The fine art of putting part one.

Harvey Penick said I believe that he started all his new students with one ball on the green putting it into the hole. As they achieved some competence he then moved them to chipping, then pitching, lob and sand shots. It wasn't until they had a fair mastery of these skills that he went to the long game. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of phone conversations with the short game wizard Paul Runyon. It is my recollection that he said essentially the same thing. This progressive concept is at the heart of my teaching philosophy. I use this concept for three reasons. First, nothing will reduce your scores faster than short game success. Second, all golfers can improve their short game skills. It only requires the correct techniques and practice. Not all golfers have the ability to hit long drives. Third, because everyone can improve their short game it builds confidence to tackle the long game with greater optimism and less pressure to succeed.

Before we actually start I want to tell you that I have never had an original thought about golf. That may be true about life. :-) Everything I know I have learned from those who came before me. I may package it a bit differently but the fundamentals are already there. I suspect that what they taught me they learned from someone else.

O.K. here we go.

Putting is all about speed. Period. Until you can control the distance you hit a putt you will never be a good putter. For some of you this will be old information but review is always good.

What is the correct speed for any putt? I've stolen this from Dave Pelz. He calculated that any putt, in order to overcome the ramp effect surrounding every putting cup, needed to have enough speed to finish 14 to 17 inches beyond the hole. Any putt hit this hard will still go into the hole. His testing supports this. The ramp effect is created by all the golfers that have played the hole you are on before you got there. It's caused by the impressions their shoes and body weight make when they tend the flag or when the reach into the cup to pull out a putt they have holed. If you are the first group to reach a hole since the cup was changed there will be no ramp effect but the a putt that still leaves you 14" from the hole should be easy to hole. All of my putting instruction is based upon you being able to learn to hit every putt 14 to 17 " beyond the hole.

Now a very brief discussion about break. The amount a putt will break is determined by how hard the putt is hit. A putt that just barely falls into the hole will have more break that one where the putt hits the back of the cup. When a pro asks his caddy to help him read the break the caddy makes his recommendations based upon how hard his pro hits his putts.

Here is a game I learned when I was back at David Leadbetters in the early 80's. It's the hardest putting game I know and the most effective. Just yesterday one of my better players and I created a modification that we think will help. The game is called "10". You find or create two cups about 15 feet apart. A slightly uphill/downhill putt is preferred. 17" from the rear of the cup you place a marker or stick a tee into the ground. The area from the front of the cup to the marker counts. It does not matter how far left or right of the hole your putt finishes. As long as it is between the front and the marker you are good. You take three golf balls. Start at either end near the cup. You putt your golf balls to the other cup. Any time you miss you start over. The objective is to putt three balls from one end into the safe zone then go the other direction also into the safe zone. Then three more into the original direction and finally one ball back the other way until you have made 10 consecutive putts into the safe zone.

Here is the modification. If you are unsuccessful in your second attempt at the original distance then move the rear markers out 2 feet, so that you have increased the size of the safe zone. Then try again. You continue to move the markers out until you are able to get 10 consecutive putts into the safe zone. Once you get 10 putts into the safe zone then start to move the markers back in. With this modification you can practice this drill for an hour without wanting to break your putter. I guarantee that repeated practice with this drill will make you a better putter.

Part two in a couple of days.