| While putting can be the most individual of all the golf | | | | a couple of feet in length. The seams in the floor tile |
| swings, two basic strokes have emerged as the | | | | work well for this. I often use the expansion joints in |
| most popular. One is know as the pendulum while the | | | | my garage floor. Another approach would be to mark |
| other is known as the pivot. In fact most of the | | | | a line on the carpet. Use something removable of |
| other more unique putting strokes are personal | | | | course like that blue painters tape. |
| adaptations of one or the other of those two basic | | | | Still another choice would be to lay something straight |
| strokes. | | | | on the carpet. A yardstick or a golf club would do |
| The most popular method of putting these days is | | | | just fine for example. Place a ball (or just pretend) on |
| the pendulum stroke. The pendulum stroke is the | | | | the line or next to the straight edge and address the |
| easiest stroke for a duffer to master because the | | | | ball using the line as the intended line of the putt. |
| putter stays square to the target line throughout the | | | | Hover your putter over this line and make your |
| stroke similar to the movement of a clock pendulum, | | | | stroke. Take notice if the putter head moves off line |
| hence the name. | | | | at any time during the stroke. Don't just focus on |
| The stroke is made by bending forward with the | | | | the back swing only pay just as much attention to |
| eyes over the golf ball. The arms and hands are | | | | the forward stroke that the putter remains on line. |
| merely the connection between your shoulders and | | | | Dave Pelz, famous putting guru, once said something |
| the putter. The shoulders drive the movement of the | | | | like the difference in putting between a high |
| putter head back and forward. A simple rocking | | | | handicapper and a low handicapper is that the high |
| motion is best. The forward shoulders moves down | | | | handicapper holds the putter head on line well after |
| toward the ball while the back shoulder moves up, | | | | the ball is struck while the low handicapper does not. |
| the two shoulders making this move in unison. The | | | | Practice this way as often as possible. This is |
| wrist must maintain the angle created at address. | | | | something I have been doing for years now and it |
| Double D taught me this practice tip after I had the | | | | helps me control my most frequent putting swing |
| worst all-time putting round of my life. I was whining | | | | fault, shoulders open to the line. |
| about the bad putting until he said, "How many | | | | This is an easy and convenient pendulum putting |
| practice putts have you made this week?" His tip | | | | practice method that will work to make you a more |
| changed my putting forever. | | | | consistent putter. That can only mean more one and |
| This method can be practiced easily indoors at home | | | | two putts. |
| or the office. Locate any straight line on the floor of | | | | |