Tip of the Month

August 2005

By John Pallot
Director of Instruction

My summer vacation and the PGA Championship concluded an exciting month of golf for me and thousands of golf fans. I made a trip to Scotland, where it all began, and the following week Phil Mickelson captured his 2nd major championship by winning the PGA at Baltusrol.

For me, Scotland provided many thrills; St. Andrews, Preswick, Turnberry, Carnoustie and Kingsbarnes, were championship links golf at its finest.

Baltusrol had narrow fairways, 4-6 inch rough, lightning fast greens and major championship pressure. Mickelson played his controlled fade to keep his drives in the fairway and irons on the greens. Phil's putting was phenomenal and key to his victory. He was second in the field with 16 birdies, holing five of them from over twenty feet. Mickelson has a tremendous feel for distance. When he has a birdie putt he sinks it! His father had a green and short game area in their backyard. Phil grew up with it and his touch and feel are second to none.

This month's tip involves the keys to consistent putting. Set-up, proper grip, square contact, ball position, and distance control are the essentials. Here are some guidelines that will have you holing putts just like Phil:

1) Set Up - bend forward from the hips, back straight, butt out, arms hanging, weight equally on balls of feet. This promotes free arm and shoulder motion.

2) Grip - position your palms facing each other. Phil uses the reverse overlap (right index finger on top of left 4th finger, reverse for righties). I use a ten-finger grip. Whatever you choose, the palms facing each other gives you the best chance to square the club-face at impact.

3) Ball Position - even with your left eye. This promotes a slightly ascending swing and proper body alignment and enables your ball to have overspin. Notice how my hands are even with the ball. This produces a flat left wrist at impact, critical to consistent putting.

4) Square Contact - this involves hitting the putt in the center of the club-face with a square,straight club-face. The most effective way to practice this is the gate drill with a straight line marked on your ball as the picture shows. Swing between the tees. The line on the ball is a wonderful guide for square contact. If the line rolls end over end your club-face is square and you've hit center.

5) Distance Control - obviously a very important part of great putting. Practice swing looking at the hole. This is the best way to develop a feel for distance. Picture tossing balls to the cup. Your eyes focus on the target. Feeling the proper amount of arm swing enables you to toss the ball close to the target. Try this exercise then feel the same motion when putting. Your goal is to have the ball die into the hole.