Fundamentals of Putting

• Have Questions? Email Us
• Main Menu
• Overview
• The Mechanics of Putting
• Diagnostics and Observation
• Putter Fitting
• The Grip
• Ball Position
• Setup and Alignment
• Lock and Rock
• Swing Plane
• Rhythm
• Eye Movement
• Pre-Shot Routine
• Pre-Shot Routine Template
• Green Reading
• Wind Effects on the Green
• Practice Drills
• Rhythm Drills
• Distance Control Drills
• Eye Movement Drills
• Speed Control Drills
• Pressure Putting Drills
• Before You Play
• Linking the FOP with the Mechanics
• ASSESSMENT

Lock and Rock

Lock & Rock means that the putter, hands, wrists, forearms, upper arms and shoulders should act as if they were all parts of a single unit during the putting stroke. This will help in maintaining a good swing plane and minimize a number of sources of error.

With the correct grip pressure, ball position, putter length and correct aim, the putter head is moved back in a plane that is tilted from the vertical by about 10 degrees.

The shoulders, arms, wrists and hands all act as one piece pivoting about the spine between the shoulder blades (the axis of rotation for the putting stroke), which is at right angles to the 10 degree putting plane.

To help make a one piece move, be sure the arms are relaxed and relatively straight, with no wrist break or wrist rotation. The student must not watch the putter head during the stroke, but fix the eyes at a point on the ball (preferably a point on the ball opposite the target line, but a spot on the ground opposite the target line will do as well).

Looking at this point behind the ball throughout the stroke and not moving the head will prevent the body from moving or swaying at impact. This will help maintain a constant acceleration rate through the impact zone and allow the putter head to stay in the same, correct plane. The student should try to continue to look at this point for several seconds after impact and longer if possible. The temptation to look up is a natural one, but if done too soon or if the body moves in anticipation of a look, the player will move out of position, and the putter head angle will be affected.

To promote a smooth takeaway on the back stroke, the student should imagine that the movement is being initiated by just one hand. This is only a thought process rather than an actual physical movement, but it will tend to mentally designate one hand as the dominant one.

The timing of the back swing (and subsequent forward swing) is very important. However, the teacher should first try to get the student to perfect the “one-piece” takeaway and downstroke while focusing the eyes on a specific spot and maintaining that focus until well after impact.

After the teacher has had some success – hopefully a lot of success with the one piece or single unit move – it is time to work on the next fundamental, the in-plane swing.