length of putting stroke

garyinderry

garyinderry

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Anyone thought about cutting the length of their stroke for putting.

I've had my putting mat out this last 2 weeks and been grooving a much tighter stroke. Also been consciously working on a small arc. Previously I just pulled the putter back and through not really paying attention to the kind of stroke. Really trying to keep it straight going back.

Anyway the long and the short of it is I am seeing great results from this shortened stroke. Especially inside 15 feet (the scoring zone). Even more so on shorter putts again.

The greens are fast and true. It doesn't take much to get the ball to the hole. Some would describe it as a bit jabby but I am fine with that.

The face doesn't have time to move too far off line. My distance control is about the same as before but direction is much improved.

Thought I'd share and see if this could help anyone else. It's doing the business for me.
 
Generally this is why it's easier to sink shorter putts on faster greens because most will naturally take a shorter backswing and therefore there's less to change/ go wrong.

Most can't decide whether they are controlling the putter head or letting it swing - the latter is a lure to longer strokes but always ends up in tears eventually. Chipping is exactly the same.

Always good that you've found something that works well for you.
 
I take my putter back far too far and I try constantly to reduce the stroke length. I too find the stroke a bit jabby when I do that rather than smooth. How far back are you now going? Any tips for how you stick to it or is it just concentration?
 
There are many ways to cut it down. The stroke does appear at least to be a little jabby but I am not finding anything wrong with that.

Put a tee peg in the ground a bit behind to stop u making too long a stroke.

Suppose I started with short 3 foot putts and tried to keep the stroke the same but applying a little more power into 9 foot putts.



I've read that this kind of stroke was used on slower greens in times gone by.


I thought it was a pop stroke similar to sneds but he does it differently. He has a long backswing then accelerates and pretty much has no follow through. That sounds pretty much like a jab to me and he putts pretty well.

My thought is small back and accelerate into a slightly longer thru swing.
 
This is something I started doing last year Gaz, only on the tiddlers though.

Im setting the putter a few inches behind the ball then simply lifting off the ground and pushing through. It eliminates me getting a bit 'Wobbly' on the way back.

Its not textbook but I found its a bit more Pressureproof (Sorry for just making up a word)
 
I've experimented with something similar dave on tiddler putts but was wary of turning it into an actual push which would be illegal? ?

I tried setting it a few inches as you say then included the merest of movements back to initiate the actual stroke.
 
When I am having a good putting day, it always feels to me like my putter stroke has the same distance going back as going through.
 
For short to medium putts I keep it about as long as my stance is wide. I vary the length as little as possible and try to regulate distance only through the speed of the swing. On long putts I have to lenghten it a bit, though, especially on the through swing.
 
garyinderry said:
There are many ways to cut it down. The stroke does appear at least to be a little jabby but I am not finding anything wrong with that.

Put a tee peg in the ground a bit behind to stop u making too long a stroke.

Suppose I started with short 3 foot putts and tried to keep the stroke the same but applying a little more power into 9 foot putts.



I've read that this kind of stroke was used on slower greens in times gone by.


I thought it was a pop stroke similar to sneds but he does it differently. He has a long backswing then accelerates and pretty much has no follow through. That sounds pretty much like a jab to me and he putts pretty well.

My thought is small back and accelerate into a slightly longer thru swing.
Click to expand...

How do you accelerate to a stop? If hes not following through he cant be accelerating at impact surely
 
Check out youtube for his own description.


I will post a link tonight if you can't find it. This is what he says.

He thinks thru strokes are overrated. Lol
 
My simple rule seems to work well.

For however much you take the putter back, go through twice as much.

Helps stroke length, tempo, and acceleration into the ball.
 
Isn't this how Snedeker putts, or am I misunderstanding what you are saying?

[video=youtube;Bwk2rsEuyZg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwk2rsEuyZg[/video]
 
56 seconds in here is what I am doing. he says he likes the opposite.

[video=youtube;p5kuUcWYxwo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5kuUcWYxwo[/video]
 
backspin22 said:
Thinking about putting? Fatal. Shorten your putter, get your eyes over the ball and knock it in.
Click to expand...

Up to a point. On the course, line and length are all I think about but do think on the practice green you can work on the mechanics itself. I just like to feel I'm accelerating through especially on the 2-3 footers but usually looking more at the basics of shoulder alignment, eyes over the ball and square face at impact rather than a specific length back and through. On the course it's about trusting what you have done beforehand
 
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