Ben Crenshaw, a legendary golfer known for his putting skills, shared his expert advice on putting in a 1981 issue of GOLF Magazine. Putting is a crucial aspect of the game, as it can easily turn bogeys into pars and pars into birdies. While there are various styles and techniques to putting, Crenshaw highlights five key “musts” that players should consider when working on their putting game. These principles are essential for developing a consistent and effective putting stroke that can help lower your scores on the course.
The first must from Crenshaw is to keep your shoulders over the putt. While traditional advice suggests having your eyes directly over the ball, Crenshaw explains that great putters like Isao Aoki and Fuzzy Zoeller have proven that this is not always necessary. What is crucial is to have the upper part of your back relatively horizontal, allowing for the correct swing path needed in putting. Finding the right balance and stance that works for you is essential for a successful putting stroke.
Crenshaw also emphasizes the importance of putting like you swing. Great putters have developed putting strokes that mirror their full swings in terms of length, tempo, and style. By maintaining consistency between your putting style and full swing, you can avoid discrepancies that may impact your overall performance on the course. Understanding your natural tempo, swing characteristics, and personal tendencies is key to developing a putting method that complements your game.
Another key must from Crenshaw is keeping your thumbs on top while putting. Placing the thumbs directly on top of the grip allows for better feel and control over the putt, enabling you to guide the putter more effectively. The thumbs play a significant role in providing sensory feedback during the putting stroke, enhancing touch and precision on the greens. Good putters often exhibit repeating strokes and a keen sense of reading greens to avoid three-putts, further emphasizing the importance of maintaining stability and consistency throughout the putting process.
In addition to having a consistent stroke and grip, Crenshaw stresses the need to guard against the three-putt. By developing a strategy that focuses on lagging longer putts close to the hole rather than aggressively going for the hole, you can minimize the risk of dropping unnecessary shots on the green. Understanding your comfort level with short putts and having confidence in your ability to make come-backers can influence your decision-making during putting. By honing your lag putting skills and reading greens effectively, you can improve your putting performance and lower your scores.
Lastly, Crenshaw highlights the importance of staying steady during the putting stroke. Maintaining a stable head and lower body, regardless of whether you are a wrist putter or use arm and shoulder movements, is crucial for consistent putting. While some exceptions exist, such as the unique style of Bobby Jones, most successful putters exhibit a stillness and focus that contributes to their success on the greens. Experimenting with different putting styles and techniques can help you find a method that works best for your game, but always prioritize a steady and controlled approach to putting.
