Most amateurs I see spend a great deal of time focussed on the break of a putt and, to a lesser extent, the speed. Those are key fundamentals for sure, but equally important is making a good stroke. Swinging the putterhead on a consistent path will help you start the ball on the line you pick.
To groove your stroke, try my two-tee drill. Find a straight putt and stand 10 feet from the cup on that line. Set the putterhead down facing the hole, and stick two tees in the green – one just outside the toe of the putter and the other just outside the heel. The tees create a gate [below] that you’ll have to swing the
putterhead through to keep it on a straight path to the hole.
Once you can routinely make practice strokes where the putterhead swings through the gate without touching either tee, set a ball between them and hit some putts [below]. Miss the tees, and you’ll start filling up the cup.
Elementary Watson
One of the reasons target shooters are so accurate is that they work on controlling their breathing. Take a cue from them when you hit putts. Make a couple of practice strokes, then address the ball. Inhale deeply and start to breathe out – but hold it about halfway and stroke the putt. I’ve found over the years that I putt significantly better when I breathe like this.
– Excerpted from the DVD “Lessons of a Lifetime II,” by Tom Watson.
