Do you sometimes feel you have a death grip on your putter during your stroke? Do you sometimes decelerate during your stroke or feel you hit or pop the putt instead of making a smooth, pendulum stroke? One culprit may be your grip pressure as your hands are your only connection to your putter and too much pressure in the hands will affect your putter’s motion during your stroke.  

What ingredients will help you get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes? The first and most important key to successful putting is the belief that you are a great putter. Believe that you can make putts and you will make putts.   

Another important part of your formula for successful putting is to keep your pressure light on the club so you can feel the weight of your putter head instead of the handle of your club. Your hand pressure should remain the same throughout your stroke. 

 

Feel the Weight of Your Putter Head Drill 

 Here’s how it works: 

  • Set up in your normal putting position.
  • Raise your putter about one inch above the ground.
  • Start swinging your putter back and forth in a continuous motion with your shoulders and with no wrist bending. 
  • As you are swinging your putter back and forth, notice if you feel the handle of your putter or the weight of your putter head. If you feel the handle, you have too much pressure in your hands. Continue to lighten your grip until you feel the weight of the putter head and not the handle of the putter.
  • Continue swinging your putter back and forth while feeling the weight of your putter head. Now close your eyes and continue to feel the weight of your putter head.
  • With your eyes closed, tighten your grip, and notice what happens to your swinging motion and your club. Did you feel your stroke slow down or stop? Did your smooth, pendulum motion change? Did you feel the handle more than the weight of your putter head?  Did you feel your fingers squeezing your putter handle?
  • Continue to swing your putter back and forth as you gradually loosen your grip so you again feel the weight of the putter head. Notice the changes in your swinging motion, tempo, and body as you tighten and loosen your grip during this practice drill.

On the course, as part of your pre-shot routine for putting, make one or two practice swings with your only goal being to feel the weight of your putter head and not your putter handle during your practice strokes. Maintain this same pressure during your real putting stroke. Maintaining the same pressure will allow you to feel the weight of your putter head throughout your entire putting stroke. 

Putting is the most individualized area in golf. Be yourself, believe, feel the weight of your putter head, and you will get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes!