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Article 1: The Myth of Pendulum Putting
Article 2: Pre-Putt Fundamentals

The Myth of the Pendulum Putting Stroke

Ever since the first sheepherder whacked the first sheep dropping into something that looked like a hole, golf pros have been teaching the pendulum method of putting. Enough already … it’s a dirty rotten lie! Use this method and you are shooting yourself in the foot! I grant that Pendulum putting has many appealing concepts … on the surface. However, a deeper look reveals the truth. Who doesn’t want the rhythmic smoothness of a pendulum? I don’t and there are two simple reasons. First, a pendulum is a machine and we aren’t! While our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, even for the task of putting, we are not built with the same physical structure as a pendulum. You ask, "What about all those great putters who swear by the pendulum?" Be careful about swearing and having false gods … golf is full of both! The simple explanation is that the great putters we see and hear are not really doing what they think they are doing and, as well as they can putt, they can’t explain what they are doing for beans!

A pendulum hangs from one fixed point and swing back and forth depending upon gravity for it’s consistent movement. A putter is connected to two flexible connectors, which in turn connect to other joints, which can move in more than one direction. This system is powered by muscles, which are sometimes under control and sometimes out of control. The reliability of gravity is highly desirable, but unfortunately, it’s not how we move the putter. Remember, even a pendulum must be started in motion by an outside force.

The first skill in putting is the ability to make a repetitive stroke. Another way of saying this is to "do the same stinking thing, the same stinking way, every stinking time." That was a little dramatic, but you now have the idea. Said still another way, basic putting skill is the knowledge of how and the ability to consistently strike a straight ten-foot putt. There are three requirements to do this: 1. Move the putter straight back and straight through the "putting zone". 2. Square the putter face to the intended target line at impact. 3. Control the speed of the putt. The first task is a matter of correct pre-putt fundamentals, which is another discussion. The second and third requirements are actually one in the same task.

The basic reason a pendulum stroke doesn’t work is because the human muscular/skeletal system affects the time and length of the backward and forward movement. With a pendulum, both the time and length it takes to make the movement is equal on both sides of the movement. This kind of sounds like lite beer … tastes great, less filling … yeah right! If you abandon the myth of the pendulum stroke, then you open up the possibility of becoming a really good putter.

In a correctly executed stroke, the time it takes to make the backstroke is about three times longer than the time it takes to complete the forestroke. In your mind, think, "slow and go". Each word is critical to a well-timed stroke. The backstroke is very, very slow. The word and represents the transition between the back and forestroke. It may be the most critical part of the stroke! Finally, the word Go represents the idea of an accelerating strike into the back of the ball.

Another equally critical concept involves the length of the backswing relative to the length of the foreswing. The backswing is always shorter than the foreswing! The goal is to guarantee that the putter head is accelerating when it strikes the ball. The number one human problem with the pendulum stroke is the strong tendency to "quit" on the putt, which leaves the putter face open to the intended path. After you miss a few to the right, the natural tendency is to make some kind of adjustment, which works for a short time. When this fails, it’s on to the next band-aid.

Let’s summarize: 1. A pendulum stroke is nearly impossible to make given the human machine performing the act. 2. The backstroke takes three times longer (time) than the forestroke. 3. The backstroke is about 1/3 as long (length) as the forestroke. 4. The rhythm of the stroke is "slow and go".

Now that I’ve shot down a sacred golf treasure, it seems appropriate to offer up a better alternative. A critical question is, "What are the benefits of a non-pendulum stroke technique?" When your pre-putt fundamentals are correct you will move the putter head straight back and straight through the ball, keeping the putter over the intended target path. Here’s the big payoff! When you control the timing and length of the stroke as I have described, you will strike the ball with both a square putter face and with an accelerating stroke into the back of the ball. As it turns out, the act of striking the ball CAUSES the putter face to square up to the stroke path!

Want more good news? Research indicates that about 90% of a putter path error is forgiven and does NOT affect the direction the ball will roll. The bad news is that about 90% of any face angle error DOES affect the direction the ball will roll. The good news is that using the correct "slow and GO rhythm prevents you from making this error and once again, CAUSES the putter to square up to the target path!

Finally, two questions obviously arise. The first is "How far should I take the putter back?" The second is "How do I learn how to do this?" Consider the following, "How do you catch a Unique Rabbit?" Answer, "U neek up on it." So then, "How do you catch a tame rabbit?" Answer, "Tame way dummy, u neek up on it!" The answers to the two golf questions are similar in nature … number one is, "don’t know … it depends, but I do know you have to neek up on it." Obviously, with this method, the length of the backstroke determines how far the ball will roll. Answer number two is; the same way you get to Carnegie Hall … practice, practice, practice.

Go to the practice green a begin learning in a systematic manner. First, develop correct pre-putt fundamentals. You can also do this at home on a piece of carpet. Learn to control the length of your backstroke for different length putts. For most people this will require making both a slower and shorter backstroke. To help with this problem, put a tee in the ground, behind the ball and on the target path. The tee should be placed one to two inches shorter than the limits of your normal backstroke for the putt you are making. If you are still comfortable, move the tee a little closer. Make the backstroke so slow that you feel uncomfortable. After you have caught this rabbit, go after the next one … the and part of the swing! Learn to NOT rush the foreswing. Don’t come to a complete stop, but don’t jerk the club forward either.

After you have caught your second rabbit go get the last and biggest rabbit in the patch. Learn to strike the back of the ball with an accelerating stroke. When you have done this correctly, you will know you have bee successful by the way the ball "feels" coming off the putter face. It will feel ultra solid (no vibration from a mishit) and you won’t have an urge to look up to see where it has gone … you will know where it is going!

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Pre-Putt Fundamentals

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