PRofessional Golfer's Secret to Putting Rhythm

A Professional Golfer's Secret to Putting Rhythm

A Key to Consistency, Fewer Putts, and Lower Golf Scores

Inconsistent putting has wrecked many great rounds of golf. Developing a consistent rhythm with the putter can help golfers master their putter.

Golfers use their putter more than any other club in their golf bag during a round of golf, however, putting is one of the least effectively practiced parts of their game.

Mike Shannon, putting instructor at Sea Island Golf Learning Center, and considered by many to be the world's best putting instructor, has some great advice regarding establishing a repeatable putting stroke.

According to Shannon, establishing a consistent rhythm to the putting stroke is essential. For every golfer, speed is everything in putting. Says Shannon, "When you talk about speed, you have to talk about the rhythm of the putting stroke."

To establish an individual's rhythm, a simple drill is in order. One that makes use of a metronome.

Establishing a Rhythm
According to Shannon, "Ninety percent of all the (tour) players have a rythym of 76 beats per minute." All tour players, says Shannon, have a rhythm of between 72 and 80 beats per minute (bpm) with a metronome.

A golfer can establish his or her rhythm using a metronome by putting 12 or so balls to a cup that is approximately 25 feet away. Set the metronome to 76 bpm, clip the metronome to a pocket, and practice putting to the cup in time with the metronome.

As Shannon demonstrates, the putting stroke will consist of starting with one tone of the metronome and impact the ball at the next tone.

After putting the 12 balls a few times, says Shannon "most of your balls should be in a pattern." Most of them will be in a two to three foot radius somewhere around the cup.