Johnny Miller shares his secrets and techniques for making extra putts

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, however the perfect recommendation stands the take a look at of time. In GOLF.com’s new sequence, Timeless Ideas, we’re highlighting among the biggest recommendation academics and gamers have distributed within the pages of GOLF Journal. Right this moment, Johnny Miller shares a intelligent placing tip from our September 1975 subject. For limitless entry to the complete GOLF Journal digital archive, be a part of InsideGOLF right now; you’ll get pleasure from $140 of worth for less than $39.99/yr.

Johnny Miller is finest identified for 3 issues: being an elite ball striker, that Oakmont 63 and for his legendary broadcasting profession. Ball placing may’ve been Miller’s calling card throughout his taking part in profession, however he made his justifiable share of putts, too. You don’t win a number of main championships with out some glorious placing days.

We’ve coated Miller’s ball-striking keys in Timeless Ideas earlier than, so right now we’re diving into the archives to look again at his placing suggestions. Again in 1975, Miller shared a few of his secrets and techniques on the greens with GOLF Journal, and you may learn all about them under.

Johnny Miller’s placing keys

Every thing I do in my placing methodology is for one objective: To provide stable contact between the ball and the putter face. Anytime you hit the ball solidly, you possibly can depend on it staying on line. Putts hit on the heel or the toe are those that miss. To develop a stable strike, you need to first develop a stable stroke.

For those who had a straight-in, four-foot putt, would you attempt to push the putter head down a line to the opening or would you lead your palms by means of to the opening? For those who answered, the putter head, you might be doubtless an erratic putter since you use an excessive amount of wrist. Anytime you push the putter head down the road, the proper hand is taking part in a dominant position. Whenever you lead each palms by means of to the opening, each palms are taking part in an equal position. Let’s speak first concerning the palms, which I believe are the important thing to consistency.

Only a few golfers lead their palms by means of to the opening. They turn out to be obsessive about the blade of the putter. They consider pushing the putter head alongside a line, shutting it, opening it or protecting it sq.; the putter head turns into the focus of most gamers’ consideration. Sadly that focus is wasted, for if there may be any fault, it will likely be on the different finish of the putter, within the palms. The putter, being an extension of your palms can solely do what your palms enable it to do.

As soon as I’ve lined the putter blade up, I overlook all about it. My palms, just like the putter face, are set lifeless sq. to the opening via what I name the palm-to-palm grip. So that you perceive absolutely, place your palms on both facet of the grip, palms going through, and ensure the putter is sq. to your meant line. Now place your palms on the grip in order that your thumbs run straight down the center. This instantly units each your palms lifeless “sq.” to the putter face.

As to the precise grip, I like to recommend a reverse overlapping. In my case, I overlap my left index finger down the primary three fingers of my proper hand. The one motive it’s not all 4 fingers is as a result of I’ve a slight separation between my index finger and the following on my proper hand. I’ve discovered this grip to be essentially the most profitable as a result of it locations all fingers of my proper hand on the membership. And many of the sensitivity is in the proper hand.

A lot of the grip strain needs to be utilized within the left hand, and the proper hand merely rests on the membership. You particularly ought to really feel the again three fingers of your left hand gripping firmly. It will create a good steadiness between the 2 palms and stop the left hand from breaking down or getting wristy. Beware, nevertheless, of gripping too arduous with each palms, a quite common fault, as this restricts the over-all stroke.

The placing stance you assume needs to be as pure as doable. Anytime you place your elbows away out of your physique, like a hen’s wings, you’re inhibiting the motion of your arms and shoulders; the stroke can’t be fluid. I advocate having the elbows a snug distance from the physique the place they’ll work freely.

Let’s now have a look at another necessary fundamentals that result in stable placing. Then we’ll speak a little bit bit concerning the stroke.

For those who research Jack Nicklaus when he putts, you’ll discover that: 1. He stands barely open. 2. He performs the ball off his left heel. 3. His eyes are over the ball. These components, I believe, account for Jack’s constant placing stroke.

I additionally suggest standing barely open. It offers you a greater ball-to-hole perspective; you possibly can gauge distance higher. With the ball ahead you possibly can retain a clearer image of the road alongside which you need the ball to journey. And at last, positioning your eyes over the ball means that you can sight immediately down the meant line of putt.

I personally don’t imagine that both hand performs a dominant position within the stroke. Each play an equal half. Because of the one-piece stroke, the shoulders will rotate barely, however not consciously. As I stated earlier within the article, the much less motion within the wrists the higher. Within the followthrough you wish to develop a constructive feeling of main your palms by means of to the opening. Bear in mind: In case your palms undergo to the opening, the putter head will too.

General, attempt to maintain your stroke as clean as doable. As an help, I like to recommend to you a psychological tempo gimmick I’ve discovered very helpful. This can be a easy One-Two depend that retains my thoughts on the stroke and off the disruptive ideas that may creep in and destroy my probabilities of making the putt. The entire backswing is the depend of One, and the stroke and follow-through is Two. The depend is predicated on the velocity of the stroke as I see it in my thoughts. First decide your pure tempo, apply the depend to it, and comply with that rhythm through the stroke. This offers you a pleasant flowing motion and never a jerky, hesitant stroke. When underneath stress my caddie, Andy Martinez, is at all times reminding me of the depend.

I’ve by no means been a lot of a spot putter. In different phrases, I don’t choose a spot between the ball and the opening to line as much as. Spot placing can drain focus, as a result of it’s a must to maintain checking to be sure you’re lined up with the proper spot. And if you happen to lose the spot, you possibly can waste a whole lot of psychological effort attempting to relocate it. As a substitute, I visualize the road from the ball to the opening, set my blade the approximate diploma left or proper of the opening, then simply lead my palms down the road. This methodology is a lot less complicated and retains your thoughts free to focus on distance.

Whereas we’re with reference to visualization; you need to see the profitable consequence of any putt you stand over, in your individual thoughts, no matter how lengthy the putt could also be. For those who program a constructive thought, you’ll get a constructive end result. Really “see” the ball falling proper into the opening!

For those who watch any high skilled, you’ ll discover that he has a sure sample of addressing the ball. The sample is machine-like. I, too, have my very own sample. First I have a look at the putt from behind and do all my visualization. Then I step as much as the ball. Initially I place my toes collectively, then I unfold the proper foot out, so my stance is about shoulder width. I take one have a look at the opening, then look again on the putter to verify my alignment. (Andy Martinez additionally kneels immediately behind me and tells me after I’ve obtained it on line.) Then a second have a look at the cup, to get a sense of the space, and the second I look again on the ball I draw the putter again. Two seems to be — that’s essentially the most I ever take.

What objective does the system serve? Anytime you’re systematic you’re being constructive; your thoughts is on making the putt and never on different issues. Program constructive motion into your thoughts and, once more, the outcomes can be constructive.

Paul Runyan, one of many biggest putters ever, used to spend a number of hours a day on the placing inexperienced listening to the sound the ball made coming off the putter head. He used to program his thoughts to soak up the sensation of stable contact — in order that it turned a behavior. When making use of the ideas I’ve outlined to your individual stroke, I recommend you additionally attempt to hit the ball stable each time. In doing so, although, be certain your consideration is in your palms and never the putter head.