We all know how important tempo is in hitting shots and putts. And all you have to do is watch the tempo of Tiger Woods, Brad Faxon or Phil Mickelson and you can see that the best putters all have great tempo.

Have you ever missed a putt because you gave it a quick hit? Not necessarily a jab stroke, but a stroke that definitely was not smooth?

I think we all have at one time or another.

I while ago I tried something that worked so well I thought I’d share it with you and, hopefully, you’ll also get the same benefit.

“Try putting the same way
but just do it with a
much slower backstroke.”

I decided that, even though my putting stroke is quite smooth, I would try to take the putter back much slower than I had been.

I still used my pendulum stroke, but I simply took the putter back very slowly.

And guess what happened?

I have been putting like a magician ever since!

And the faster the greens are, the more effective this is.  It really helps you keep the putter on line through the ball.  Which, of course, helps you hit your putts on their intended line. Watch David Toms to see what I mean.

It’s not like this is some radically new idea. It’s just that we all tend to get a little too fast taking the putter back.

So, try it yourself.  Go to the putting green and hit some putts as you have been.  Then, try putting the same way but just do it with a much slower backstroke.

Be patient.  Give yourself a few minutes (OK, so we’re not too patient) to get adapted to your new tempo.  And don’t be afraid to try it on the golf course.

And the beauty of it is, as with most all of my tips, you really don’t have to change any of the mechanics of your putting stroke.  Go ahead and stroke it as  you always do, just do it more slowly.

I think you’ll find that your putting will improve, just as mine did.