Golf: PuttingGolf: PuttingMechanicsMechanicsMarion Alexander, PhD, ProfessorMarion Alexander, PhD, ProfessorMike Mike ChizewskiChizewski, BPE, , BPE, MSc MSc CandidateCandidate

University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaSport Biomechanics LaboratorySport Biomechanics LaboratoryFaculty of Kinesiology and RecreationFaculty of Kinesiology and RecreationManagementManagement

Putting TechniquePutting Technique There is a wide variation in putting techniqueThere is a wide variation in putting technique

among skilled golfersamong skilled golfers A golfer can be successful with a uniqueA golfer can be successful with a unique

technique as long as two characteristics are intechnique as long as two characteristics are inplace:place: The ball is placed opposite the left (front) foot or justThe ball is placed opposite the left (front) foot or just

behind the left foot (Some golfers prefer the ball tobehind the left foot (Some golfers prefer the ball tobe in the middle of the feet, in the center of thebe in the middle of the feet, in the center of thestance)stance)

The eyes are kept directly above the ball. To attainThe eyes are kept directly above the ball. To attainthis position the trunk must be flexed close to 40 ºthis position the trunk must be flexed close to 40 º

50 º

Feet shoulder width apartToes pointing forwardEyes over ballKnees and hips slightly flexed

Putting Research StudyPutting Research Study The The main difference between amateur andmain difference between amateur and

professional golfers was in set-up.professional golfers was in set-up. This was found to be This was found to be significant with amateursignificant with amateur’’ss

weight distribution approximately 60% Right - 40%weight distribution approximately 60% Right - 40%LeftLeft

The The Professional Group was much closer to 50% onProfessional Group was much closer to 50% onboth sides at set-up.both sides at set-up.

Although there was no significant difference inAlthough there was no significant difference instance width, there was a stance width, there was a significant difference insignificant difference inthe total amount of sway between the two groups ofthe total amount of sway between the two groups ofgolfers; the amateurs had greater swaygolfers; the amateurs had greater sway

Putting techniques 1Putting techniques 1

Most golfers assume a traditional stanceMost golfers assume a traditional stancewhile addressing the ball:while addressing the ball: Feet shoulder width apart and toes areFeet shoulder width apart and toes are

square (not pointing forward or backward)square (not pointing forward or backward) Weight is evenly distributed between the feetWeight is evenly distributed between the feet Trunk is leaning forward slightlyTrunk is leaning forward slightly Slight flex in the knees and hipsSlight flex in the knees and hips Slight to moderate flex in the elbows so clubSlight to moderate flex in the elbows so club

is held just above the groundis held just above the ground

Putting Techniques 2Putting Techniques 2 Putter is held in an overlapping grip with the left handPutter is held in an overlapping grip with the left hand

on top and the right hand overlapping the index andon top and the right hand overlapping the index andmiddle fingers of the left handmiddle fingers of the left hand

The grip on the putter should be as light as possibleThe grip on the putter should be as light as possible Head and eyes over the ball with slight trunk flexionHead and eyes over the ball with slight trunk flexion

and neck flexionand neck flexion The head and lower body must be kept absolutely stillThe head and lower body must be kept absolutely still

throughout the strokethroughout the stroke

Putting Techniques 3Putting Techniques 3 The club and arms should swing back and through as aThe club and arms should swing back and through as a

unit, with no additional movement from the wrists orunit, with no additional movement from the wrists orelbowselbows

The shoulder girdle and arms form a triangle thatThe shoulder girdle and arms form a triangle thatrotates as a unit but the sides remain the same lengthrotates as a unit but the sides remain the same length

The shoulder girdle moves as a unit with the clubThe shoulder girdle moves as a unit with the club

Arm Action in PuttingArm Action in Putting The arms and club act as a pendulum, swingingThe arms and club act as a pendulum, swinging

back and then through toward the target; and theback and then through toward the target; and thetempo of the swing should be close to that of atempo of the swing should be close to that of apendulum-the acceleration of gravitypendulum-the acceleration of gravity

The arm swing occurs from the shoulder girdle,The arm swing occurs from the shoulder girdle,there should be no wrist movement occurringthere should be no wrist movement occurringduring the strokeduring the stroke

The wrists remain locked in neutral during theThe wrists remain locked in neutral during theswing, but there is no flexion, rotation or extensionswing, but there is no flexion, rotation or extensionin the wristsin the wrists

The entire shoulder girdle rotates back andThe entire shoulder girdle rotates back andforward to contact, while the wrists and elbowsforward to contact, while the wrists and elbowsremain at the same angle to the clubremain at the same angle to the club

Pathway of ClubPathway of Club Straight Back and Straight Through before andStraight Back and Straight Through before and

after contact; club may deviate slightly atafter contact; club may deviate slightly atbeginning and end of strokebeginning and end of stroke

The most important aspect of putting is to bringThe most important aspect of putting is to bringthe club straight back and straight through tothe club straight back and straight through tothe ball in a modified pendulum motionthe ball in a modified pendulum motion

The club face must be square at impact, andThe club face must be square at impact, andthis is best accomplished by bringing the clubthis is best accomplished by bringing the clubstraight back and straight through the ballstraight back and straight through the ball

The ball is placed in the middle of the arc of theThe ball is placed in the middle of the arc of theclub and directly under the eyesclub and directly under the eyes

The player must avoid any movement of theThe player must avoid any movement of theclub to the inside of the arc during the contactclub to the inside of the arc during the contactphasephase

Club is drawn straight back alongThe ground and remains square

Timing of the putting stroke: a professional golfer’s backswing takes abouttwice as long as the downswing

Good putting stance but she hasturned her head to watch the ball

Head turned toward ballShoulders turned toward ballShoulders hunched upward; Minimal trunk flexion

Putting TechniquePutting Technique 44

Good putters have a relatively short backswingGood putters have a relatively short backswingand a relatively long follow through for theand a relatively long follow through for theaverage puttaverage putt The short backswing will enable the golfer to get theThe short backswing will enable the golfer to get the

middle of the club back to the ball more consistently;middle of the club back to the ball more consistently;the longer the backswing the more inconsistent thethe longer the backswing the more inconsistent theability to get the middle of the club back to the ballability to get the middle of the club back to the ballas the club head may twist slightly on the way backas the club head may twist slightly on the way backto the ballto the ball

A long follow through will help prevent the golferA long follow through will help prevent the golferfrom decelerating the club head prior to impact- onefrom decelerating the club head prior to impact- oneof the most common errors in puttingof the most common errors in putting

Deceleration of the putterDeceleration of the putter Most players have a tendency to decelerate, orMost players have a tendency to decelerate, or

slow down the putter as it approaches the ballslow down the putter as it approaches the ball This is often due to using too long a backswing,This is often due to using too long a backswing,

so that as the putter approaches the ball it isso that as the putter approaches the ball it isgoing too fastgoing too fast

The player then has to slow down the putter priorThe player then has to slow down the putter priorto impact, which is often accompanied by a slightto impact, which is often accompanied by a slightrotation of the putter head, bringing it off line torotation of the putter head, bringing it off line tothe ballthe ball

This deceleration could also cause the club toThis deceleration could also cause the club tolose too much forward speed prior to contact, solose too much forward speed prior to contact, sothe ball does not reach the hole.the ball does not reach the hole.

Feet are too close together which may affectFeet are too close together which may affectbalancebalance

Head has turned to follow the path of the ballHead has turned to follow the path of the balltoo soon following impacttoo soon following impact

Putting techniquePutting technique 55 The length of the backswing increasesThe length of the backswing increases

with the length of the putt- as does thewith the length of the putt- as does thelength of the follow throughlength of the follow through

It has been suggested that for each puttingIt has been suggested that for each puttingdistance the length of the follow throughdistance the length of the follow throughwas about one and one-half to two timeswas about one and one-half to two timesthe length of the backswingthe length of the backswing

As the length of the backswing and followAs the length of the backswing and followthrough increase, the speed of the putterthrough increase, the speed of the putteralso increases; a longer putt clearlyalso increases; a longer putt clearlyrequires a faster club head speed than arequires a faster club head speed than ashorter puttshorter putt

Putting TechniquePutting Technique 66 A longer putt requires a greater A longer putt requires a greater clubhead clubhead speed,speed,

which can be attained by a longer leverwhich can be attained by a longer lever When addressing a long putt, the player could standWhen addressing a long putt, the player could stand

more upright and grip the putter closer to the top ofmore upright and grip the putter closer to the top ofthe handlethe handle

This increased effective length of the putter willThis increased effective length of the putter willincrease the length of the arc of the swing andincrease the length of the arc of the swing andincrease increase clubhead clubhead speedspeed

Player must keep the putter head under control, andPlayer must keep the putter head under control, andnot try to swing too fast or too hard on the longer puttnot try to swing too fast or too hard on the longer putt

A common problem in golf is the A common problem in golf is the prematureprematureacceleration of the club too early in the downswing-acceleration of the club too early in the downswing-the the clubhead clubhead must accelerate into the ball, not priormust accelerate into the ball, not priorto reaching the ballto reaching the ball

Reading the GreenReading the Green Reading the green helps you to decide howReading the green helps you to decide how

much force to put on the puttmuch force to put on the putt Need to consider the following:Need to consider the following:

Slope of the greenSlope of the green Length of the grassLength of the grass Direction of the grainDirection of the grain Wind direction and speedWind direction and speed Wetness or dryness of the grassWetness or dryness of the grass Bumps or irregularities on the green (ballBumps or irregularities on the green (ball

marks, spike marks, pebbles)marks, spike marks, pebbles)

Spin on the ballSpin on the ball

The ideal putt willThe ideal putt willhave symmetricalhave symmetricaltopspin followingtopspin followingimpact with theimpact with theclub. This topspinclub. This topspinshould be aroundshould be aroundthe left right axis,the left right axis,with no sidespinwith no sidespincomponentcomponent

If the ball hasIf the ball hassidespin thissidespin thissuggests that thesuggests that theball was hit offball was hit offcentercenter

Axis of ball spin

The putterThe putter The putter should be constructed so that it hasThe putter should be constructed so that it has

a high resistance to rotation to the left and righta high resistance to rotation to the left and right Modern putters are constructed with a veryModern putters are constructed with a very

large moment of inertia around the vertical axislarge moment of inertia around the vertical axisso the club face remains square to the targetso the club face remains square to the targeteven if the impact is slightly off centereven if the impact is slightly off center

Moment of inertia is the resistance of an objectMoment of inertia is the resistance of an objectto rotation around an axis, based on mass andto rotation around an axis, based on mass andthe distance to the axisthe distance to the axis22

For example, the Odyssey 2 ball putter has aFor example, the Odyssey 2 ball putter has aheavier head that is weighted on the sides toheavier head that is weighted on the sides toprevent club head rotation at impactprevent club head rotation at impact

Putting routinePutting routine Good putters follow the same pre shot routineGood putters follow the same pre shot routine

for all of their putts, which usually includes:for all of their putts, which usually includes: Lining up the ball or ball marker with the hole fromLining up the ball or ball marker with the hole from

behindbehind Walking from the putt to the hole to check the slopeWalking from the putt to the hole to check the slope

of the green, conditions around the hole, divots, etc.of the green, conditions around the hole, divots, etc. Placing the ball on the ball marker, usually with thePlacing the ball on the ball marker, usually with the

logo or a line on the ball lined up with the holelogo or a line on the ball lined up with the hole Picking out a divot or blade of grass to serve as aPicking out a divot or blade of grass to serve as a

target a few feet from the balltarget a few feet from the ball Taking a couple of practice putts from the side ofTaking a couple of practice putts from the side of

the ball, just to judge the distance of the holethe ball, just to judge the distance of the hole

Putting Routine 2Putting Routine 2 When the putt is lined up the golfer will approach theWhen the putt is lined up the golfer will approach the

ball from behind and place the club face squarelyball from behind and place the club face squarelybehind the ballbehind the ball

After the club is placed comfortably behind the ball,After the club is placed comfortably behind the ball,then the feet are positioned from the club and ballthen the feet are positioned from the club and ball

Note the club must be put in place behind the ball first;Note the club must be put in place behind the ball first;then the feet are positioned a comfortable distancethen the feet are positioned a comfortable distancefrom the ballfrom the ball

While positioned over the ball, the golfer will take aWhile positioned over the ball, the golfer will take acouple of looks up at the hole, just as a reminder wherecouple of looks up at the hole, just as a reminder wherethe hole is and how far away it isthe hole is and how far away it is

The golfer will take a few seconds to concentrate onThe golfer will take a few seconds to concentrate onthe ball; looking directly at the logo or other marker onthe ball; looking directly at the logo or other marker onthe ballthe ball

Putting routine 3Putting routine 3 The golfer must try not to spend too much timeThe golfer must try not to spend too much time

waiting over the ball; after a couple of secondswaiting over the ball; after a couple of secondsthe golfer should start the strokethe golfer should start the stroke The stroke starts with the backswing; following theThe stroke starts with the backswing; following the

backswing the club swings slowly forward to meetbackswing the club swings slowly forward to meetthe ballthe ball

The time from the beginning of the backswing toThe time from the beginning of the backswing tocontact with the ball ranged from .65 s to 1.3 scontact with the ball ranged from .65 s to 1.3 sdepending on the golferdepending on the golfer

Each good golfer shows consistency in completionEach good golfer shows consistency in completiontimes regardless of the distance of the putttimes regardless of the distance of the putt

Common Putting ErrorsCommon Putting Errors Missing the center of the clubface and having the ballMissing the center of the clubface and having the ball

contact the club off center- this will often cause thecontact the club off center- this will often cause theclub to twist at impact and the ball will move off to theclub to twist at impact and the ball will move off to theside following contact and miss the holeside following contact and miss the hole

Moving the head backward during the backswingMoving the head backward during the backswingand/or forward during the forward swing- this willand/or forward during the forward swing- this willcause the club head to move off the correctcause the club head to move off the correctpath-path-””you moved your head!you moved your head!””

If you move your axis of rotation through the middleIf you move your axis of rotation through the middleof your head, this will alter the low point of theof your head, this will alter the low point of thependulum and decrease contact accuracypendulum and decrease contact accuracy

Common Putting Errors 2Common Putting Errors 2 Too long a backswing will also cause errors inToo long a backswing will also cause errors in

accuracy of impact with the ball;accuracy of impact with the ball; backswing should be as short as possible backswing should be as short as possible Errors in alignment of the ball with the hole areErrors in alignment of the ball with the hole are

common- golfer must square up the club facecommon- golfer must square up the club facewith the line of target very carefullywith the line of target very carefully

Too much wrist movement during the stroke- theToo much wrist movement during the stroke- thewrists must not break and must remain lockedwrists must not break and must remain lockedduring the entire strokeduring the entire stroke

A common error is breakdown (flexion) of the leftA common error is breakdown (flexion) of the leftwrist through contact- left wrist should remainwrist through contact- left wrist should remainrigidrigid

Common Putting Errors 3Common Putting Errors 3 Grip pressure control is important.Grip pressure control is important. Nervousness while putting will tighten theNervousness while putting will tighten the

muscles in both your arms and hands. Thismuscles in both your arms and hands. Thisincreased pressure will cause you to modifyincreased pressure will cause you to modifyyour normal stroke.your normal stroke.

In order to become an accomplished putter,In order to become an accomplished putter,you must find your own way of dealing withyou must find your own way of dealing withpressure.pressure.

Good Putters "see" themselves making the puttGood Putters "see" themselves making the puttbefore they stroke it.before they stroke it.

Good Putters do everything they can to reduceGood Putters do everything they can to reducetheir heartbeat and tension level before theytheir heartbeat and tension level before theyputt.putt.

Remember, keep your head still, followRemember, keep your head still, followthrough and good putting!!through and good putting!!