Golf Tip#6 Putting on 'Pool Table' GreensBrush your putts
Doug Ford's thoughts on putting are good, but if you look at the guys who win the Masters every year, they have a longer, smoother putting motion. Back then, a "fast" green probably ran at 9 on the Stimpmeter; today it would run at 13 or even higher. So in 1959 you probably had to punch or pop the ball because a fast green than is a slow green today. I teach my students to have a Phil Mickelson-style putting stroke, which is more of a brushing motion with a longer backstroke, very little acceleration through the ball and a short follow-through. I like the image of the mouse finding the hole as a place to hide. The firm "tap" follow-through from the 1959 tip puts a good roll on the ball.
That still holds true today. If you're lipping out a lot of putts, you're not getting a good roll on it. Watch Tiger. When he's rolling it well, his ball hugs the ground and dives into the hole like it was looking for it.
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