The success of the ball as it moves its way towards the hole depends on its speed. In other words, the pressure that you apply on your swing determines your success as a putter.

The Catch 22

If you hit the ball too hard, it will fly above and beyond the hole. When this happens, you will need to make an extended recovery shot. On the other hand, if you don’t put enough pressure on your swing, the ball will stop short of the hole.

Hitting the ball too hard will give you less break, or curve. For example, if you hit the ball too hard and calculated a six or seven inches of break, the ball will likely break just two or three inches and ends up missing the target. By hitting the ball too hard, even a putt that is only two feet can cause you to miss the hole and lip out, or goes back out.

Hitting the ball too gently, however, the ball will break more than your calculation and also miss the hole.

Therefore, the absolute success of the putt depends on the speed of the ball. Speed, along with distance, go hand and hand on the putting green.

So, How do you know? Backswing Distance? Speed of stroke? Length of follow through? Or does it start with your stance? Or your eyeballing the path before the putt? Or your visualizing the ball going in?

What’s YOUR method of getting the right speed?

I’d like to know…. Post your theory here… We’re all anxious to compare notes!

Tags: buzz_b_berkeley

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