Instruction

The Ultimate Putting Program (Part 3): Pick a putter that matches your path

Published

12 years ago

Dec 23, 2013

We have discussed how the design of a putter affects a golfer’s ability to control aim and speed. Now it is time to look at how it affects the path of the stroke.

I believe the optimal path of a putting stroke is one that returns the putter head to impact so that it’s perpendicular to the target line. This seems to provide the most room for error. Others may believe that it is ok to have variations within the path and aim so long as the two cancel each other out and the ball rolls toward the target. Whichever way you look at it, there are design elements of the putter that influence face rotation, thus affecting the direction of the putter at impact.

On almost every putting green, I’ve seen golfers trying to become better putters. But many of them try to improve the path of their stroke before addressing their ability to aim their putter at address. Someone can work on the path of their stroke all they want, but I’ve found that if they don’t aim their putter at the target, it will be difficult to improve.

If you have not already read The Ultimate Putting Program (Part 1): The Design of Your Putter Influences Aim, click here to do so. It will give you the framework to understand my take on path.

Let’s consider a golfer who consistently miss-aims his putter 4 inches left of the hole, and has developed a compensating action during his stroke to roll the ball on his intended line. The compensation may be a push stroke, an opening of the clubface or a combination of the two. This type of compensation may work fine, but is likely to be inconsistent in the long run. It is also very likely that after a bad round of putting, a friend, or maybe the local golf professional will mention that he has an in-to-out stroke, and for him to become a better putter he will need to improve the path of his stroke.

So what happens? The golfer likely sees this as great information, and begins working on improving his path. He may even go as far as to practice the various putting drills that are so commonly recommend. Well, guess what? It is very likely that the will indeed improve the path of his stroke, but unfortunately for him, he won’t be aiming at the target, so now he will simply roll the ball where he is aiming; four inches left of the hole.

That’s why I suggest first improving aim, and then developing a stroke path that rolls your ball on your intended line. In my opinion, this is the easiest route for most golfers to improve.

Path Type: Arc or Straight-Back-Straight-Through (SBST)

putting_arc2

There is a continuing debate amongst golfers on whether an arcing stroke or a SBST stroke is correct. I imagine that neither stroke is any better or worse than the other, but the fact of the matter is that a true SBST stroke is a manipulation of the hands and the wrists, whereas the arcing stroke adheres more to the laws of geometry and physics.

The amount of arc in a golfer’s stroke is primarily the result of how far the golfer stands from the ball. A golfer who stands rather close to the ball is likely to have a stroke that is close to being SBST, whereas someone who stands farther from the ball will likely have more of an arcing stroke. A golfer’s spine angle at address also is a contributing factor to the amount of arc in their stroke. A golfer who stands upright is likely to create more of an arc than someone who bends over more. I believe these are preferences for each golfer, though it is important to match a putter with a golfer’s path type.

Putter design affects path, which affects aim at impact

It is important to match the rotational aspect of the putter with a golfer’s stroke to allow the putter face to be square to the target at impact. The traditional way to test a putter for rotational value is to balance the shaft of a putter on your finger and notice how the club head hangs. The picture below shows putters with varying amounts of toe hang.

It is even more revealing when you do this on the inclined plane of the putting stroke to see gravity’s affect on the putter during the stroke. It may be an eye opener for some golfers to know that most putters are designed to “open” during the stroke, making it difficult to return the putter square to the target at impact. Putters can have various degrees of toe hang, and they can also be “face-balanced” and even “heel-balanced.”

As a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea for players with very little arc in their stroke to use a face- or heel-balanced putter. Players who have more arc in their stroke generally prefer a putter with some degree of toe hang, as they like the sensation of the putter face “releasing” through impact. I have been experimenting with a heel-balanced putter and I am noticing that it offers a very solid strike through impact (I would say that my natural stroke is one with medium amount of face rotation).

The weight of the putter head also affects the amount of face rotation. Heavier putter heads rotate slower than lighter ones. The amount of rotation that a golfer seeks will dictate where and how much weight should be added to the putter. By counter weighting or adding weight internally through a the puter shaft, a golfer can increase the overall weight of the putter without affecting its rotation.

For more information on how the weight of the putter affects speed control, read The Ultimate Putting Program Part 2.

Drills to Improve the Path of Your Stroke

1. The first drill is to develop a target line from the ball to the hole, which can be done in two different ways (more on that below).

The goal of this drill is to produce a path that rolls the ball on the intended line. For an arc stroke, it will allow you to see your putter move slightly inside the target line on the backstroke, square to the target line at impact, and slightly inside the target line on the forward stroke. For a SBST stroke, it will allow you to see the putter head stay on the target line throughout the stroke.

Using a chalk line is a good way to learn to roll the ball on the intended line. Another good drill for golfers who keep their eyes over the ball is to tie a knitting needle to both sides of a 10-foot string. Then find a straight putt, and place the needles in the ground so that one of them is slightly behind the hole, and the other is far enough to make the string taught. The string should be directly over the target line with enough room to putt towards the hole, while keeping the putter beneath the string. For players who stand far enough from the ball for their eyeline to be inside the target line (not over the ball) using a chalk line will be more beneficial since the string requires a golfer’s eyes to be over the ball.

Editor’s Note: If you decide to use the chalk line drill, do your best to choose an area of the practice green where you are not impeding the practice of others. Also, be weary of “wearing out” a spot on the green with your foot marks. Green keepers and follow golfers with thank you.

Either of these methods can also be done on breaking putts. Just set the target line on a tangent of the intended path of the ball so that the ball will break to the hole. You may be surprised of how much break is required for the ball to go in the hole with optimal speed (6-to-8 inches past the hole on a miss). I will explain more on green reading in my next article.

2. The next drill is to place a tee on either side of the putter head and roll putts so that the putter head swings between the two tees. The goal of this drill, which is called the “gate drill,” is to learn to contact the golf ball with the center of the putter face. Then setup two more tees slightly wider than the golf ball on the target line. The objective is to roll the ball between the tees, which if done correctly will produce a putter face that is square to the target at impact. This drill offers immediate feedback since the ball will hit the tees if done improperly.

I like to use both the chalk line and gate drills in combination of one another for an even better practice session.

By now, you should have a better understanding of the key variables that are essential for you to improve your putting; Aim, Speed, and Path. In my next article, I will discuss two ways of reading greens to help you put all of this information into action and become a better golfer.

To Continue With The Ultimate Putting Program:

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How to Make BIG Changes

Henry Stetina

Henry is a PGA member and TPI certified golf instructor. Employed by New Mexico State University, Henry spends the majority of his time teaching the PGA Golf Management curriculum. He specializes in teaching golf instruction and player development. Henry also coaches a handful of amateur, elite junior, and professional golfers. GolfWRX Writer of the Month: June 2014

14 Comments

Bruce Rearick

Dec 25, 2013 at 9:25 am

What happens when the shape/design you aim best doesn’t match your stroke path?

Reply Report comment
- Henry Stetina
  
  Dec 28, 2013 at 10:56 am
  
  Bruce, It is great to hear from you. Good question. I believe this is the key balancing act in being a fitter. Rotational requirements of a putter has a great deal to do with hosel configuration, weight distribution, length and lie. That being said, I like to get an understanding of a person’s intended stroke type and then watch their stroke to see if what they are producing matches their intention. For example, if a person wants a SBST style of stroke and can benefit from a “face-balanced,” I first look into a hosel that produces a “face-balanced” putter. Then I can change head shape, sight lines, length, and lie to find something that they aim correctly. Then it is all about weight for speed control and how it affects face rotation. I constantly watch how a person controls all three variables, aim, path, and speed to make the adjustments necessary.
  
  Does this answer your question? What are you thoughts?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Bruce Rearick
    
    Dec 30, 2013 at 8:39 pm
    
    I think it is best to learn to aim what swings in balance with your stroke.
    
    Reply Report comment
Davis

Dec 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm

“the fact of the matter is that a true SBST stroke is a manipulation of the hands and the wrists, whereas the arcing stroke adheres more to the laws of geometry and physics.”

This is untrue.

The arc of someones stroke is a product of where his hands are in relationship to his shoulders. If a person’s hands are directly under his shoulders then his stroke will be SBST. The further in front of the shoulders the person’s hands are, the greater the arc is (assuming that you are making a shoulders only putting stroke).

Reply Report comment
- Matt
  
  Dec 25, 2013 at 2:08 am
  
  I think the article is correct. If you look it up, I’m sure you’ll find better explanations than what I’d give. But with the angle of the spine, arms, and lie, it is not possible to have a true sbst stroke without a lot of moving parts (hands, forearms).
  
  That being said, I consider myself sbst because it’s close enough.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - J C
    
    Dec 25, 2013 at 3:55 am
    
    what you think is sbst most of the time really follows the shaft lie plane. only way to be truely sbst is to have a 90 degree lie and move rotating joints along the vertical plane. and that causes a different problem. the club head will bottom out at the ball adn will be either decending or ascending if you falter in any other aspect of your swing, causing you to push the ball down into the green or hit up on it. im not sure if either is better i havent had the opportunity to see one of those nice putter fitting machines or know the logistics behind the best roll of the ball.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - J C
      
      Dec 25, 2013 at 3:56 am
      
      im tired looks like a 12 yr old wrote that sorry.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Davis
        
        Dec 26, 2013 at 10:17 am
        
        If you haven’t, go check out David Pelz’s putting book. Not a crazy huge Pelz fan but his work on his first book is incredible. He uses his scientific approach from his time at NASA and really proves the SBST stroke.
        
        Reply Report comment
- Henry Stetina
  
  Dec 28, 2013 at 11:41 am
  
  Davis,
  
  Take a look at this diagram. In both images the hands hang directly beneath the shoulders and yet it seems impossible to swing the putter SBST without manipulation of the hands. If I am wrong, will you please expand on your comment?
  
  https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1480661_10151971554977530_967009183_n.png
  
  Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Feb 2, 2014 at 8:14 pm
  
  SAM Putt Lab designer did a study using Neuroscientists and found that the SBST type stroke indeed increased the use of the muscles in the lower arms during the takeaway. You have to remember that people putt on a tilted axis which is the neck and consequently the stroke will move around that axis creating natural rotation.
  
  Dave Pelz has been an SBST proponent and when faced with this study at a PGA conference in Germany, he was baffled by the results of this study that basically disproved the SBST stroke he had been teaching.
  In order to have a true SBST the lie angle of the putter would need to be 90 degees to be able to make an SBST stroke.
  
  Great article Matt.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Kemptx
    
    Jun 16, 2014 at 9:22 pm
    
    Some years ago I attended a Pelz short game school. While talking about the putting stroke, one of the instructors admitted that all putting strokes have a certain degree of arc in them. I don’t know if he meant to say that as it was in opposition to what they had been teaching during the school.
    
    Reply Report comment
Andrew

Dec 23, 2013 at 6:25 pm

I had some putting lessons earlier this year. All my problems game from aiming too far left and having a putter that didn’t suit my stroke and aim (SC Del Mar)

Moved to a center shaft SC Newport and read/aim using my dominant eye and my putting has improved massively.

Currently averaging 28 putts a round!

Really interesting set of articles Henry…putting is 40% of the game and it’s easy for most to see an improvement with a few lessons and a bit of practice!

Reply Report comment
- Jadon
  
  Dec 26, 2013 at 8:56 am
  
  Does that mean you have a SC Del Mar you’re wanting to put in the garbage???? Let me take it off your hands.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Henry Stetina
  
  Dec 28, 2013 at 11:44 am
  
  Andrew, thank you for your feedback. Sounds as though you have already found a benefit from learning about putter design. Great to hear!
  
  Reply Report comment

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Instruction

How to play your best golf when the temperature drops

Published

3 months ago

Feb 3, 2026

Brendon Elliott

The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.

“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.

If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.

Understand What Cold Does to Your Game

Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.

Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.

Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.

Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing

Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.

Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.

Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.

Take More Club Than You Think You Need

This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.

The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.

Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.

Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens

Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.

Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.

Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.

Embrace the Mental Challenge

Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”

That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.

Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.

Warm Up Longer and Smarter

This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.

Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.

The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.

Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!

Instruction

3 lessons from Brooks Koepka that’ll actually lower your score

Published

3 months ago

Feb 2, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.

So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.

Stop Overthinking Every Shot

Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.

This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.

How to actually do this:

On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.

Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.

If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.

This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.

Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)

Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.

Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:

Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.

Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.

Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.

Save Your Best for When It Counts

Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.

How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.

Here’s what actually works:

Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.

Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.

Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.

The Bottom Line

Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.

You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.

Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.

Instruction

What we can learn from Blades Brown’s impressive American Express performance

Published

3 months ago

Jan 29, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.

Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.

Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee

Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.

Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.

Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.

The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.

Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens

This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.

How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.

Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.

Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.

When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.

Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient

Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.

He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.

Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.

Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.

Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.