| Putting represents nearly half of all the strokes you | | | | pendulum motion than Aoki, swinging the putter |
| take during a round of golf. So it's not surprising to find | | | | smoothly and rhythmically back and forth. |
| players looking to sharpen their putting skills whenever | | | | Making a smooth, flowing stroke is not a problem for |
| they can or trying tips things to be successful. The | | | | most players, witness the golfers who take golf |
| better putter you are, the lower your golf handicap, as I | | | | lessons from me. Many have nice fluid strokes. The |
| tell golfers who take my golf lesions. | | | | problem arises when a ball is introduced. The ball for |
| Because of its bearing on your golf handicap, putting | | | | whatever reason hampers the putt. A good drill to help |
| has caused more inventiveness in search of perfection | | | | eliminate this problem is to start by taking a normal |
| than anything in the game. Players have all sorts of | | | | practice stroke. Then address the ball, close your eyes, |
| styles and movements, all unique to the individual. | | | | and repeat the stroke-letting the ball get in the way. |
| Despite these innovative efforts, one thing remains | | | | The drill makes the real stroke more like the practice |
| true: there's no substitute for a sound putting stroke. | | | | one. |
| Below we describe the putting technique of two | | | | The Follow-Through |
| professional golfers-Isao Aoki and Nick Price. They've | | | | During the follow-through, Aoki brings the head of the |
| adopted different putting styles, yet both are | | | | putter back into a square position at impact. His head |
| considered excellent putters. | | | | remains perfectly still throughout the stroke. Aoki |
| The Setup | | | | remains virtually motionless afterwards, careful that the |
| Japan's Isao Aoki posses a superb putting stroke | | | | slightest movement doesn't affect his putt. His head |
| locked into a strange and individual style. Nevertheless, | | | | stays still except to follow the ball well after the stroke. |
| he is renowned putter. In fact, putting is probably the | | | | Price keeps his left wrist locked in position through the |
| best part of his game. Aoki addresses the ball with the | | | | hitting zone and into the follow- through. He |
| top of his putter high in the air. His hands are low and | | | | accelerates the putter-head through impact and |
| he crouches over significantly. | | | | makes sure his follow- through is as long as his |
| Nick Price' style, on the other hand, is more classic. His | | | | backswing. He, too, keeps his head as steady as |
| technique is based on a locked left wrist and a | | | | possible through the stroke. And he keeps his eyes |
| shoulder-dominated stroke. At address, he keeps his | | | | fixed on the spot where the ball was well after the |
| shoulders square to the intended line, and his hands | | | | stroke. |
| over or just ahead of the ball. He crouches slightly | | | | Despite their different styles, both players remain |
| over the ball, but not nearly as much as Aoki. | | | | practically motionless after the putt is made. It is |
| Despite the differences in style, both players do one | | | | imperative to making a good putt. Lifting your head too |
| thing all great putters do at address-they keep their | | | | soon when putting can throw off your putt. The Show |
| eyes directly over the ball. It's the most important | | | | Me The Money Drill we covered in last week's golf tips |
| ingredient in the setup, irrespective of a person's height, | | | | is great for this flaw. |
| build, or style. Keeping you're eyes directly over the ball | | | | The Show Me the Money drill works for three |
| and turning your head allows a direct view down the | | | | reasons. It forces you to keep your eyes steady, |
| line to the hole, without any need to move the | | | | helping to stabilize your whole body. It prevents you |
| shoulders out of alignment. | | | | from lifting out of your stance prematurely. And |
| The Stroke | | | | because you're focused on the coin and not the ball, it |
| Aoki is a touch putter, so he uses his hands more than | | | | inclines you to make a nice clean stroke through the |
| his shoulders, and takes the club back steeply, with the | | | | ball. |
| right hand controlling the takeaway. At the top of the | | | | Conclusion |
| backswing, his putter is high off the ground-an unusual | | | | If you want to lower your golf handicap, you need to |
| position for a good putter. Nevertheless, it works well | | | | improve your putting. Nearly half of the strokes made |
| for Aoki. His stroke is smooth and rhythmical. | | | | during a full round of golf are putts. Cutting down on |
| Price's technique is based on a shoulder-dominated | | | | your putts will lower your scores and golf handicap. Of |
| stroke. His arms, shoulders, and putter move away | | | | course, not everyone will have the same putting style. |
| from the ball as a single unit, with the hands remaining | | | | But one thing remains true: there's no substitute for a |
| passive. He keeps his wrist firm during the stroke. And | | | | sound putting stroke-irrespective of how it looks. |
| he strikes on the upstroke. Price uses more of a | | | | |