Putting Backswing vs Follow Through: How To Create A Reliable Stroke

Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Gary Munro demonstrating how to create a repeatable putting stroke that to control pace of putts on the green.

Many amateur golfers head out onto the course without a secure understanding of the relationship between the backswing and follow through in creating a reliable putting stroke.

As we know all too well, a good round with the putter is often the difference between a good and a bad round, so working on your putting technique as well as your green reading skills is a great investment in your journey for progress.

In this article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Gary Munro shares his advice on creating a repeatable putting stroke that will allow you to shoot lower scores and provides some excellent putting drills to help you on your way...

The Variables

There are three variables you must get right – you must strike the ball correctly, control swing length and control tempo. In this article, we will focus on the last two. 

I’ve set up a putting mat (see image below) with two tees equidistant from the ball. To start, just work on making sure the putter head travels the same distance back and through. If you can match this with the same consistent tempo, the ball should always travel the same distance.

Using a putting mat is a great way to practice both on and off the course (Image credit: Howard Boylan)

The Technique Drill

For this drill you need three balls and a flat surface. To start, take the putter back to the inside of the right foot and stop at the inside of the left foot. Hit three putts, pace them out and mark down the results.

This simple drill could drastically improve your performances on the greens (Image credit: Howard Boylan)

Then repeat to the outside of each foot, measure and make a note; then, to one putter head beyond each foot. In future, for any flat putt, you know where your putter needs to travel to achieve the desired distance.

The 'Feel' Drill

Now we’ve worked out how far the ball travels with different-length putting strokes, it's time to turn this into a nice 'feel' drill.

On the golf course, as you set up beside your ball, look at your target and just try and rock your shoulders back and forth to get a sense for how much speed you will need to get the ball to the target.

Pace is everything on the green, so spend time working on it before your round (Image credit: Howard Boylan)

It’s like throwing or rolling a ball, you look at the target and you gauge how far back and through you need to move your arm. This encourages a more instinctive way of putting, improves your visualisation and dictates your swing length. Then, set up to the ball and pull the trigger. You won't be disappointed by the results!