Distance Control: The Frustrating Truth Behind Your Practice Struggles
Does this sound familiar? You spend time practicing drills to impve your distance control, but when you play, the problem still isnt’t fix. The issue might not be how much you practice but how you create speed in your putting stroke. Assuming you already have a solid understanding of the mechanics of putting, the root cause often lies in inconsistent rhythm and timing of the stroke.
Your ability to control distance is directly tied to how the putter accelerates during the stroke, and the speed of the putter is directly influenced by the length of the backstroke. While this explanation doesn’t provide an immediate solution, understanding this concept is crucial for improvement.
Debunking Misconceptions About Acceleration
One common misconception among golfers is the belief that the ball’s roll distance is controlled by accelerating the putter all the way to impact. While this might seem logical, it often leads to greater inconsistency in both distance control and stroke quality. Over-accelerating through impact can cause jerky movements, disrupt the rhythm of the stroke, and make it difficult to consistently judge speed, especially on longer or more delicate putts.
In contrast, the best putters in the world focus on maintaining a smooth and rhythmic stroke, where the acceleration remains constant and controlled. They manage the distance of their putts by varying the length of their backstroke rather than trying to forcefully add power through impact. This approach creates a repeatable motion with consistent timing, allowing the putter head to naturally generate the right speed for the distance needed.
By emphasizing rhythm and timing over forced acceleration, elite putters achieve a pendulum-like motion that is both efficient and reliable. This method not only improves consistency but also makes it easier to adapt to different green speeds and conditions, which is crucial for success on the course.
Rhythm, Timing, and Acceleration Profiles
Good golfers keep their rhythm and timing consistent, no matter the length of the putt. This consistency ensures that their acceleration profile remains smooth and repeatable. There’s no universal “best timing” for every golfer, it depends on individual preferences and the ability to reproduce the stroke consistently.
On average, tour professionals have a forward swing duration of about 800 milliseconds (ms), the time it takes to move the putter from the transition point (end of the backswing) to impact. Tools like SAM PuttLab allo golfers to measure and analyze their stroke timing and rhythm against the best players in the world.
Want to see this in action? Watch the video below for a visual explanation of these concepts and how they can transform your putting.
