Mastering The Art Of Smooth Putting: Secrets To Success

Golfers are always looking for ways to improve their putting stroke, and while there is a lot of general advice out there, focusing on the actual stroke can help players of all levels improve their game. A good putting stroke has few moving parts and is based on a single rhythm or cadence, with the shoulders rocking to move the arms and hands together as a unit. The wrists should remain solid, and the lower half of the body—hips, legs, and feet—should stay still. The key to a smooth stroke is consistency, and there are several drills and techniques that can help golfers improve their putting.

Balance your feet

To get a smooth putting stroke, balancing your feet is crucial. This is called "skeletal alignment", which helps keep you stable and relieves tension by eliminating pressure throughout your body. When you start your putting stroke in a tense, imbalanced, and rigid position, your ability to hit delicate putts will be affected. To achieve this balance, your weight should be equally distributed across both feet, with no swaying back and forth during the stroke. This is the best way to return your putter face squarely and hit a solidly struck putt in the centre of the face.

To achieve this balanced stance, bend at the waist until your eyes are just inside or directly over the ball. It is important not to feel too hunched or too tall, as this can affect your posture and balance. Once you have found the right posture, check that your feet are parallel to the target. You can use an alignment rod or another tool to ensure your toes are aligned correctly. Some golfers prefer to have their lead foot slightly open, but for most, a square setup is preferable.

A good tip to ensure balance is to bend your knees slightly and tilt your hips down until your fingertips touch the top of your kneecaps. Then grip your putter. This posture will help ensure your arms are not excessively bent, but also not arrow-straight.

The balance and stability of your feet are key to a smooth and consistent putting stroke. It is a fundamental part of the setup and will help you hit the ball with accuracy and control.

Ball position forward

When it comes to putting in golf, the smallest details can make a big difference. One of the most important factors is the position of the ball relative to your stance.

The ideal ball position for putting is in the front-centre of your stance. A good way to visualise this is to imagine drawing an imaginary line from your left ear to the ball, which should be just in front of your left foot. This setup makes it easier to strike the ball with a proper stroke.

If the ball is too far forward in your stance, you may hit up on it or pull left putts. This can cause the ball to bounce and end up short of the hole. Conversely, if the ball is too far back, you may miss putts to the right. This can change the low point of your stroke, causing you to accidentally hit down on the ball. The ball can then jump off the putter face and get off-line quickly.

When the ball is in the front-centre position, it allows you to strike the ball at the bottom of the arc or slightly on the upswing, giving you the possibility of the best roll. This setup also helps you maintain a stable body, which is crucial for consistency in putting.

While the exact position may vary slightly between golfers, the key is to find a consistent ball position that works for you and stick to it. This consistency will help you develop a smooth and repeatable putting stroke.

Check posture

Checking your posture is crucial to achieving a smooth putting stroke.

First, bend from the waist until your eyes are just inside or directly over the ball. This is vital for executing a correct putting stroke. Avoid feeling too hunched or too tall, as you don't want to crowd yourself or have to reach for the ball.

Next, check your feet. They should be parallel to the target, with your weight equally balanced on both feet. Some people prefer to have their lead foot slightly open, which is okay, but for most golfers, a square setup is better.

Now, with your eye line and alignment set, position your chest and arms in a triangle. Your elbows can be slightly bent, but avoid excessive bending. You want to maintain this triangle throughout your stroke, using your chest and shoulders to move the putter head back and through.

Finally, ensure your knees are slightly bent, and tilt your hips down until your fingertips touch the top of your kneecaps. Then grip your putter.

By checking your posture in this way, you'll be well on your way to achieving a smooth and consistent putting stroke.

Match stroke tempo

Achieving a smooth putting stroke in golf requires a lot of practice and a good sense of tempo. Tempo is arguably the most important factor in a golfer's putting stroke. It is the speed at which the ball is hit with the putter face and the way the stroke is controlled to maintain the correct speed.

A good tempo will allow you to control the distance of your putt. A consistent and smooth tempo will enable you to control where the ball ends up, and you will be able to reduce the number of putts in a round. A smooth stroke is one that is pretty equal as you go back and as you go through. You want to avoid a long backswing, which can cause deceleration on the through-stroke, making the putter face unstable.

To achieve a good tempo, you must master the length of your stroke and the speed at which you execute it. Better putters have the same stroke tempo for every putt, varying only the length of the stroke. A good way to practice this is to use a metronome, either a physical one or an app, and set it to between 78 and 95 beats per minute. Start your stroke on beat one, hit the ball on beat two, and hold your finish for beats three and four. This will help you develop a consistent stroke tempo, and from there, you can vary the length of your stroke depending on the distance of the putt.

Another way to improve your tempo is to use a training aid such as the "Stroke Meter" from EyeLine Golf. This device forces you to swing back and through at a similar length, automatically smoothing out your stroke. Place the Stroke Meter on the ground and adjust the sticks to the desired length. Then, make your backstroke, ensuring you don't tap the stick. As you come through, focus on not tapping the second stick. This will help you accelerate smoothly through the putt without knocking into the sticks.

Additionally, you can try a "braking" technique. For this, find a flat 10-foot putt. Swing the putter back as far as you think is needed, and as you make contact with the ball, cut the power. This will help you match your follow-through to the length of your backstroke, creating a smooth and even motion that accelerates through impact.

Keep your head down

Keeping your head down is one of the most common pieces of advice in golf. It is good advice, especially for putting. If you lift your head to see where the ball is rolling, you'll likely end up with a weak shot that veers off-line.

When your shoulders rotate open, the club gets dragged with them, and the putterface is usually open when you cut across the ball. This means a glancing strike with an open clubface, and a putt that misses short and low.

The fix here is to stay down and keep your body square. Keep your head motionless, and your shoulders will stay in line, resulting in a straighter putt. You can practice this with the "dime drill". Place your golf ball on a dime and envision the dime underneath the ball, focusing on it as you take your shot.

You can also try the following drills:

• Hit some three-footers left-hand-only with your right hand holding your left shoulder in place. If the left shoulder stays down, you'll swing the putter towards the hole.
• Set up five feet from a hole and place a ball marker just behind your ball. Practice hitting putts focusing on seeing the ball move away from the marker. This will help keep your head down a fraction longer.

Frequently asked questions