Part III: The Short Game
Lesson #44: Deaden Impact with a Putter Grip

Believe it or not, you can get a 'flyer' to lie within a couple of feet of the green. When the ball sits in the long fringe or rough, half-covered by grass, it will tend to jump out low and fast, without much backspin, just as a full shot does from light rough.

These shots are extremely difficult to control. What you must try to do is deaden impact. I've found that a great way to ensure that is to adopt my putting grip, a reverse overlap in which the index finger of my left hand overlaps the last three fingers of my right. This gives me the same quiet, wristless stroke as on the putting green, and it is that wristless stroke that effectively deadens impact and reduces the flyer effect. Instead of shooting out, the ball pops up softly and lands on the green.

Illustration by Jim McQueen

Comments