Pop Putting

To “pop” or not to “pop”?

To pop or not to pop is a question that can have you missing three footers all day long. How many times do you have a short putt and just get up and ram it in the back of the hole? When it doesn’t mean anything they’re easy right! Well what you’re doing is popping the putt. When you pop a putt you keep the putter lower to the ground with not a lot of follow through which actually allows the putter to release, which causes the ball to roll end over end. What’s the result? Back of the hole!

Now imagine for a moment that you’re in a heated match. You’ve got the back pressed and your down three and one. You’re going to take as much time over each putt, right? How easy is it to miss a short putt when you’re concentrating on mechanics? Answer, EASY! So don’t do it.

Let’s look at some great putters who pop their putts. Do you remember John Daly when he won the PGA Championship? He didn’t give himself time to think about mechanics. He set-up to the ball and went for it. He trusted himself didn’t he? Look at Corey Pavin when he won the US Open. Do you remember that last putt on the 18th hole? It wasn’t very long was it? If he tried to stroke that putt he probably would have been in a playoff. If you get a chance to watch that tape again, watch closely how he jams it in the hole. He didn’t want mechanics to get in the way.

On the other hand there are some great putters who stoke the ball smoothly. Ben Crenshaw. He’s as smooth as silk. But even Ben was a little shaky on the last putt of the Masters when he was playing with Brian Henninger.

Smooth is good, but when you start getting mechanical, do some popping drills. Put ten balls around a hole in a circle at about three feet. Without lining them up, go around the hole and pop them into the hole. You can take the putter back slowly, but come through sharp without a lot of finish. You’ll find your putter stays lower and the ball will roll end over end. When the ball has that kind of roll it will hold its line better. Rolling the ball this way will make you trust your read better, moreover make you a better reader of the greens.

Remember if you have a short putt that counts, pop it and don’t give yourself a chance to miss it!