Leone’s Lessons: Last week, I was playing golf with a couple of
good friends at the Almaden Golf and Country Club in San Jose.
The greens there are semiundulating and fast. During the round,
I noticed whenever one of them was faced with a slick downhill
putt, they were tentative with their stroke.
Last week, I was playing golf with a couple of good friends at the Almaden Golf and Country Club in San Jose.
The greens there are semiundulating and fast. During the round, I noticed whenever one of them was faced with a slick downhill putt, they were tentative with their stroke.
When you’re tentative with the stroke, the tendency is to decelerate on the forward stroke.
The arms stop swinging, and the wrists take over, creating an inconsistent contact with the ball.
I showed them a trick I learned from Ben Crenshaw a few years ago. He explained to me when you’re faced with a fast downhill putt, set the ball off the toe of the putter.
This deadens the impact on the ball, allowing you to swing the putter without being tentative.
Next time you’re faced with the tricky downhill putt, set the ball on the toe — don’t be afraid and let it go.
You will be surprised how much of a stroke you can put on it without worrying about hitting it too far past the cup.
