2010 NEW PRODUCTS
WHY THE CHEST PUTTER WORKS
On line The first point to make is that you must try and line up on a parallel line to the hole. I tended to get my shoulders too open initially (below) and that made me feel like I was pulling my putts. The style I use is to aim my left elbow along a line parallel to the target line and use that as your guide for the stroke.
Struggling to control your short stroke? Then it’s time you tried this radical solution... WORDS BY PETER MASTERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOWARD BOYLAN
B Y P E T E R H E DB L O M EUROPEA N TOUR W INNER
If you’re struggling to hole putts, for whatever reason, then you might want to give one of the longer handled putters a go. I first dabbled with broomhandles in 2003, but it wasn’t until three years later that I made the change to the chest putter you see me using here. There are two ways that you can putt with a club like this, so let me show you the options available.
At the US Open at Winged Foot in 2006, I was 11th in putting, but was starting to get very uncomfortable on the greens. Something was happening at impact and in the followthrough
that was very disconcerting. The stroke felt jabby and nervous. Hard to believe, but for the last two rounds I hit almost every putt with my eyes closed! I remember going to Sunningdale a couple of
weeks later for Open Qualifying and it was all good until the last two holes. On the 18th, I needed to get down in two from 30 feet. I knocked the first one four feet past and then changed to the
Langer style, gripping the club on the metal with my left hand, to hole the one back. I said to myself then I never wanted to feel like that on a pressure putt again. I almost couldn’t breath. I tried the
belly putter, but with that you still have your hands in the normal position. I changed to the chest putter because it was a completely different style and one that has worked for me.