Learn To Putt With Dead Strength

When I learned my putting stroke as a 20-year-old, and I must confess that I was quite adept at putting as a child, it came naturally. However, it was a putting lesson from my mentor, Mr. Lanning, and his friend, Jim Tom Blair, when I turned 20 that had a significant impact on my approach to putting.

During these lessons, they would often use the phrase “putt with dead strength,” and initially, I was unsure of its meaning. I believed it meant to strike the ball solidly and roll it smoothly. However, as I delved deeper into teaching and sought advice from knowledgeable individuals, I discovered the essence of dead strength through a tool called the SAM Putt Lab.

Essentially, dead strength refers to harnessing the force generated by the weight of the putter head to create momentum and clubhead speed, resulting in the ball rolling varying distances.

My challenge to you is to recognize the concept of dead weight. Dead weight can be equated to swinging a pendulum. When swinging a pendulum, you’ll notice that the putter head swings back and forth over the same distance. However, when using the pendulum stroke and rolling a putt, the ball disrupts the pendulum swing, causing the through stroke to be shorter than the backstroke.

By mastering this technique, you will improve your distance control. If we were to prioritize distance and direction in putting, distance becomes crucial for lag putting and setting yourself up for an easier next putt.

Therefore, make it a priority to understand dead weight and allow the pendulum to swing freely.