How to get a more smooth rhythm in my putting stroke?

[PingPoncho]

I seem to poke at my putts or have an uneven backswing and hurried follow through. Any drills or hints you can provide?

On practice green I have no problems just in match play?

[Llortamaisey]

Practice with a metronome. Create a routine based on 4 to 6 beats that include your putting stroke. The tempo should be 60 to 70 beats per minute. The last 2 beats of the routine should be you taking the putter away and the actual impact of the ball and club. No matter how long or how short the putt is, your tempo should never change.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

I seem to poke at my putts or have an uneven backswing and hurried follow through. Any drills or hints you can provide?

On practice green I have no problems just in match play?

 

So, wait, are you saying the poking and unevenness only happens during match play, and that your putting on the practice green is even with no poking? Or, two, are you saying that your putting is ‘pokey’ and uneven everywhere, it just costs you during match play? (Why would it cost you on a practice green, anyway?)

[Nard_S]

Even out the back stroke to forward stroke, see Spieth and Fowler. I've been adjusting to a faster backstroke that is more even to forward. Works well.

[Majors17]

All great ideas. Same length back and through will help. If you feel like your getting "poky" under pressure check your grip pressure first and try hovering the putter off the ground at address. Should free you up to make a more flowing stroke.

[Maximilian]

I like to feel the shaft load just a bit. Not a huge amount, but just enough so I know I'm in sync with the putter head so it's not off doing it's own thing. That makes sure that I am accelerating through the ball and just keeps my tempo smooth.

[ruffellprefley]

put a coin on the back of your putter and don’t let it fall off in transition.

[VA golfer]

Consistent grip pressure throughout the stroke. It doesn't matter if you grip it tight or soft just make sure you have the same pressure through the entire stroke. Commit to distance and don't worry about the line as much. If I'm not fully committed to the distance I will get stabby also. When assessing distance and speed of putt always do it from behind the line not while standing over the ball. You have greater depth perception with both eyes while facing the target than you would while standing over the ball.

[Kale_m]

I seem to poke at my putts or have an uneven backswing and hurried follow through. Any drills or hints you can provide?

On practice green I have no problems just in match play?

 

This is called “the yips”

 

Lots of drills to overcome

[LoopySwing13]

I downloaded an app called pro metronome. I read the tour average is 67 beats per minute so I use that as my base. Focus on the first click is the end of your back stroke and the 2nd click at impact. Has done wonders for me. Regardless of length of stroke I try to keep the same tempo. I try to feel the same sensation on chipping too.

[RobNY22]

I used to have the same issue. I made two changes.

 

One, I switched to a heavier 365 gram putter head.

 

Two, like mentioned in an above post, after I have chose my line and setup, I would lift and hover the putter ever so slightly above the ground just prior to starting my stroke. This helped me keep my grip pressure light. If I was gripping too tight I would notice the putter head swaying. If that happened I would back out and start my setup again. After a round or two I adjusted nicely to keeping the pressure light.

 

The combination of the two helped smooth out and even my tempo, but that’s just me. May not work for you. I even received a comment from someone I was paired up with this past weekend that I had a smooth and even stroke.

 

Good luck

[tobrien33]

I used to have the same issue. I made two changes.

 

One, I switched to a heavier 365 gram putter head.

 

Two, like mentioned in an above post, after I have chose my line and setup, I would lift and hover the putter ever so slightly above the ground just prior to starting my stroke. This helped me keep my grip pressure light. If I was gripping too tight I would notice the putter head swaying. If that happened I would back out and start my setup again. After a round or two I adjusted nicely to keeping the pressure light.

 

The combination of the two helped smooth out and even my tempo, but that’s just me. May not work for you. I even received a comment from someone I was paired up with this past weekend that I had a smooth and even stroke.

 

Good luck

 

I’ve always wanted to implement this, but have struggled as I tend to feel it has the opposite effect. Which is to say that I think I must be doing something wrong, so I’m curious about your routine/technique. In my mind, get everything set, relaxed posture and set up and I like a really light grip pressure, as light as possible. Perhaps I’m going too light bc when I try to hover putter as key to start stroke, I feel my hands tighten by default to try and keep the lie perpendicular to the green, if I hover trying to maintain that’s light grip, the lie feels like heel up/toe down and kinda squirrelly?

 

I really want to get a solid routine set, bc my inconsistent routine degrades my putting. Would love to hear tips on how people use this trigger or even a forwars press or whatever else to set yourself up for a nice smooth stroke, keeping on topic.

[NotYourAverageGolfer]

Lately, I've had the yips as well. It's killing me because it's only short 2-5 foot putts when I'm on the course. I use to be able to practice fine, but now I'm yipping practice putts, and they don't even count! I'm usually a cross-handed putting, but i started going back to my old baseball grip putting stroke, and it's only gotten worse as the months go on. I currently have 5 tabs opened up on putting tips, yip cures, etc. and I'm still struggling. Any way someone could help a fellow golfer at least gain confidence again?

[getitdaily]

Lately, I've had the yips as well. It's killing me because it's only short 2-5 foot putts when I'm on the course. I use to be able to practice fine, but now I'm yipping practice putts, and they don't even count! I'm usually a cross-handed putting, but i started going back to my old baseball grip putting stroke, and it's only gotten worse as the months go on. I currently have 5 tabs opened up on putting tips, yip cures, etc. and I'm still struggling. Any way someone could help a fellow golfer at least gain confidence again?

 

Practice putting looking at the hole.

[NotYourAverageGolfer]

Lately, I've had the yips as well. It's killing me because it's only short 2-5 foot putts when I'm on the course. I use to be able to practice fine, but now I'm yipping practice putts, and they don't even count! I'm usually a cross-handed putting, but i started going back to my old baseball grip putting stroke, and it's only gotten worse as the months go on. I currently have 5 tabs opened up on putting tips, yip cures, etc. and I'm still struggling. Any way someone could help a fellow golfer at least gain confidence again?

 

Practice putting looking at the hole.

 

I'll give that a shot. Thank you.

[20six]

Ignore the putterhead entirely, and focus only on moving the grip back and through.

[bluerrpilot]

put a coin on the back of your putter and don't let it fall off in transition.

 

This

[gioguy21]

put some headphones on and get a metronome app -- think i'm crazy till you do it. find a pattern that works for you - especially for different distances.

[getitdaily]

put a coin on the back of your putter and don’t let it fall off in transition.

 

Yeah, this is solid. Just tried it...good drill.

[Jaygolf37]

Practice putting with one hand...each hand separately...it is a go-to drill I have my players use. It really helps their rhythm. Good luck!