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

The subtle art of putting can make or break a round of golf. While many golfers focus on the flashier aspects of the game like booming drives, it's often the short stick that determines success. One of the most common putting flaws is relying too heavily on the hands and wrists, leading to inconsistent strokes and missed opportunities. Learning how to putt with your shoulders, not your hands, can revolutionize your game and provide a more stable, reliable putting stroke.

Why Shoulders, Not Hands? The Mechanics of a Consistent Putting Stroke

So, why is using your shoulders so important? The answer lies in the mechanics of a pendulum. Engaging your shoulders in the putting stroke creates a smooth, pendulum-like motion, minimizing unnecessary movement and keeping the putter face square to the target line. This leads to greater consistency in both distance and direction.

The Problems with Hand-Dominant Putting

Relying on your hands and wrists introduces several problems:

• Inconsistency: Hand action is difficult to replicate consistently from stroke to stroke, especially under pressure.
• Loss of Control: The putter face can open or close during the stroke, leading to pushed or pulled putts.
• Distance Control Issues: Hand manipulation makes it harder to control the force of the stroke, leading to inconsistencies in distance.
• Yips: In extreme cases, excessive hand action can contribute to the development of the yips, a debilitating condition characterized by involuntary muscle spasms.

The Benefits of a Shoulder-Driven Putting Stroke

Switching to a shoulder-driven stroke offers a plethora of advantages:

• Increased Consistency: Using your shoulders provides a more stable and repeatable motion.
• Improved Accuracy: Keeping the putter face square to the target line becomes much easier.
• Better Distance Control: Your stroke becomes more rhythmic and predictable, aiding distance judgment.
• Reduced Risk of Yips: Minimizing hand action can help prevent and even alleviate the yips.

Mastering the Shoulder-Driven Putting Stroke: Step-by-Step

Making the switch to a shoulder-driven putting stroke requires dedication and practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. The Setup: Posture and Grip

A proper setup is crucial for a successful shoulder-driven stroke.

• Stance: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with the ball positioned slightly forward of center in your stance.
• Posture: Bend from your hips, keeping your back straight. Your eyes should be directly over the ball.
• Grip: Use a grip that feels comfortable and allows you to minimize wrist action. Popular options include the reverse overlap, cross-handed, and claw grips. Light grip pressure is key – imagine holding a baby bird.

2. Feeling the Motion: Drills for Shoulder Activation

These drills will help you learn to engage your shoulders and minimize hand action:

• Shoulder Rock Drill: Set up in your putting stance. Focus on rocking your shoulders back and forth, allowing your arms and hands to follow passively. The putter should swing back and through as a result of the shoulder movement.
• Arm Lock Drill: Hold a club across your chest, pinning your upper arms to your sides. Rotate your shoulders as if putting. This isolates the shoulder movement and helps you feel the correct motion.
• One-Handed Drill (Non-Dominant Hand): Practice putting with only your non-dominant hand. This forces you to rely on your shoulder movement for control and reduces the temptation to use your dominant hand to steer the putter.

3. The Stroke: A Pendulum Motion

Visualize your putting stroke as a pendulum swinging back and forth. Keep these points in mind:

• Backswing: Initiate the backswing by rotating your shoulders. Avoid wrist hinge or hand manipulation. The length of your backswing should correspond to the distance you want the ball to travel.
• Forward Swing: Allow your shoulders to rotate forward, pulling the putter head through the ball. Maintain a stable wrist angle throughout the stroke.
• Follow-Through: Complete the stroke with a full follow-through, ensuring that the putter head travels past the original ball position. This promotes consistent acceleration and prevents deceleration through impact.

4. Distance Control: Calibrating Your Stroke

Once you’ve mastered the basic shoulder-driven stroke, it’s time to work on distance control.

• Varying Stroke Length: Adjust the length of your backswing and follow-through to control distance. A longer stroke will produce more power, while a shorter stroke will produce less.
• Maintaining Rhythm: Keep your stroke tempo consistent, regardless of the distance. A smooth, rhythmic stroke is more accurate and repeatable.
• Practice Green Drills: Spend time on the practice green, hitting putts of varying distances. Pay attention to the relationship between stroke length and distance.

5. Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Even with proper instruction, some golfers struggle to fully adopt a shoulder-driven putting stroke. Here are some common mistakes and how to correct them:

Mistake 1: Wrist Breakdown

Problem: The wrists hinge or flick during the stroke, leading to inconsistent putter face control.

Solution: Focus on maintaining a stable wrist angle throughout the stroke. Use the arm lock drill to reinforce proper shoulder rotation.

Mistake 2: Deceleration Through Impact

Problem: The putter head slows down as it approaches the ball, resulting in loss of power and inconsistent distance.

Solution: Emphasize a full follow-through, ensuring that the putter head continues to accelerate through impact. Visualize swinging through the ball, rather than at it.

Mistake 3: Tension in the Shoulders and Arms

Problem: Tight muscles restrict the natural pendulum motion and lead to jerky, inconsistent strokes.

Solution: Relax your shoulders and arms before each putt. Take a few deep breaths to release tension. Focus on a smooth, flowing motion.

Tools and Technology to Aid Your Putting

Modern technology offers several tools to help golfers improve their putting stroke:

• Putting Mats: Practice your stroke indoors, regardless of the weather.
• Alignment Aids: Ensure proper alignment and visualize the target line.
• Stroke Analyzers: Devices like the Blast Golf sensor or Quintic Ball Roll analyze your stroke mechanics and provide valuable feedback.
• High-Speed Cameras: Capture your stroke from different angles and identify areas for improvement.

Mental Game: The Key to Consistent Putting

Putting is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Here are some tips to improve your mental approach to putting:

• Visualize Success: Before each putt, visualize the ball rolling into the hole. This helps build confidence and promotes a positive mindset.
• Stay Present: Focus on the task at hand and avoid dwelling on past mistakes. Each putt is a new opportunity.
• Develop a Routine: Create a pre-putt routine that helps you focus and stay calm. This routine should include reading the green, aligning your putter, and taking a few practice strokes.
• Manage Expectations: Accept that you won’t make every putt. Even the best golfers miss putts. Focus on executing your stroke properly and trust the process.

Practice Drills to Ingrain the Shoulder-Driven Stroke

Consistent practice is the key to solidifying your shoulder-driven putting stroke. Incorporate these drills into your routine:

The 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 without hitting the tees. This promotes a square putter face and a straight putting path.

The Metronome Drill

Use a metronome to establish a consistent tempo for your putting stroke. Match your backswing and follow-through to the beat of the metronome.

The Ladder Drill

Place five balls at increasing distances from the hole (e.g., 3 feet, 5 feet, 7 feet, 9 feet, 11 feet). Start with the closest ball and work your way back. This helps you calibrate your stroke length for different distances.

The Road to Putting Success

Learning how to putt with your shoulders, not your hands, is a journey that requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to experiment. By understanding the mechanics of a proper putting stroke, practicing regularly, and developing a strong mental game, you can transform your putting and lower your scores. It might feel awkward at first, but with consistent effort, shoulder-driven putting will become second nature. So, get out on the green, practice these drills, and watch your putting consistency – and your confidence – soar. The green is yours for the taking!