How to Putt With Your Shoulders, Not Hands: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever watch a pro golfer drain a seemingly impossible putt and wonder how they do it so effortlessly? The secret often lies in a smooth, pendulum-like stroke powered by the shoulders, not a jerky, inconsistent motion driven by the hands. Learning how to putt with your shoulders is a game-changer, leading to greater accuracy, consistency, and ultimately, lower scores. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of this technique, offering drills and insights to transform your putting game.

Why Use Your Shoulders for Putting?

Before diving into the how-to, let's understand the why. Many amateur golfers struggle with putting because they rely too heavily on their hands and wrists. This leads to several problems:

• Inconsistency: The hands are prone to manipulation, leading to inconsistent clubface angles at impact.
• Loss of Control: Hand-dominated strokes often produce jerky, uneven movements, making it difficult to control distance.
• Yips: Over-reliance on the hands can contribute to the dreaded yips, involuntary muscle spasms that ruin putting strokes.

Using your shoulders promotes a more stable and repeatable stroke, because the big muscles of the shoulders and upper back are less prone to erratic movements than the small muscles in your hands and wrists.

The Fundamentals of a Shoulder-Driven Putting Stroke

Mastering the shoulder-driven putting stroke involves several key components. Let's break them down:

1. Proper Setup and Posture

Your setup is the foundation of a good putting stroke. Here's how to get it right:

• Stance: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, or slightly narrower. A slightly open stance (left foot a bit further back for a right-handed golfer) can facilitate a smoother shoulder rotation.
• Ball Position: Position the ball slightly forward of center in your stance, usually just off your left heel (for right-handers). This allows for a slightly upward strike, promoting a better roll.
• Posture: Hinge from your hips, keeping your back relatively straight. Your eyes should be directly over the ball, allowing you to accurately perceive the line. Avoid excessive rounding of the back or hunching over.
• Grip: Choose a grip that feels comfortable and allows you to keep your wrists stable. Popular options include the reverse overlap, the cross-handed grip, and the traditional overlap grip. The key is to maintain light grip pressure.

2. The Pendulum Motion

The core of the shoulder-driven stroke is a smooth, pendulum-like motion. Imagine a pendulum swaying back and forth; that's the feeling you want to create with your shoulders.

• Focus on Shoulder Rotation: Initiate the stroke by rotating your shoulders back and through, keeping your wrists firm. Think of your shoulders as a single unit moving together.
• Minimize Wrist Action: Actively resist the urge to flick or manipulate the putter with your wrists. They should remain relatively still throughout the stroke.
• Maintain a Consistent Arc: The putter head should swing along a smooth, consistent arc. Avoid any jerky or abrupt movements.
• Follow Through: Allow the putter to swing freely through the ball, completing the pendulum motion. The length of your backswing and follow-through should be roughly equal, corresponding to the distance of the putt.

3. Distance Control

With a shoulder-driven stroke, distance control is achieved primarily by adjusting the length of your backswing. A longer backswing will naturally produce a longer stroke and more power.

• Practice Different Lengths of Backswing: Experiment with different lengths of backswing to gauge how far the ball travels with each.
• Maintain Consistent Acceleration: Regardless of the length of your backswing, strive to maintain a consistent level of acceleration through the ball. Avoid decelerating or hitting at the ball.
• Use a Metronome: Practicing with a metronome can help you develop a consistent tempo in your putting stroke. This will make it easier to control distance.

4. Putting Drills to Improve Shoulder Rotation

These drills will help you develop a better feel for the shoulder-driven putting stroke:

• The Alignment Stick Drill: Place an alignment stick across your chest, held in place by your arms. Practice your putting stroke, focusing on rotating your shoulders while keeping the alignment stick parallel to the ground. This drill helps you feel the correct shoulder movement and prevents excessive wrist action.
• The One-Handed Drill: Practice putting with only your lead hand (left hand for right-handers). This forces you to rely on your shoulder rotation, as your trail hand is not available to manipulate the putter.
• The Coin Drill: Place a coin on the back of your lead hand or forearm while putting. Focus on keeping the coin in place throughout the stroke. If the coin falls off, it indicates you are using too much wrist action.
• Mirror Practice: Practice your putting stroke in front of a mirror to monitor your shoulder movement and ensure that your wrists are staying relatively still.
• Gate Drill: Place two tees slightly wider than your putter head a few feet in front of you. Focus on swinging the putter through the gate using your shoulders. Gradually decrease the width of the gate to increase difficulty.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with proper instruction, golfers can fall into common pitfalls when learning to putt with their shoulders. Here are some mistakes to watch out for:

• Frozen Wrists: Actively trying to lock your wrists can create tension and stiffness in your stroke. Instead, think of keeping your wrists firm but relaxed.
• Head Movement: Keep your head still throughout the stroke, focusing on the back of the ball. Lifting your head prematurely can disrupt your stroke and lead to missed putts.
• Deceleration: Many golfers decelerate as they approach the ball, leading to inconsistent contact. Maintain a consistent level of acceleration throughout the stroke.
• Grip Pressure: Gripping the putter too tightly can restrict your shoulder movement and create tension. Maintain light grip pressure, allowing your shoulders to move freely.

Advanced Techniques and Considerations

Once you've established a solid foundation with the shoulder-driven stroke, you can explore some advanced techniques to further refine your putting game.

Reading Greens Effectively

Accurate green reading is essential for holing putts, regardless of your stroke technique. Factors like slope, grain, and wind can all affect the ball's trajectory.

• Walk the Putt: Walk from the ball to the hole, paying close attention to the slope of the green.
• Identify the High and Low Points: Determine the highest and lowest points along the ball's path.
• Consider the Grain: The grain of the grass can influence the ball's direction, especially on slower greens.
• Factor in the Wind: Wind can affect the ball's speed and direction, particularly on longer putts.

Adjusting for Different Break

Once you’ve determined the break of a putt (the amount the ball will deviate from a straight line), you can adjust your aim and stroke accordingly.

• Visualize The Line: Before you putt, visualize the entire path of the ball, including the break.
• Aim Point: Instead of aiming directly at the hole, select and aim point that accommodates for the break.
• Stroke Adjustment: Make small adjustments to your putting stroke to account for the break.

Mental Game and Pre-Shot Routine

Putting is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Developing a consistent pre-shot routine can help you focus and stay calm under pressure.

• Visualize Success: Before each putt, visualize the ball rolling into the hole.
• Choose a Target: Pick a specific target on the green to focus your attention.
• Take a Practice Stroke: Perform a practice stroke that mirrors the stroke you intend to use on the actual putt.
• Stay Positive: Believe in your ability to make the putt.

Conclusion

Learning how to putt with your shoulders, not your hands, is a journey that requires patience and practice. By focusing on proper setup, a smooth pendulum motion, and consistent distance control, you can develop a repeatable and reliable putting stroke. Incorporate the recommended drills and techniques into your practice routine, and be patient with yourself as you learn. Putting is a skill that can be improved with dedication, and mastering the shoulder-driven stroke can dramatically lower your scores and enhance your enjoyment of the game. So, ditch the hand-wringing, embrace the pendulum, and get ready to see those putts drop!