One universal thing all good putters do is finish their stroke. Cameron Smith, considered one of the best putters in the game today, doesn’t lift or move his putterhead from its finish position until the ball is in the cup. It’s a consistent rhythm back and through and a crisp, stable finish.
Why am I bringing this up? Because one of the big reasons amateurs struggle from five feet and in is that they have no rhythm or structure to their stroke. Most of the time, the motion is very slow and short going back, and then quick and long coming through. The putterhead runs off, and there’s no real end position.
If you’re struggling from close range, particularly pressure putts, try this simple cadence drill to smooth out your tempo and improve your contact. Take the putterhead back to the count of “one,” then swing through to the count of “two” and hold your finish (above). If you can finish your stroke with the putterhead low to the ground and keep it there until you hear the ball rattle in the cup, your contact will be much better and the roll pure. That’s how you make the shorties.
Jackson Koert, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is director of instruction at Atlantic Beach Country Club in Atlantic Beach, Fla.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
