Putting used to be worst part of my game. I was inconsistent on my distance, which as we all know is a score killer. Lag putting was the worst, and if I was about 10 feet or more, I had no idea if it was going to miss long or short.
So here is how I fixed it. I put with my left shoulder. As I am lining up the putt and taking practice strokes, I try to feel how much I need to move my left shoulder to cover the distance. Once I get that feel, I try not to use my hands and instead focus on how the putt felt to my left shoulder. When I putt the ball I try to replicate the feel with my left shoulder that I had in pre-shot rehearsals.
What this has done for me is dramatically lower my 3 putts per round. It is rare now to 3 putt a hole, and putting is no longer the worst part of my game. It also unlocks me from the ball, and gets me using the bigger muscles of my back and shoulders to putt. I used to get too handsy before, and now I don’t feel like I need to engage my hands to putt. I keep them as still as possible and move the ball with my shoulder.
Try it on the practice green
My routine on the practice green is to take 5 practice strokes looking at the hole, not worry about alignment or making the putt, look down and hit the ball, keeping the feeling of how far the hole is with my left shoulder. Of course this tip assumes that other than distance control, you have good fundamentals. It is essential with this technique that you have a solid repeatable putting stroke.
Try it next time you are on the practice green, see if you can “feel” the distance to the hole with your left shoulder. If it works for you let me know.
P.S.
Lefties, of course feel it with your right shoulder. 