PGA Golf Professional and Director at P&M Golf Superstore Padraig McGrath brings you the latest from the fairways. In this week’s column, Padraig has the low-down perfecting your putting technique.
The major topic of conversation I’ve been hearing since the US Open, are the two putts Rory missed on the 16th and the 18th hole at Pinehurst.
This brings the question are you better off to work on a technique and pre-shot routine or keep it simpler and just visualise and see the ball rolling into the hole. If you looked at Jack Nicholas and all the top players of his era it was obvious to see in those days’ players visualised the ball tumbling towards the hole rather than focusing as much on their technique.
They relied more on their instinct in getting the ball to roll towards the target. Whereas nowadays all the top players we watch focus more on their actual technique and pre-shot routine with a little less visualisation taking place. The question is what is the best technique to use when you need to hold a putt under the most extreme pressure moments, like when you have a putt to win a tournament.
From my own perspective I used to line up my ball with the aid of the line on the ball aiming it towards the intended line of my putt. When I used this method, I noticed my start off line on the putt was consistent however my pace control was extremely poor and it led to me becoming an average putter.
Once I went away from lining up my ball and instead, I put my focus mainly on the pace of the putt instead I found myself holding a lot more putts. To help me to start my ball on the correct line initially, I simply look for a spot on the green roughly three to four inches in front of my ball, that is on line to my intented target.
With my focus still mainly on the pace of the putt and how long a stroke I need to make, when I am ready, I simply step into the putt trying to feel the pace of the distance and strike the ball over the spot I identified with still focusing more on the pace of the putt. If you think about it the pace of the putt is by far the most important aspect of becoming a better consistent putter. If your pace is always good then you will rarely three putts because you will never be too far away from the hole when you achieve a good pace on your putts.
Players like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan famously employed the method of visualisation, picturing the roll of the ball and visualising the ideal outcome in their mind’s eye of the ball rolling into the hole. This technique helped them build confidence and align their physical actions with their mental image. The power of visualisation lies in its ability to create a mental map, aiding players in navigating the course with precision.
In contrast, the modern era of golf has seen a significant rise in the use of pre-shot routines. These routines consist of a series of specific, repetitive actions performed before each shot. Rory McIlroy is a prime example of a contemporary golfer who meticulously adhere to his pre-shot routine.
The preference for pre-shot routines among today’s players can be attributed to several factors. First, pre-shot routines provide a structured approach to focus, reducing the likelihood of distractions. The repetitive nature of these routines helps create a sense of familiarity and comfort, essential for maintaining consistency under pressure. Moreover, the integration of physical actions with mental preparation can help synchronize the mind and body, leading to more reliable performance.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that visualisation and pre-shot routines are not mutually exclusive. Many modern golfers incorporate visualisation into their pre-shot routines, combining the strengths of both techniques. This hybrid approach allows players to harness the confidence-building aspects of visualisation while benefiting from the structure and consistency of a pre-shot routine.
The debate over which is more important will always be open for discussion, however I do feel in pressure moments modern players need to visualise the putt dropping as well as going through their pre-shot routines.
