T
he ability to lag putts dead
from distance is far more about
learning to trust your senses of
sight and feel than gaining any
specifi c technical skill. The
drill detailed here is designed to help you do
just that. Its key element is that you are hitting
putts from constantly changing distances.
This gets you into the habit of using your eyes
to gauge distance, and sharpens up the neural
pathways that allow your brain to go to work
on the right information. Here’s how it works.Carlsbad, California, just to
keep their clubs in check.
He told us: “It’s one
of the best rooms ever
created for fitting golf
equipment. A Gears
Sports analysis system
inside enables us to
see everything about a
player’s putting stroke,
and how the ball reacts to
different putters, faces,
hosel designs...
“When it comes to
fi tting, though, everyone’s
individual, and goes about
fi tting very di erently. So
where Jon Rahm doesn’t
want to see the data until
his session is over (ashe feels he’ll manipulate
the putter to infl uence
the numbers), Jason Day,
even after fi tting, insists
on checking his putter’s
loft and lie with me every
week out on Tour.”
After fi tting the game’s
best for years, Trott’s
best piece of advice for
amateurs buying a new
putter is to get the right
length. Rahm for example
has a 36¾in shaft, which is
1 ¾in longer than standard.
“Length dictates the
path the putter goes on,”
adds Trott. “It can also
help players release the
putter more easily, too.”SUPERSTROKEPISTOLGTR
http://www.superstrokeusa.com
An inclusive, reassuring shape (and three
size options) makes this grip feel at home
in a lot of players’ hands. You can also turn
your fl atstick into a counter-balanced or a
CounterCore model with 50g of weight at the
top of the grip for an extra charge.WINNTOURPISTOLEXCEL
http://www.winngrips.com
If you’ve been gripping an oversized putter
grip for a while, and fancy a change the
Winn is an excellent choice. The pistol
shape is contoured, wider at the top to fi t the
hands. We like the clean, crisp edges which
help with alignment and consistency.SUPERSTROKEFLATSO
http://www.superstrokeusa.com
A pentagonal shape creates a ridge along
the back of the grip which sits beautifully in
the creases of the fi ngers. SuperStroke say
its fl at front, multiple sharp edges and
no-taper shape improves consistency. It’s
also Jordan Spieth’s putter grip of choice.FLAT CAT
http://www.flatcatgolf.com
Favoured by Justin Rose, Flat Cat comes
in fi ve sizes. The brand say the wide, fl at
surfaces of the grip (which can be positioned
either square or at 90º to the face) puts the
putter face in the palm of your hand. They
say it gives a more fl uid, consistent stroke.GOLFPRIDETOURSNSR
CONTOUR PRO
http://www.golfpride.com
The SNSR’s rubber is 40% softer than any
Golf Pride putter grip to promote a lighter
hold. The Contour Pro is the most shaped
model in the SNSR range, and because it
comes in two sizes, it’s possible to fi nd a fi t
that sits well in your hands.Decide if your stroke is straight
back-and-through or more
arcing. If you go straighter, go
for a shorter putter and get your
eyes over the ball. If you want to
stand taller and get the putter to
arc around your body, don’t be
afraid to go longer.TROTT’S
TOP TIPS
G
GRIPS
PACECHASE
Now move randomly up
and down your line, taking each
putt in turn. Try to get each ball to
fi nish between the hole and your back
marker. The fi rst time you fail, start
again. See how many goes it takes
you to achieve the full set, mark it
down as your personal best,
then try to beat it.
2
JUDGMENTDAY
With every putt setting you
a new pace judgment challenge,
you cannot fall into the trap of just
repeating or tailoring the speed you
applied to the previous effort. Repeat this
drill and you will hone your ability to
translate what your eyes are telling
you into appropriate force...
exactly what you need for
lag putting.3
golf australia | AUGUST 2019 51