Pendulum Putting
by Alex Nicolson, PGA Coach
"The stroke must be made with rhythm. The change of direction should be smooth and unforced, just as it is with the pendulum of a grandfather clock".
Tom Watson
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The pendulum in a clock moves efficiently because it hangs vertically. This is presumably why the Rules of golf stipulate that putters must have a minimum of a ten degree angle between the head and the shaft. Any less and it would make the stroke too easy - in theory...
However, you can get close to a true pendulum stroke if you set-up well to the ball. The often over-looked area I want to focus on here is the grip. Get it right, and it can really smooth out your stroke reducing the number of putts you take.
In the top left picture, you see how the handle of the club is where it should be in the left hand for a long game shot. It fits diagonally across the hand, and closer to the fingers. This is good for the long game because it facilitates freedom of movement in the wrists. Great for a full swing certainly, but not good for a pendulum putting stroke. Compare with the top right picture where the handle sits much higher in the palm. The effect is that it:
• Has the putter standing more upright
• Locks out the wrist (without tension)
From this position, you are able to swing the putter beneath you and without unwanted wrist movement. The last two pictures show the completed grip. There is room for personal interpretation here, but as a general rule, thumbs and forefingers should be pointing down the shaft.
Try it, and feel the difference.