The Pendulum Putting Stroke

There are several ingredients to a
pendulum stroke, the first is a
consistent rhythm, and the second
is the triangle created by your
arms and shoulders.

This triangle must remain in tact
throughout the stroke for it to be
effective. The third is the
creation of a swinging pendulum
around a fixed point.

Standing in your stance, hold the
end of the putter loosely to your
breastbone.

The natural, back and forth swing
is what is called the pendulum,
this is what you should base your
pendulum on.

Watch this motion in a mirror and
you will see what this stroke
should look like during a putt.

Because the pendulum you are
creating is attached to a putter
and two arms the motion will be
slightly different.

Swing the triangle created by your
arms and shoulders without any
added motion from the arms or
hands and you will develop the
perfect pendulum, a smooth and
rhythmic shot that you can depend
on.
How to feel a pendulum shot:

*Hold you putter and take your
stance

*Do not move your body, but slide
the putter up until it touches
your breastbone

*Now re-grip wherever your hands
automatically fall on the putter,
somewhere near the head

*In this position it should be
nearly impossible to move any part
of your hands or arms other than
the shoulders.

*Keep the grip against your chest
and rock your shoulders back and
forth, this is how a good pendulum
stroke should feel

Once you have learned to use the
pendulum stroke properly, your
rhythm should come naturally.
Like the pendulum of a metronome
your swing should be consistent,
with a constant tempo.

In putting all of your strokes
should be the same rhythm, no
matter what the length of the
stroke is.

Practice Your Putting

Putting is one of the easier parts
of golf to practice, and if you
are serious about improving your
game, the time spent practicing is
well worth it.

And here's some tips to help you
start:
A small area of bare floor or
carpeting can suffice for
practicing putting, you do not
need a practice green or a sand
trap.

You can practice any time you have
a few minutes, at home, at the
office (make sure this wont get
you in trouble), or while watching
the pros on television.

Indoor practice is also a good
time to practice a few minutes
with two clubs on the floor
working on your straight-back,
straight-through shots.

If possible set up in front of a
full length mirror and check you
pendulum swing.

You can use a straight line on
your floor or carpet to check the
movement of the putterhead during
your strokes.

Practice the 17 inch rule by
dropping a coin on the floor and
trying to roll a ball over it
stopping 17 inches behind it.

You can also try putting with your
eyes closed, or practice putting
25 in a row in the same area.
These are all things you can do on
the outdoor practice green when
possible.

It is unlikely that you will ever
find a green as bumpy as your
carpet (even the smoothest of
carpet is worse the most greens)
or as fast as the hardwood floor.

However, using these extreme
surfaces helps develop better
touch, and allows you to learn to
contact the sweetspot.

Practice is not just rolling the
ball into a cup, it involves
trying different stroke speeds,
accelerating and decelerating your
strokes, and eliminate wrist
break. There is no end to the
things you can practice during
putting practice in doors.

Making a few practice putts before
any round is always advisable; it
allows you to judge the green and
moisture in the grass.

Practicing a few minutes every day
for a couple of weeks will cause a
noticeable improvement in your
putting.