A simple way to make shorter putts – golf techniques – Brief Article
Tom Watson
Too many mechanical thoughts can spoil your stroke. When I’ve putted my best lately, I’ve concentrated on one simple key that worked when I was a youngster just learning the game.
Straight back, straight through
A wise teacher once told me that if you can swing the putter straight back and straight through, you’ll make a lot of putts.
At the PGA Championship last year, I made just about every putt I looked at Saturday and shot 65. It’s the best I’ve putted in many years. My only thought was to take the club straighter back and straighter through.
I fight a tendency, which many of you share, to take the putter back on an inside path. Then I have to manipulate it to make good contact. Left-to-right putts especially can give me fits.
A good drill for short putts is to lay two clubs on the ground, parallel to the line of the putt and a little wider apart than the length of your putterhead. Then stroke putts between the clubs. Accelerate the putter down the line, and you’ll groove a sound stroke.
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