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