RAISEYOURGAME
How to avoid a putting breakdown Jason Froggatt of Four Season’s, MEG’s Instructor of the Year, works his short-game magic ONE OF the most common faults I see with poor putters is inconsistent contact at impact, generally caused by the breakdown of the left wrist. I recommend the following simple drill to help stabilize the wrists through the stroke. Practice Drill: Place a ball on the ground, grip a little further down the handle of the putter than normal with the left hand and lodge another ball between the handle
and your left wrist. Add your right and set up to the ball on the ground - you might have to bend your knees a little more than normal as a result of gripping further down the handle. Now make the stroke. Any breaking down of the wrists will result in the upper ball dropping to the ground. Once you putt repeatedly without causing the ball to drop, you’ve cracked it. Take the lodged ball away and continue with the same action.
RIGHT: GROUNDED Notice how the ball rolls immediately off the putter face resulting in the ball adhering to your chosen line of putt.
WRONG: LIFT-OFF With the shaft leaning back at impact your will see the ball off ground, this resulting in the bouncing ball rolling and most probably off line at the stage.
52 Middle East Golfer MAY 2009