Okay, so I’ve been trying to nail down that Tiger Woods putting style, you know, the one that made him famous. It’s been a journey, let me tell you!
First Attempts (and Failures)
I started by watching a bunch of YouTube videos, slow-motion replays, everything I could find. I thought I had it figured out. I went out to my backyard putting green, feeling all confident, and… well, it was a disaster. I was yanking putts left and right, no consistency whatsoever. My posture felt weird, my grip was probably wrong, and I just couldn’t get a feel for the stroke.
Breaking it Down
After that initial humbling experience, I decided to get more methodical. I broke down Tiger’s putting stroke into smaller parts:
- Stance: Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight balanced. I spent a good hour just practicing getting the stance right, using a mirror to check my alignment.
- Grip: I noticed Tiger uses a reverse overlap grip, which was new to me. It felt awkward at first, but I forced myself to stick with it.
- The Stroke: It’s all about the shoulders, really. A smooth, pendulum-like motion. I tried to keep my wrists firm and let my shoulders do the work. I practiced this over and over, just focusing on the feeling of the stroke.
- Setup: It needs that soft and relaxed upper body. I practice my posture and try to make it stable as much as I can.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I’ve been spending about 30 minutes a day, just working on these different elements. It’s not glamorous, and it’s definitely not as exciting as hitting bombs off the tee, but it’s starting to pay off.
Seeing (Some) Results
I’m still not sinking every putt like Tiger, obviously. But I’m definitely seeing improvement. My putts are rolling straighter, my distance control is better, and I’m feeling way more confident on the green. It’s a work in progress, for sure, but I’m finally starting to feel like I’m on the right track. Still, I’m gonna put the practice mat in my house so I can make it a habit to putt everyday. That’s what I can do for now.
