Golf_Digest_USA_-_May_2019

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Play Your Best GD Schools

20 golfdigest.com | may 2019

“The best putters have flowing backstrokes

and short follow-throughs.”

HIT IT DEAD

CENTER

▶ It seems like an

easy-enough task:

Hit every putt in

the middle of the

clubface. But poor

contact leads to a

lot of missed putts.

A great way to train

for a center strike

is to wrap rubber

bands around the

clubhead so only

the sweet spot is

exposed (left). Every

time you practice,

you’ll get feedback

on where you struck

the ball on the face.

BECOME A PUTTING NAVIGATOR

▶ This gadget attached to my putter is called a Navigator (below, left). It teaches

you how to keep the putterface square to the target longer. You can also tie a

Sharpie to your putter to get the same effect (below, right). Here I’m putting, trying

to keep the Navigator hovering over a yardstick, which means the putter’s face is

square to my line—the yardstick. To do this, I have to deloft the putter in the back-

stroke and increase its loft in the through-stroke. I’m training my hands to make

a slight twisting motion to achieve that. This is going to impart a lot of energy on

the ball—key to getting it to the hole and avoiding the yips (more on that, right).

WHY GOLFERS YIP

▶ If you add a burst of energy into the stroke just before

the putterhead reaches the ball, you’re putting like you

have the yips. The burst is a result of making too short of

a backstroke and subconsciously knowing you won’t have

enough power in the swing to reach the hole. The best

putters do the opposite. They have a flowing backstroke

and a short follow-through—even on long putts. So to

avoid the yips, try putting their way, and be sure to keep

the face square to the start line after impact. In fact, hold

your finish, watching the ball tumble (above). Stare at it

long enough, and you’ll probably see it drop.

mario guerra, a Golf Digest Best Young Teacher, is director

of golf at Quaker Ridge G.C., in Scarsdale, N.Y.

if you like these putting shortcuts, you’ll love this

▶ You’ve probably been told a number of times that working on your short game

is the real key to lowering scores. But you don’t want to waste your time working

on the wrong things, right? In my Golf Digest Schools video series, “Short-Game

Shortcuts,” I’ll show you exactly what to focus on—and it’s only five shots!

To see this series and dozens of others, go to g o l f d i g e s t. c o m/a l l a c c e s s.