Putting · Drill
A Stick Drill to Quiet Your Wrists
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, start line. Build a program with it
Wrist movement changes loft and face angle at impact. That makes line and speed harder to control. A shoulder-driven stroke repeats better. Here's a check. Hold a stick against the grip so it runs up past your hands, along your lead side. If your wrists hinge, the stick bumps your body. Rock your shoulders to move the putter. Do this for a few minutes before you practice. Then take the stick away and keep the feel.
The drill
- Hold a stick along the grip, above your hands.
- Let it run along your lead side.
- Stroke without it touching you.
- Rock your shoulders.
- Remove it and keep the feel.
Why it works
When your wrists hinge during a putt, the putter head can pass your hands and change the loft and the face angle at impact. The ball then starts off line and the speed is harder to judge. When your shoulders rock and your wrists stay quiet, the grip, forearms and putter move as one unit. That makes the face angle and the low point of the stroke repeat more often.
Common mistakes
- You hold the stick tightly and push it into your body.Hold the stick with light pressure so it only touches you if your wrists hinge.
- You keep the stick still by moving your arms and hands instead of your shoulders.Let your shoulders rock up and down while your arms and hands stay in place.
- You stop using the feel once the stick is gone and your wrists start working again.Hit a few putts without the stick right after the drill and keep the same shoulder-driven motion.
How you'll know it's working
- The stick stays clear of your body through the whole stroke, back and through.
- The ball starts on your chosen line more often and rolls end over end.
- Your hands feel quiet and the stroke feels like it comes from your chest and shoulders.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with short putts of about three feet and make slow, small strokes until the stick stops touching you.
Harder: Move to longer putts and hold the stick while you stroke, keeping the same quiet wrists as the stroke gets longer.
Common questions
Should my wrists move at all when I putt?
Very little. A small amount of give is normal, but the stroke should be driven by your shoulders, not by hinging your wrists.
How often should I do a wrist drill for putting?
Use it for a few minutes at the start of a practice session. Then putt without the stick to keep the feel.
