to start your putts and swinging with the right weight are the 2 critical issues that I hope to help Rory and you for short putts. Pros sink about 44% of all 10-foot putts and their success drops significantly for longer putts. Distortions on the surface of the green will change the direction of every putt but small distortions closer to the hole are a much bigger problem as your ball slows down near the hole. So hitting firm enough to pass the hole is critical for your success.
1/ Ball Momentum is MORE Critical Near the Hole
Every putt needs enough speed to carry the ball at least 12 to 24 inches past the hole to avoid the distortions caused by imperfections near the hole. The most damage on every green is caused by golfers carelessly bending down at the hole to remove their ball from the hole. Pressure from a footprint or the head of a putter used for balance, cause these hidden distortions.
NOTE: When you putt to pass the hole you should plan on less break at the hole.
2/ Every Putter Can Sink ANY Putt
You can’t afford to worry about using the wrong putter for each day that you play a round of golf. Rory had his caddie cut down his putter by 3/16ths of an inch “because it was not exactly the same length as the putter length that he preferred”. This was a crazy request as he was using a flat grip and could easily slide his hands up the grip. This was a dumb excuse.
3/ Pointing Your Putter Is a Dumb Solution
In the middle of the 3rd round Rory was pointing his putter to line up his ball with the hole. That was a big mistake as he missed 2 putts from about 5 feet using that method (which he rarely uses). You can’t see a break by pointing a putter and you can’t feel a slight break at the hole by standing over your putting line at any distance along your putting line. You need to trust the break near the hole as your ball slows down. ( breaks along the path of the ball need to be considered to a lesser extent)
There are only 2 legal ways to measure OR feel the break near the hole: (a) by seeing the break as you look along the line of your putt from your ball to the hole or (b) by using GRAVITY to determine the amount of break at the hole, using your “calibrated” putter. [Stand near the hole on the line from the hole to your ball to see if the handle end of your putter shaft lines up above or in line with your ball (to find the high side of the slope at the hole).]
NOTE: You can only accurately plumb-bob with your putter if you “calibrate” it by lining up a known side (left or right as it is tapered) of the shaft and direction of your putter face, with any door frame.
Practice putting with GOLFSTR+ with a flat leading wrist. Buy one at www.GOLFSTR.com .