The secret to a pure putting stroke, according to a Top 100 Teacher
Face angle at impact — not stroke path — determines starting direction of a putt.
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I’m not a fan of the idea of players taking their “hands out of the stroke,” because if we’ve learned anything from studying the best putters in the world it’s that they manipulate the putterface at key moments in the stroke.
If there’s one thing to remember about putting, it’s this: Face angle at impact — not stroke path — determines starting direction. Seems counterintuitive, but the smash factor — the amount of energy that is transferred from clubhead to golf ball — with a putter is higher than any club in the bag.
You read a lot about grip pressure in putting articles, and it’s definitely a personal preference. I use a traditional “reverse overlap” grip, as you can see in the photo above, and I grip the handle firm with my left hand. That gives me control over the club and the smash factor, and prevents the face angle from moving around too much.
One more thing to keep in mind: Bad putters accelerate the putter too much in transition and keep accelerating to the finish. Good putters don’t try to accelerate the putterhead. Instead, they coast to finish. That’d be my preference, too. So my advice is simple: Grip the putter firmly and make steady, rhythmic strokes with your arms.
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