I have been a PGA professional, both touring and club, for nearly 20 years, and have seen far more bad putters than good swingers, yet the practice tee is always full and the practice green always empty. I always say to people who are battling to putt (which is the majority of golfers), if you know how to use the long putter properly, you can take five shots off your score.
The following tip reveals all of the steps for correctly using a long putter.
To begin with, you must understand that a yip-like twitch in your stroke can only be cured by splitting the hands. A long putter does this, but still needs to be fitted and handled correctly for the best results.
1) THE TOP GRIP
Hold the top grip in your left hand with your thumb on the top of the grip, and your left wrist flat, not cupped.
2) THE BOTTOM GRIP
How to hold this grip is now a vital part of the jigsaw. If you curl your fingers onto the grip you are going to give your small muscles the chance to spasm and move your putter involuntarily (the yips). For the claw grip, extend your fingers and trap the grip between your thumb and palm, making sure that your palm faces you, as above.
3) THE STANCE
This is where your putter has to be the right length for you. A correctly fitted long putter has to fit at the base of the throat (image 1).
Anything too short and the shoulders will still have the opportunity to rotate the wrong way, leading to your putts heading left of target, as illustrated in image 2.
Most importantly, get your left and right forearms parallel and running at your target (image 3). Now you are ready to putt.
4) THE PUTT
As with each step, you have a wrong way and a right way. Many golfers will now just pull the putter back, keeping the shoulders still. This is exactly what we are trying to avoid. As with the short putter we are supposed to use our shoulders.
Keep your arms rigid and rock your shoulders like a pendulum clock. If you do this properly the hands cannot get involved and you will make more putts.
In conclusion, get your long putter fitted, learn how to use it and practise with it. It will take five shots off your score.
MEET THE PRO
Julian Shaw is a long-time member of the PGA of SA. With a CV that includes time on the Sunshine Tour, at Humewood Golf Club and at the Jamie Gough Academy in Cape Town, Julian moved to Hermanus Golf Club in 2006 to take up the position of head professional.
Contact Julian on 084 442 7170.
