Putting: Downhill Putts
Published:
PUTTING
Enter the dead zone
Learn the easy way to deal with slick downhill putts
Fault: Running fast putts past
Fix: Use toe contact to kill the strike
We coaches are usually big on helping you find the sweetspot of your putter. A centred strike stops the face twisting at impact and helps you deliver consistent distance control. But there’s one occasion a strike off the toe becomes more desirable, and it’s when you’re facing a very quick downhill putt – something you can expect to face more often as summer approaches. Here’s why it works, and some simple guidelines on how to achieve it.
Slower strike
Modern putters are weighted to produce their sweetest strike – and consistent ball speeds – from the centre of the face. As we know through past mis-strikes, when you make contact from the toe or heel, the strike is deadened and the ball comes off more slowly. We can use that to our advantage on fast downhillers.
Normal rhythm
Don’t fall into the trap of making a weak, dribbling stroke. Even on fast putts, your stroke needs rhythm and purpose to send the ball out on line, and that’s what this deadened toe strike allows.
Sharper attention
Place your attention on the mid-point between the putter’s centre and toe, and address the ball opposite this point. Focus purely on making contact with this part of the face.
Short stroke
If applied with power, the toe strike will twist the face open. So only use the toe strike when you only need a short, controlled stroke, which should be the case anyway for fast, downhill putts.
TG TOP 50
GARY NICOL
ARCHERFIELD LINKS
Tour coach and co-founder of the Tour Pro Experience Golf Schools (tpegs.com)
