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BCC Golf Newsletter - Issue 171 Date 06/19/11
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TCT Quick Tip - Developing a Feel For Distance
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Two great ways to develop a feel for distance while you practice 
putting are:

1) look at the hole while you putt, this is called "Instinct" putting, and it's
especially helpful if you tend to leave lag putts too short of the hole.

2) putt one ball traditionally, then stroke a few more at the same target 
with your eyes closed.

Both of these methods will really help you get a feel for stroke and distance.

Enjoy, Tom


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Golf Tip: Two Putting Strokes
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Anyone who knows me knows that I am a passionate proponent of a pendulum - 
pure - in line stroke (PILS) for putting a la Dave Pelz.

When I teach putting, I insist that the straight back - straight through PILS stroke,
with the clubhead staying perpendicular to the aimline for at least three inches 
past impact, be used.

I'm a little less particular about putts over 15 feet in length, because most of my
students play with a putter that's a bit too long to get into optimal position for a
PILS stroke. So in the past I've allowed a little bit of a hinging - or arc back -
straight through stroke - for longer lag putts.

In my own research lately, I've found that this type of stroke (arcing) may be preferable
for most players for longer lag putts. Most players have to manipulate the clubhead
for a PILS stroke due to putters that are too long. As a result, on long putts a 
stroke with a bit of an arc and a bit of a half roll release will get the ball to the hole 
more consistently for them than a PILS stroke, which may tend to come up short.

In fact, I'm showing in my own practice that a little arcing stroke may be better for 
distance control on longer putts even for those players fitted for the right length
putter for a PILS stroke.

I'm moving towards two strokes for everyone, an arcing to straight through stroke 
for long lag putts, and a PILS stroke for makable shorter putts.

In fact, I'm on the verge of putting a toe drop blade - type putter in my bag along 
with my trusty,  short two ball mallet putter to experiment with using one putter for 
long putts and the other for short ones. ( No rules violation there if anyone is wondering. 
Your 14 clubs may be any USGA legal clubs that you want to put in your bag.)

If you putt with a long putter, you could even use a traditional stance for long putts,
and a face on stance for short putts.

If you have the nerve, try two different putting strokes - one for lags and one for makables.

I think it will make a positive difference in your scoring.

For the sake of this premise, I'll call a makable putt one 15 ft. or shorter, although putts
of this distance have a relatively low statistical probability of going in the hole.

Enjoy, 

Tom