Making short putts is all about keeping the putterface square throughout your stroke. The key to keeping the putterface square is to have the arms and putter act as one unit throughout stroke, like a pendulum. Many shorts putts are missed when the hands become overactive at the moment of impact, twisting the putterface out of alignment.
To stabilize your hands and keep your putterface square, to make more short putts, try the following drill:
One-Handed Putting Drill
Find a spot on the practice putting green where you have a relatively straight two-foot putt.
Hit 3 putts with your right hand only. Feel how the putter and your right hand and arm work as one unit. If you get too wristy, you will see how the putterface will twist at the moment of impact.
Then hit 3 putts with your left hand only. Again, feel how your left arm and club swing back and forth together. Think of the back of your left wrist as the putterface, let it swing towards the target. Don’t let your left wrist break down at the moment of impact.
Finish off by hitting 3 putts with both hands, letting the putter swing without using your hands and wrists.
Practice this drill often to keep your putterface square on those short putts.
World No. 1 golfer Lorena Ochoa practices just with her left hand.
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