Determining Your Putting Stroke

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Short Game Mastery

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Quick answer

• Focus on a relaxed grip and a stable, balanced stance.
• Develop a smooth, pendulum-like stroke driven by your shoulders and arms.
• Experiment with tempo and feel to find what’s most consistent for you.

Who this is for

• Golfers of all levels who want to build a more reliable and repeatable putting stroke.
• Players struggling with inconsistency on the greens and looking to diagnose the root cause.
• Anyone curious about understanding the fundamental mechanics that make a good putt.

What to check first: Your Putting Stroke Mechanics

• Grip: Grab that putter. Does it feel like you’re holding on for dear life, or is it a relaxed, confident connection? You want just enough pressure to control the club, not so much that your hands and wrists get tight. Think of it like holding a delicate bird – firm enough so it doesn’t fly away, but gentle enough not to crush it.
• Stance: How are you set up over the ball? Your feet should feel grounded and balanced, like you’re ready to move athletically. Are they too close together, making you wobbly? Too far apart, locking you up? A good starting point is usually around shoulder-width, but find what feels stable and repeatable for you.
• Ball Position: Where do you put the ball relative to your stance? It needs to be consistent, every single time. If it shifts around, your contact point with the ball will change, leading to all sorts of distance and direction issues. For most, it’s somewhere between the lead heel and the center of the stance.
• Posture: Are you hunched over like you’re trying to read a tiny map, or are you standing too tall? Your spine should have a natural angle, and your arms should hang comfortably from your shoulders. You want to feel athletic and balanced, not strained.

Step-by-step plan: Determining your putting stroke

1. Action: Stand at your usual putting address.

What to look for: A comfortable and balanced posture. You should feel grounded and athletic, with a slight bend in your knees and hips, allowing your arms to hang naturally. This is your foundation.
Mistake to avoid: Forcing an unnatural stance. If you feel tension or instability, your setup is likely too rigid or awkward, which will translate into a restricted stroke.

2. Action: Grip the putter with your preferred method.

What to look for: A relaxed but secure hold. Your hands should feel connected to the putter, allowing for subtle movement without tension. Your grip pressure should be light, maybe a 3 or 4 on a scale of 10.
Mistake to avoid: Squeezing the grip too tightly. This is a surefire way to kill feel and create tension in your wrists and forearms, leading to inconsistent face control.

3. Action: Take a few practice strokes without a ball.

What to look for: The natural movement of your shoulders and arms. Most effective putting strokes feel like a pendulum, with the shoulders as the pivot point. Notice how your arms feel connected to your torso.
Mistake to avoid: Trying to manipulate the putter with your wrists. This is a common culprit for slices and hooks on the green. Keep those wrists firm and let the larger muscles do the work.

4. Action: Place a ball down and hit a few putts, focusing on your feel.

What to look for: How the ball rolls off the putter face. Does it feel like a solid connection? Does it roll end-over-end smoothly? Pay attention to the tempo – is it too fast, too slow, or just right?
Mistake to avoid: Overthinking the mechanics or focusing too much on the outcome. For these initial strokes, just focus on the feel of the motion and the contact.

5. Action: Experiment with slightly different tempos for your backswing and downswing.

What to look for: Which tempo feels most repeatable and generates a consistent roll. Some players prefer a slightly longer backswing and a more aggressive downswing, while others like a more even tempo. Find what your body naturally prefers.
Mistake to avoid: Making drastic changes to your grip or stance while experimenting with tempo. Keep your setup consistent and focus solely on the rhythm of the stroke.

6. Action: Try a slightly different grip or stance if something feels consistently off or uncomfortable.

What to look for: Does the adjustment improve your feel, balance, or the consistency of your stroke? For example, if your hands feel disconnected, try a slightly stronger or weaker grip. If balance is an issue, adjust your foot width.
Mistake to avoid: Making too many changes at once. Stick with one adjustment for a few putts to see its effect before considering another. Too many variables will just confuse you.

7. Action: Record yourself putting, if possible.

What to look for: A visual confirmation of your stroke. Does it match what you feel? Are your wrists breaking down? Is the putter face staying square through impact? Seeing is believing, and it can highlight issues you might not feel.
Mistake to avoid: Becoming overly critical of what you see. Use the video as a tool for understanding, not for self-punishment. Focus on one or two key takeaways.

Understanding Your Putting Stroke Dynamics

Determining your putting stroke isn’t just about picking a grip and swinging. It’s about understanding the subtle interplay of your body and the club. Your ideal putting stroke is the one that allows you to consistently deliver the putter face square to the target at the moment of impact, with the right amount of force. This often boils down to minimizing independent movement in your hands and wrists, and instead utilizing a coordinated motion driven by your shoulders and arms.

Think about it: your hands and wrists are incredibly nimble, which is great for intricate tasks, but for putting, that nimbleness can often lead to inconsistency. A stroke that relies on larger muscle groups – your shoulders and upper arms – provides a more stable platform. This “pendulum” motion, where your arms swing like a clock’s pendulum, is what many pros strive for. It’s not about eliminating all wrist hinge, but rather about controlling it and ensuring it’s a natural consequence of the larger arm swing, not the primary driver.

When you’re out on the practice green, pay attention to the sensation. Does the putter head feel like it’s being guided by your arms, or are you actively flicking or scooping with your wrists? The latter is usually a sign that you’re trying to “help” the ball rather than letting the stroke do the work. A good drill is to place a tee or coin just outside the heel of the putter head during your practice swing. If you hit it, your putter is likely coming inside the target line on the backswing. Conversely, place one just outside the toe; hitting that suggests the putter is coming too far outside. These simple checks can reveal a lot about your stroke’s path.

Common mistakes

• Grip too tight — Reduces feel and control, making delicate putts harder and leading to tension. — Relax your grip pressure. Think about holding a baby bird. Focus on connecting your hands to the putter without squeezing.
• Stance too wide or narrow — Affects balance and stability, leading to inconsistent swings and making it hard to rotate your shoulders freely. — Find a balanced, athletic stance, roughly shoulder-width apart. Your weight should be evenly distributed.
• Ball position inconsistent — Leads to varied contact points on the face, affecting distance control and direction. — Establish a consistent ball position for every putt. Use a reference point on your stance, like the inside of your lead heel or a specific distance from the center.
• Too much wrist action — Causes the putter face to open and close erratically, leading to misdirection and inconsistent distance. — Focus on a pendulum motion driven by your shoulders and arms. Keep your wrists firm and let the larger muscles control the swing.
• Hunching over the ball — Can lead to tension, restrict your natural stroke, and cause you to lift your head too early. — Maintain an athletic posture with a slight bend at the hips, allowing your arms to hang naturally.
• Inconsistent tempo — A jerky or rushed stroke leads to poor distance control and makes it hard to be consistent. — Develop a smooth, repeatable tempo for both your backswing and downswing. A common ratio is about 2:1 (backswing longer than downswing), but find what feels natural and repeatable.
• Ignoring feel for mechanics — Trying to force a specific mechanical movement can disconnect you from the feel of the putt. — While mechanics are important, always prioritize how the stroke feels and how the ball rolls. Your body often knows what works best if you let it.

FAQ

• What is the ideal putter grip? There isn’t one “ideal” for everyone. The best grip is one that feels natural, relaxed, and allows for a consistent stroke. Many golfers use a standard overlap, reverse overlap, or a cross-handed grip. Experiment to find what allows you to keep your wrists quiet and your stroke smooth.
• Should my eyes be directly over the ball? Generally, yes. Having your eyes directly over the ball helps promote a consistent stroke path and better alignment. You can check this by dropping a ball from your eye level; it should hit the ball you’re addressing. Some players prefer a slightly inside position, but over the ball is the most common and recommended starting point.
• How much wrist action is too much? Any significant wrist hinge or manipulation during the stroke is usually too much for consistent putting. The ideal stroke is more of a pendulum motion driven by the shoulders and arms, with minimal independent wrist movement. Think of your wrists as being locked to your forearms during the stroke.
• How do I know if my putting stroke is straight-back-straight-through? A truly straight-back-straight-through stroke is rare and often not ideal. Most good putting strokes have a slight arc, with the putter moving slightly inside the target line on the backswing and slightly inside on the follow-through. The key is consistency and ensuring the putter face is square at impact, regardless of the path’s exact shape.
• What if I feel tension in my hands or arms? This is a common issue. Try waggle-testing your grip – gently shake the putter back and forth before you start your stroke to release tension. Also, focus on your breathing; taking a deep breath and exhaling as you stroke can help calm your nerves and relax your muscles.
• How can I improve my tempo? Practice with a metronome app or count the strokes aloud. A common suggestion is a 3-count: “One” (backswing), “Two” (transition/downswing), “Three” (impact and follow-through). Or try a 2:1 ratio, where your backswing is twice as long as your downswing. The goal is a smooth, unhurried rhythm.
• Should I change my stroke if I see something “wrong” on video? Not necessarily right away. Video is a great diagnostic tool, but don’t feel pressured to make drastic changes based on one viewing. Identify one or two key areas to work on, perhaps with a coach, and focus on making gradual improvements rather than a complete overhaul.