Two Putting Set-Ups

Video Transcript

It is when you get on the putting green that you are offered the most choices of what to do. There are no real rules when you putt; it is how confident you are and how many putts do you hole. But there are two styles that seem to be very popular when you look at golf on television. The first style I would like to talk about is used by Ben Crenshaw, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, so there is some pretty good players to copy. It is used over the years by developing what I call the long-arm method. The player holds the putter in such a way that the arms are extended. When the player stands to the ball it is quite a free, relaxed position at address. The stroke itself requires momentum. Quite a long backswing and a fairly short follow-through. This style seems to work best on fast, true greens. Let me show you what it looks like. Coming from Europe, the putting surfaces are not so good, a little bit bumpier, and a player like Colin Montgomery has devised a different way of putting. If you look at Monty, he will hold the putter with bent elbows, he gets down over the ball. His eyes are actually closer to the ball than Ben Crenshaw. His stroke itself is shorter and much more of a follow-through. Let me show you how he does this. Now whether it is Crenshaw or Monty, they are both pretty good putters and they are models for you to choose. No one should tell you how to putt; it is really where you are most confident and where you make the most putts. Remember, confidence and holing putts go together. Give it a go and find out what is best for you.

Denis Pugh
The Wisley
Ripley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QU
United Kingdom
Tel: 01483 211213

Denis Pugh is creator of "The Swing Map" Teaching Theory and is Europe's most prominent golf instructor. He also taught Greg Turner, Peter O'Malley, and European PGA Tour Player of the Year Colin Montgomerie.

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