Building your speed is key to becoming a good distance player.
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Putting would be easier if every putt you faced was the same length. But during the course of each round, you have to manage all kinds of distances: short, medium-range, long-range shots and, of course, long delays. So in addition to getting a good read on how the putt will break, it’s important to know how to adjust your swing to power the ball the right distance. Unless you are an experienced golfer, your only hope is to guess.
When I ask my rector students how they adjust their swings to spin the ball different lengths, they invariably answer, “by changing the speed of my swing.” That’s why they never come close. A basic fact is that your swing speed naturally varies based on the length of your backstroke. Shorter shots command shorter backstrokes and longer shots require longer strokes. Everything else remains the same. It’s that easy.
Then the question arises: “How long should I do a back?” Here’s an easy way to find out.
On each putt, stay close to the ball and simply walk toward the cup. Count how many steps you need to reach the hole. (One step should roughly equal three feet.) Now, some simple math: Add an inch of back length for every step you take. For example, if it takes you five steps to reach the hole, then plan to make a five-inch long putt (with slight adjustments if the tee shot is uphill or downhill or if the green is running fast or slow).
As you move your putter, avoid the urge to add speed – great putters fill their backs, then just let the putter drop to the ball. You may not always sink the putt with this technique, but you will always be close to the hole, regardless of length.
Kellie Stenzel is one GOLF Top 100 Teachers who teaches at Palm Beach Par 3 and The Boca Raton in Fla.
