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"Finding Speed Control on the Green: The Art of Putting"

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Last month we discussed developing good speed control with a lasting image of a precise target, relaxation and a stroke that begins and ends with your chosen picture. We get our feel for distance with a clear picture of the end of our line or precise target to the exclusion of any conversations with ourselves. The conversations that disrupt performance are the seldom encouraging but always intruding words of our "internal caddies" such as: "Get it there...!; Don't be short...!; Don't miss it...! Maybe it has a little more left to right break..." The content of these conversations doesn't matter as the effect is always the same: Missed Putts.

You will play your best if you commit to a line and/or target behind the ball and stay with that focus to the exclusion of conversations with yourself or playing partners until you have stroked the putt and your ball comes to rest. It will feel like a totally mindful (and mindless) event.

The first photo in this months tip shows me behind a line of balls that breaks into a "Y." The line of balls on your right continues over and through a hole. This line represents the way this putt will break. The line on your left remains a straight line. This putt is slightly uphill. That is why both of these lines extend beyond the hole.

Notice that my putter is in front of me and my body is square to the line on which I want to start my ball rolling. If I am a spot putter I will stay focused on the straight line to your left in the photo. If I am a line putter, my only focus is the breaking line into the hole shown to your right. If I combine line and spot putting, I will see my line into the hole at every point of my set up, but my visual image as I stroke my putt is a picture of a point at the end of the straight line. Most players use the combined lines as they transition from spot to line putting.

I stand and look down my line as I feel the stroke I want to make.

I walk into my putt as I stare at a precise point on my target line. I aim my right foot 90 degrees to my intermediate target as I prepare to spread my feet and assume my set up.

I assume my set up and repeatedly scan my line as I "see the line" over which my ball will roll into the hole. If I am a line putter, I draw a straight line to the point at which I want my ball to stop.

The following picture illustrates what not to do as you finish scanning the line. Notice that the line of balls is shorter. The first ball closest to me in the line of balls represents my last point of focus as I scan my line. Your speed will be determined by your last point of focus. If your last image was halfway to your target, you will always be short. Adjust your target images to change your speed control.

The next picture is what to do. Remember, this putt is slightly uphill. If you are a spot putter, your point or target should be in a straight line with a point past your hole. If you are a line putter, see your line continue through the hole on your break line. The more uphill your putt, the more you move your point or line. Moving your target images and staying totally committed to and focused on those precise visual images of targets to the exclusion of anything else will give you precise speed control.

For downhill putts, bring your point or line back to you and allow the natural slope to provide the additional speed. This will take a little practice. Change the slope you use when you practice. Be visual and void of all thoughts. As you become more and more visual, you will begin to experience the "Art of Putting."

For level putts, your point or line should be at the hole as shown in the following picture.

If you are struggling with speed control because you are used to playing on faster or slower greens, adjust your targets. If the greens are slower, simply move your targets behind the hole on a level putt and adjust uphill and downhill putts accordingly. If the greens are faster than your home course, bring your targets back to you on level putts and adjust your targets accordingly on uphill and downhill putts.

I would encourage you not to make extreme adjustments in target points on greens that are faster or slower than you are used to. I would adjust my targets 6 to 8 inches at a time. A little practice time on the putting green before you go to the 1st tee can save you many strokes on the golf course and shorten your period of adjustment.

The last thing you should be thinking behind or over the ball is about how much faster or slower the greens are. Thoughts about how fast the greens are will result in a decelerating stroke. Thoughts about how slow the greens are will result in a hit. A hit in your stroke means a change in grip pressure at impact. When you change grip pressure at impact you alter the putter path and face angle and your speed will tend to be too fast.

GOLF MAGAZINE will be showing the use of ball images at the end of the line as a drill in an upcoming article. I will advise you when that article appears in print.

If you consider yourself a spot putter, it is my belief that your best putting will follow if you work on transitioning to a line putter. That is, see the end of the line into the hole, through the hole or short of the hole, dependent upon the slope (uphill, downhill, level) of your putt.

Next month I will give you another drill for speed control. Remember, good pictures of precise targets is the best way to have perfect speed control. All you have to do is find the line and adjust your images for uphill, downhill and level putts.

Note to my Juniors: Please be sure to wear your sunscreen!! (Not bad advice for all of us.) The consequences of sun damage won't show up for years. Be proactive. Practice prevention. Protect yourself and you will enjoy this wonderful game for years to come.

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