Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, and today we’re going to talk about putting—specifically, how to develop a smooth, consistent stroke that can help you sink more putts and shave strokes off your game. You might have noticed a growing trend on tour with professional golfers using longer, “broomstick” putters. But you don’t need to go out and buy new equipment to tap into the benefits they offer. There’s a simple, effective technique you can integrate into your practice right away to get that same smooth feel.
For years, I’ve taught golfers of all levels, from weekend warriors to tour pros, that consistency in putting comes from using the larger muscles in your upper body, rather than relying on your hands and wrists. Those small muscles can be “twitchy” and introduce inconsistency, especially when the pressure is on. The beauty of the broomstick putter is how it naturally encourages this fundamental principle.
The Power of the Pendulum: Why Broomstick Putters Work
The core concept behind the effectiveness of broomstick putters is that they shift the focus of your stroke away from your hands. As Scott Munroe, a GOLF Top 100 Alumni, explains:
“What it does is it gets you rocking your shoulders, taking your hands out [of the movement]. It’s a great way to calibrate your distances and get used to seeing the ball rolling perfectly.”
Imagine a pendulum swinging freely; it moves with a consistent arc and rhythm. That’s exactly what we want in our putting stroke. The extended shaft of a broomstick putter forces a higher rotation point on your body, naturally engaging your shoulders and core. This creates a much more stable and repeatable motion. You’re using those larger, more reliable muscles, which are far less prone to nerves or sudden, uncontrolled movements.
No Broomstick? No Problem! Mimic the Feel for a Better Stroke
Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Sarah, I don’t have a broomstick putter!” And that’s perfectly fine! Scott Munroe has a fantastic drill that allows you to recreate this powerful, hands-free feeling without needing any special equipment. This is a drill I often recommend to my students because it instantly promotes the right motion.
Drill: The “Elbow Tuck” for a Pendulum Stroke
This drill helps you integrate your arms and shoulders, making them function as one unit. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Set Your Hands: Begin by gripping your putter. Instead of a conventional grip, place your hands on the club with your fingers underneath the grip. This encourages a softer, less resistive hand position.
Step 2. Create a Pentagon: Now, raise the putter out in front of you. When you do this, you should notice your arms and shoulders naturally forming a pentagon shape with your torso. This is your initial setup, promoting a connected structure.
Step 3. Tuck Your Elbows: This is the crucial step. Pull your elbows in so they are lightly touching or very close to your torso. Feel that connection? This is what links your arms to your body, ensuring they move together as a single unit.
Once you’ve got this setup, place the putter back down on the ground, keeping your elbows tucked. Get into your normal putting stance. Now, without a ball, start making rehearsal swings. The key here is to focus entirely on rocking your shoulders to move the putter head. Your hands and wrists should remain relatively passive. You’ll immediately feel how your larger muscles are now driving the stroke.
“What you’re doing is recreating the long putter,” Munroe explains. “From this position, all you do is rock your shoulders. That’s going to help you putt really well.”
Once you’re comfortable with this feeling of a shoulder-driven, pendulum-like motion, introduce a ball. Pay close attention to the roll. When you execute this drill correctly, engaging your larger muscles and keeping your hands quiet, you should see the ball rolling end-over-end, with a true, consistent path. This consistent roll is a hallmark of a well-struck putt and a true indicator of a great stroke.
Practice with a Purpose: Incorporating Aids for Feedback
To further enhance this feeling and get immediate feedback on your stroke path and eye alignment, I highly recommend using a putting mirror. This isn’t just about looking at yourself; it’s about seeing your setup and stroke from a different perspective and ensuring everything is aligned correctly.
Short Game Gains Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror
It’s here and it’s perfect!
The Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror is our newest addition to the SGG family. We heard your feedback on the mirrors of the golf world, kept the good, improved the bad, and this mirror was born. Made of high strength stainless steel, this mirror won’t bend or warp just from being used the way some plastic mirrors do. That means your mirror will last longer and gives you picture perfect clarity (no weird distortion!) when you look down at the ball. It has an included ruler for measuring stance and setup, and the ruler doubles as a shoulder alignment mirror when you flip it over. Genius! It’s double sided for even longer use, so you’re getting TWO mirrors for the price of one- plus it comes with adhesive silicone protection strips to keep your putter from scratching the surface without affecting the roll of the ball. With slots in key points to make your own tee gates, you can work on setup, path, eye line, start line, and more at one single station. Indoor Practice? No problem. Use the included marbles for start line work in the off-season. Your golf practice just got way more effective!
A few SGG putting mirror features:
eye line alignment
shoulder alignment
swing path
distance from ball
width of stance
ball position
center contact
starting the ball online
View Product
This specific mirror features: eye line alignment, shoulder alignment, swing path, distance from ball, width of stance, ball position, center contact, and starting the ball online. I particularly appreciate how it helps with shoulder alignment, which is key for those of us trying to get that broomstick feel. By flipping it over, the ruler portion doubles as a shoulder alignment tool – genius! This immediate visual feedback reinforces the physical feeling you’re developing with the elbow tuck drill.
Here’s a simple way to use it with the elbow tuck drill:
Drill: Mirror Aided Pendulum
- Set up your putting mirror on a flat surface, with the reflective surface facing you and the alignment lines pointing towards your target.
- Perform the “Elbow Tuck” drill, focusing on the pentagon shape and keeping your elbows connected to your torso.
- As you take your practice strokes, use the mirror to visually confirm that your eyes are over the ball and that your shoulders are moving parallel to the target line, initiating that smooth, rocking motion. The mirror’s shoulder alignment feature is perfect for this.
- Once you’re confident with the feel, place a ball and monitor its starting line through the mirror. The goal is a perfect end-over-end roll directly on your intended line.
This combination of physical sensation and visual feedback is incredibly powerful for solidifying new mechanics.
A Consistent Stroke is Within Your Reach
Whether you adopt a broomstick putter in the future or stick with your current gamer, understanding and implementing the concept of a shoulder-driven, hands-quiet putting stroke is a game-changer. The “Elbow Tuck” drill is a fantastic way to develop this feel, fostering that smooth, consistent pendulum motion that’s less susceptible to nerves and helps you calibrate your distances more effectively.
Don’t be discouraged if it feels a little awkward at first; any new movement takes time to ingrain. I encourage you to commit to spending even just 10-15 minutes a day with this drill. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your putts will start rolling true and your confidence on the greens will soar. Happy putting!
